THE FABELMANS Q&A with Steven Spielberg, Paul Dano and Michelle Williams | TIFF 2022
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- čas přidán 10. 09. 2022
- The team behind THE FABELMANS in conversation with TIFF in advance of its premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. Steven Spielberg’s most personal film yet is based on the master director’s childhood passion for moviemaking, and the family dynamics that found their way into his work.
The 47th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 8 to 18, 2022. For more, visit tiff.net.
Steven Spielberg comes to the Festival for the first time with his most personal film yet. The Fabelmans finds the director reflecting on the experiences that made him the filmmaker we know and love, in a story based on his childhood in Arizona. Gabriel LaBelle gives a breakout performance as the teenage Sammy Fabelman, always desperate for a new piece of gear so he can make ever-bigger movies with his friends. Michelle Williams is the heart of the story as Sammy’s encouraging mother, a skilled pianist. She brings life to their household, a fact Mr. Fabelman (Paul Dano), a computer engineer, finds as enchanting as he does discombobulating. Their family is rounded out by his loveable co-worker Benny (Seth Rogen), who becomes an uncle to Sammy and his sisters, always along for the ride with the Fabelmans. This unique combination of parental figures eventually becomes a source of tension with Sammy at the centre, and that seeps into his creative work. Instead of chasing sharks or running from giant boulders, Spielberg has Sammy navigating the interpersonal landmines of home and school life, in what may be the most emotionally expansive film of his career. Starting with gunslingers and war stories, the way any Boy Scout in the late 1950s might, Sammy/Spielberg shows us not only what sparked Spielberg’s love for cinema, but also how empathy and human relationships have sneaked their way into the work of this master filmmaker.
Steven Spielberg is one of the most acclaimed Hollywood directors in history, having achieved countless awards, nominations, and box-office records. His features include Duel (71), The Sugarland Express (74), Jaws (75), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (77), Raiders of the Lost Ark (81), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (82), The Color Purple (85), Schindler’s List (93), Saving Private Ryan (98), Minority Report (02), Catch Me If You Can (02), War of the Worlds (05), Munich (05), War Horse (11), Lincoln (12), Bridge of Spies (15), and West Side Story (21). The Fabelmans (22) is his latest film." - Krátké a kreslené filmy
I'm happy to see Paul Dano playing characters that are not crazy.
Same
Dano has always had great range as an actor. Just glad he's even more involved in major projects.
@@Hollywdq Yes, I know, I agree. Most of his biggest roles are crazy characters but I had already seen him do very well in some more "normal" roles.
Agreed, this is my favorite Paul Dano role.
It's admirable that this movie has no villains - even the bullies, Sammy just wants them to be kind to him for just 5 minutes, even seeing a potential friend in one of his enemies
What a career this man has had.. so greatful to have lived in the same generation and to be able to say I've watched his movies at the cinema.
Seeing jurrasic park for the first time in a theatre with my family was truly incredible and a memory I will never forget.
Looking forward to seeing this as the enthusiasm in Steven Spielberg looks great and that's sold it for me.
Definitely want to see this. So glad Speilberg is directing a movie on his life.
In 1999, Steven Spielberg said he had been thinking of directing a film about his childhood for some time. Titled I'll Be Home, the project was originally written by his sister Anne Spielberg. He explained, "My big fear is that my mom and dad won't like it and will think it's an insult and won't share my loving yet critical point of view about what it was like to grow up with them." In 2002, Spielberg said he was nervous about making I'll Be Home: "It's so close to my life and so close to my family - I prefer to make films that are more analogous. But a literal story about my family will take a lot of courage. I still think I make personal movies even if they do look like big commercial popcorn films." In 2005, while working on Munich, Spielberg told screenwriter Tony Kushner his life story, with Kushner telling him in response: "You're going to have to make a movie about that someday." The film's plot outline was worked on in 2019 during filming of Spielberg's 2021 film version of West Side Story. The work on the screenplay for The Fabelmans began in October 2020 during the lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kushner reflected on the experience, saying, "We wrote three days a week, four hours a day, and we finished the script in two months: by leagues the fastest I've finished anything. It was a blast. I loved it. In March 2021, Spielberg was announced to direct the film, with his involvement as co-screenwriter marking his first writing venture on a film since A.I. Artificial Intelligence. It was also reported that Kristie Macosko Krieger would produce the film with Kushner and Spielberg. In March 2022, cinematographer Janusz Kamiński said the film would chronicle Spielberg's life from age seven to eighteen and deal with "his family, with his parents, conundrums with his sisters, but primarily deals with his passion for movie-making," while adding that it will touch on the themes of "young love, parental divorce, and early formative relationships ... It's a very beautiful, beautiful personal movie. It's very revealing about Steven's life and who he is as a filmmaker." In casting the film, Spielberg explained that "Part of it had to be organic, and it had to be authentic to me. It wasn't really about anything beyond who can I have the most profound connection with and that reminds me the most of the people that brought me into the world and raised me and gave me good values." In March 2021, Michelle Williams was in negotiations to star as Mitzi Fabelman, the role inspired by Spielberg's mother Leah Adler, but with "an original voice." Spielberg himself had her in mind for the role after watching her performance in Blue Valentine. That same month, it was reported that Seth Rogen joined the cast to play Bennie Loewy, the role inspired by "the favorite uncle of young Spielberg", while Williams was confirmed to have been cast. On April 8, 2021, Paul Dano joined the cast as Burt Fabelman, the role inspired by Spielberg's father Arnold. Dano admitted that he felt intimidated by playing the role because "the stakes felt really high ... You're embodying one of the most important, influential, complicated figures in [Spielberg's] life. It was incredible to see how much of this was in his work the whole time. He's sharing a piece of himself that I find very moving. There's a real gift in it, when somebody of that stature and at that level of artistry is willing to do that."
In May 2021, after a three month search, Gabriel LaBelle entered final negotiations to portray the lead role, Sammy Fabelman, a young aspiring filmmaker based on Spielberg himself. He would be confirmed the next month in addition to the casting of Julia Butters as Reggie Fabelman, the role inspired by Spielberg's sister Anne. Later that June, Sam Rechner was cast as well. In July, Chloe East, Oakes Fegley, Isabelle Kusman, Jeannie Berlin, Judd Hirsch, Robin Bartlett and Jonathan Hadary were added to the cast. In August, Gabriel Bateman, Nicolas Cantu, Gustavo Escobar, Lane Factor, Cooper Dodson and Stephen Matthew Smith were cast. They were later followed by newcomers Keeley Karsten, Birdie Borria, Alina Brace, Sophia Kopera, and Mateo Zoryna Francis-Deford. In February 2022, it was announced David Lynch would also star in an undisclosed role.
In September 2022, during the film's world premiere, LaBelle revealed that he initially did not win the part of Sammy following his first audition but did upon receiving a callback three months afterward. On finally reading the script and learning the details about his character being a fictionalized version of Spielberg himself as a teenager for mostly the entire film, he recalled "When I was auditioning, the character’s name was Teenage Sammy - I thought as opposed to Adult Sammy ... I get the script and you’re reading it for 30 pages and he’s 6 and 8 years old. Page 35 or so Teenage Sammy comes along. OK, good! Now this is my part. It’s going to be a three-act movie, it’s going to be a Moonlight or something. I kept waiting for my exit but it never came." Spielberg himself revealed that the role of Sammy was the hardest to cast, saying "As a kid growing up, I always had a lot of reasons why I was always in the corner, why I was always not the center of conversation ... I needed someone who wasn’t going to bring too much self-awareness to Sammy." Principal photography began in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles in July 2021.
During the shoot, the cast gained access to home movies, photographs and recollections from Spielberg's family's past to learn what they were like and how to portray the fictionalized versions of them (the Fabelman family) on screen, while making them feel fresh and original. Paul Dano reflected "It was overwhelming and it was sort of a heavy cloak to bear because we were with someone who was having a big experience everyday, revisiting and reworking through a part of their life ... For somebody like Steven to share that much of himself with us - with the audience too - it was really a profound experience."
For the scenes of Sammy filming his own 8mm films, Spielberg decided to have the character recreate the exact ones he made during his childhood, and worked with Kamiński to ensure that they were portrayed as accurately as possible, but with improvements in the camera angles. Spielberg remarked "It was joyful being able to recreate those films ... I shot a lot of films when I was a kid on 8mm. It was unique in those days. Not a lot of people were going out and shooting in 8mm. It was physical; it was a craft. You had to sit there with a…splicer, and then you had to scrape the emulsion off the film in order to get a seal so when you put glue on it, you literally glued the film together. And I must say, I miss it."
Gabriel LaBelle was unaware of the casting of David Lynch until the day the scene he had to do with him was filmed. He recalled that once Lynch came onto the set, it enabled him to embody Sammy and how he was feeling, recalling "[Lynch is] a great guy. But leading up to it, Sammy's nervous, so I'm getting nervous."
It was an incredibly honest movie, and must have been very hard to write.
I knew Leah like a soulmate, we had an instant connection in 1977 (did not know who Steve was, but obviously found out ) and I worked in her first restaurant for four years About thirty hours a week. I stayed because of our closeness and, after, visited her regularly for forty years. We were confidants, and truly trusted and loved one another. She was a social artistic being but let very few people into her private life. A complex beautiful woman. All her children came in often, and I knew her life's story, these stories, back then. I never met a family so like my own. Sometimes friends share with each other what they may not with family, so this is going to be an emotional ride; to see someone you knew so deeply portrayed in a film. I am both nervous and excited. Leah, I miss you and know you would want this. xox
Steven is the kindest man. I met him quickly last year at a west side story screening. I’m disabled and I was bullied in middle school and I think it’s so funny he says ‘the bullying wasn’t a reflection on the school’. My bullying was DEFINITELY a reflection of the school, Steven, but you’re being nice. 🤣
Remarkable! This film appears to have a defining truth for many aspiring artists of the past, present, and future generations. There’s a nobility to follow one’s dreams, despite the external struggles. This is a love letter to all film makers of the world. Thank you, Steven!
Soo excited for this. Michelle looks soo happy here, she's glowing 🥰🥰
He’s so excited, I love it! Can’t wait to see this. It’s going to be an emotional one. So happy he premiered it at TIFF. Well deserved 👏👏👏
Extraordinary filmmaker and producer, my all time favourite..what a great filmography in his lifetime.
Oh THANK GOD Spielberg said it's not because he's going to retire. Honestly, I was afraid of that. Wonder if he saw my reaction to one of their posts lol. Thanks Steven for clearing that up WOOOHOOOOOO. Can't wait for the movie to be released in the Netherlands
He said at the 2011 Comic con that he’d retire only when he grew up
@@johnmazzoni487 just saw your reply, but, yayyyyy he will go on for ever😉🥰
Can't wait to see this. So glad it made its debut here in Toronto!
His moivies come out of his heart. That's indisputable.
I wrote a fictional semi autobiographical screenplay as well. When I learned Spielberg was doing a similar script I was so excited. He's one of the best directors and I can't wait to watch this.
Love, love. Love this film!
Bravo Stephen, Tony, and the whole cast.
I recognize a lot of stories I have heard about Spielberg's early life in this trailer
Im excited for this movie
I wonder how far into his life this movie will be
Can’t wait to see this!!
Gracias Sr. Spielberg. Sus películas formaron parte de mi niñez, adolescencia y adultez. Formaron parte del desarrollo de mi creatividad e ideas acerca del mundo real y ficticio.
This one is Spielberg’s “Super 8” …I’m happy Steven was able to do what JJ Abrams did earlier. It would have been great to see JJ collaborate as a writer or actor in this one ! Can’t wait to see it. What a bunch of terrific people.
Spielberg is a national treasure and regarding Paul Dano's performance in The Fabelmans movie, I could notice how talented he is as an actor.
I love paul dano
Over 40 years of filmmaking and this was the first festival where Spielberg entered one of his films?! That’s surprising!
Gabriel LaBelle did so goood! I can’t believe he’s a new discovery
Definitely have to see this film!
I'm a screenwriter in Hollywood and dream everyday that Spielberg would make my war epic film. I'm an Army veteran and wrote a film that has an all-star cast that would be a perfect fit for the director. Wish me luck...
Great observations/questions here from the host. Steven Spielberg is a class act.
An incredible moving....loved it.
AHHHH! I can't wait 🥰
The last time a Spielberg movie won Best Picture at the Academy Awards was 30 years ago when Schindler's List won in 1994. IT'S ABOUT TIME to add another movie of one of the best directors of all time to that list of Best Picture winners
No
@@Nicobornico leave
Then again the last Spielberg movie that should've won Best Picture that came after Schindler's List was Saving Private Ryan. Fuck the Oscars for not giving the Best Picture trophy to a more deserving masterpiece
@@Bjork4s Saving Private Ryan is not a good movie, the opening is stellar and that's all anybody seems to consider it great for, the character's are dull, the plot is paper thin after the great opening it's a series of lesser battles and conflicts which pale in comparison.
The ending is over the top sentimentality with the "earn this" and how it's all executed feels like it's trying so hard, it's also just American propaganda and isn't so much an "anti-war" film at all, there is many things in the film suggesting this. It's one of Spielberg's worst films.
@@Bjork4s ~ Agreed.
The great Steven Spielberg, winner 6 academy awards for best picture, Jaws, Close encounters, Raiders, E.T., Schindlers list and Saving private Ryan.
Only Schindler's List won best picture, the rest definitely deserved to.
🐐🐐🐐
I sure hope his new movie will MUST WIN those Oscar awards. Would u fans agree??
❤
Paul Dano is very tall
If anyone saw Jay Cheel in the audience, he had covid so get checked
The question on everyones mind.....where is David Lynch? I’d love to be a fly on the set when Steven was directing David.
David Lynch only has a small cameo, so I imagine that’s why he wasn’t in Toronto. His scene is amazing, though.
Steven: "Tony I think I need therapy, I need closure in a bunch of subjects of my past"
Tony: "Wanna talk about it...while we make it into a biopic?"
Why did they not provide chairs for them to sit down in.They should have provided chairs especially for Michelle Williams who is quite pregnant.
Did they forget to mention Seth Rogan?
No, he was mentioned at 3:35 but he just didn't come out until Spielberg was introduced. Sad what weed can do to a person.
is seth rogen transforming into ron perlman?
Meeeeh
DITCH the cigars, Steven. I thought you had more sense.
Wait...Steven Spielberg is JEWISH?!?!
Spielberg ,
@@leibert6320 😂exactly
Whose the big blonde doofus with the glasses & the beard? They need to have better security at these events.
Unfortunately, I’m boycotting Seth Rogen. Will never watch this movie
@bedalens5344 Why are you boycotting Seth Rogen? If you never watch this movie I think it will be your loss. It was a wonderful experience imo.
So self serving...
They say write what you know. He’s spent his life making huge blockbusters like jaws and Jurassic park. Why can’t he make something about his life growing up? Every celebrity writes a memoir; this is his memoir through the medium he tells stories in 🤷♂️
@@elijeremiah1058 lmao
That doesn't change it being self serving...
@@Facetiously.Esoteric this is his way of bringing his parents and their memories back to life! If he was self serving he could have made this much earlier!
meeeeeh
If this constitutes self-servitude, then I guess other great directors like Spike Lee (Crooklyn, 1994), Kenneth Branagh (Belfast, 2021), Oliver Stone (Platoon, 1986), Guiseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso, 1988), Martin Scorsese (Mean Streets, 1973), Kevin Smith (Clerks, 1994), Woody Allen (pretty much everything he's ever done) are all guilty as charged. Sometimes, the source of really great stories come from what you've personally seen, felt and experienced. This doesn't make one selfish - just observant.