Tom Hanks shares his advice for actors collaborating with Steven Spielberg.
His insights shed light on the director’s working style.
Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg have a long history of working together on multiple films and miniseries. During an appearance on a podcast, Hanks revealed his warning to actors about working with Spielberg.
Hanks described how Spielberg’s approach can vary. Sometimes he’s meticulously prepared, dictating every detail from camera angles to pacing, as seen in examples like Jaws. In such cases, actors just need to follow his direction. However, there are also times when he’s open to input, like when filming on the Glienicke Bridge for Bridge of Spies, where he had no idea how to shoot a scene and sought ideas from the actors.
This shows that Spielberg is both prepared and flexible. His ability to adapt allows actors to shape scenes and add authenticity, as seen in movies like Saving Private Ryan. Tom Hanks, having worked with Spielberg five times, is well-positioned to understand his style. His comments offer valuable insights into Spielberg’s working methods and explain why their partnership has yielded such memorable movies.
Related content: