Filmmaker Steven Spielberg Speech | Harvard Commencement 2016 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Renowned director Steven Spielberg shares his personal journey, encourages graduates to follow their intuition, and highlights the importance of empathy and connection in creating a better future.

Key Insights

• 💦 Steven Spielberg dropped out of college to pursue his dream job in the film industry but later returned to complete his degree.
• 💄 His career has evolved from making escapist films to addressing socially and historically significant stories.
• 👂 Spielberg emphasizes the importance of following one's intuition, listening to the internal voice, and making character defining choices.
• ✊ He believes in the power of empathy, connection, and understanding to combat hatred and discrimination.
• 🍝 Spielberg encourages graduates to study history and learn from the past to create a better future.
• 😖 He founded the Shoah Foundation to preserve testimonies from Holocaust survivors and witnesses.
• 🙊 Spielberg highlights the need for societal and cultural conversations and urges graduates to speak up for justice and equality.

Transcript

our principal commencement speaker this afternoon has twice won the Academy Award for Best Director as a result he's quite used to waiting until the end of a long program before getting up to speak I'm thrilled to introduce Steven Spielberg jaws was one of the first films I saw at a movie theater to this day I remember being terrified even though y... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did Spielberg drop out of college?

Spielberg dropped out of college after being offered his dream job at Universal Studios. He returned years later to complete his degree, inspired by the importance of education for his children.

Q: How did making "The Color Purple" change Spielberg's perspective?

"The Color Purple" opened Spielberg's eyes to experiences and truths he had not previously understood. It motivated him to create movies that resonated with deeper messages and to use film as a medium to address important social issues.

Q: What does Spielberg believe is essential in character defining moments?

Spielberg believes that intuition plays a crucial role in character defining moments. He distinguishes between the louder voice of conscience telling us what to do and the quieter whisper of intuition suggesting new possibilities for growth and self-discovery.

Q: Why does Spielberg emphasize the importance of studying history?

Spielberg believes that studying history allows us to understand who we are and where we come from. He encourages students to explore their own family stories and cultural backgrounds to foster empathy, cultural understanding, and social progress.

Summary

In this commencement speech, Steven Spielberg, a renowned filmmaker, shares his personal experiences and advice with the graduating class of Harvard University. He talks about his own journey in finding his passion and pursuing his dreams, emphasizing the importance of listening to one's intuition and facing character-defining moments. He emphasizes the significance of history, storytelling, and empathy in creating a better future, and discusses the rise of hatred and the need for unity and humanity. Spielberg also encourages the graduates to honor the sacrifices of those who came before them and to stay connected with each other in the age of technology.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Spielberg start his speech and what films did he mention?

Spielberg started by introducing himself and his achievements, including winning two Academy Awards for Best Director. He mentioned some of his iconic films like Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, and Schindler's List, among others.

Q: Why did Spielberg drop out of college and what made him return to earn his degree?

Spielberg dropped out of college during his sophomore year because he was offered his dream job at Universal Studios. He returned to college in his 50s because he wanted to set an example for his kids and emphasize the importance of education. He decided to pursue his degree at Cal State Long Beach and received course credit in paleontology for his work on Jurassic Park.

Q: What advice does Spielberg give to the graduates?

Spielberg advises the graduates to listen to their intuition, which he describes as the voice that whispers what one could do. He encourages them to not let their internal voice be overshadowed by others' opinions and to embrace their character-defining moments. He also emphasizes the significance of studying history and understanding the past in order to create a better future.

Q: Why does Spielberg believe it is important to tell our own stories?

Spielberg believes that everyone has their own stories to tell, and by sharing these stories, we can better understand who we are and where we come from. He urges the graduates to talk to their parents and grandparents and learn about their stories. He emphasizes that history is made up of stories and that through storytelling, we can connect with and empathize with others.

Q: How does Spielberg address the rise of hatred in the world?

Spielberg discusses the resurgence of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, and he acknowledges that hate exists in many forms, including racism, homophobia, ethnic hatred, class hatred, political hatred, and religious hatred. He shares his own experiences of being bullied for being Jewish and emphasizes the need for empathy and humanity in combating these forms of hatred. He also mentions the work of the Shoah Foundation, which gathers testimonies from survivors of genocides and aims to educate and promote understanding.

Q: What does Spielberg mean by "finding the we" and how does he suggest achieving it?

Spielberg believes that tribalism and dividing the world into "us" and "them" is a natural instinct, but he urges everyone to find the collective "we" and to reject discrimination and hatred. He suggests connecting with each other and feeling empathy for every soul, regardless of differences. He emphasizes the importance of voting, peaceful protest, and speaking up for those who may not have a voice.

Q: What does Spielberg say about the importance of eye contact?

Spielberg expresses concern that people are spending more time looking at their devices than looking at each other's eyes. He encourages the graduates and everyone present to find someone's eyes and make a connection. He believes that this human connection is crucial and hopes that it will be remembered as a significant moment from his speech.

Takeaways

In his commencement speech, Spielberg shares his personal journey and offers advice to the graduates. He emphasizes listening to one's intuition, facing character-defining moments, and finding one's sense of mission. He stresses the significance of history, storytelling, empathy, and unity in creating a better future. Spielberg addresses the rise of hatred and discrimination, urging everyone to replace fear with curiosity and to act with humanity. He encourages them to honor the sacrifices of those who came before them and to stay connected with each other. Finally, Spielberg concludes with a wish for a true Hollywood-style happy ending for the graduates, urging them to outrun their challenges and embrace justice and peace.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Steven Spielberg, an Academy Award-winning director, delivers the commencement speech at Harvard University.

• He reflects on his own college experience and emphasizes the significance of education and following one's intuition.

• Spielberg shares his transformation from making escapist movies to tackling socially and historically relevant stories.