I'm here after watching The Fabelmans. Such an unexpected ending, and yet I could hardly think of a better one. It's the kind of scene that seems silly until you think about for a bit and realize how brilliant it is.
And...the last seconds before the credits when the camera jerks to put the horizon on the bottom?... I've never jumped off my couch and cheered before...there's a first time for everything.
Kurosawa grew up watching John Ford films. Kubrick grew up watching Ford films. Hitchcock grew up watching Ford Films...John Ford was the greatest most influential director in the world bar none. And the most HUMBLE.
This has been one of my favorite UA-cam videos ever since it was posted. I've watched it at least a few times a year since 2011! I can't believe it's now a scene in one of his movies. When I heard David Lynch was playing Ford I could immediately imagine him reciting "NO NO NO where's the horizon??" and "Get the fuck out of here!" the way Spielberg described it, and his performance was just like I thought it would be and even better! I'm so glad Spielberg recreated this for a movie, it's incredible!!! Instant classic scene.
Listening to Mr. Spielberg telling this story, three things are perfectly clear: 1) This is how you tell a story with images; 2) This man was born to tell stories; 3) This man was born to make movies.
Spielberg is going to depict this scene in The Fabelmans with David Lynch as John Ford, complete with an eyepatch. It’ll be pitch perfect if Lynch acts like he does in Twin Peaks.
One of my favorite directors of all time Thank you Mr Spielberg
5 років тому+27
Great remembrance by Spielberg. How fortunate he was able to meet with John Ford. It was quality time to be sure! Look what followed over the years! Both 'picture makers' are favorites of mine.
@@mauertal John Ford essentially explained to Spielberg the rule of thirds, where objects along a grid of lines dividing a frame into thirds is considered aesthetically pleasing and creates visual interest.
The FABELMANS! A must watch, if just to appreciate how inspiring life can be and how WE all can "Be the Inspiration" as well. Just now listening to what Steven described, I'm just LOVING even more the performance of David Lynch as Tom Ford! 🌱
Ford always downplayed his own genius. A magnificent composition could be as easy as where one places the horizon. It's like his famous adage, "Filmmaking isn't hard. Just shoot the eyes." It speaks to the unassuming brilliance of his films.
I mean.... Dude could shoot landscapes like nobody's business, but he broke the 180 rule a lot when filming people in rooms having conversations, which is a pretty amateurish mistake.
@@Progger11 the 180 degree rule is way overrated. it can be a useful guide on the matter of shooting conversations in an interesting way without confusing the audience about relative character positioning, but it’s a mistake to propose that everyone breaking that rule does so out of incompetence and not because they have a way of shooting the conversation that they happen to find more interesting. there are no ironclad, unbreakable filmmaking rules. not one.
Steven Spielberg Sharing That So Great John Ford Meeting Him Story Was So Meaningful, Especially When Since The Great 80's. I Have Respected Steven Spielberg For Such Excellent Movies Started Making Back Then, Him And John Ford Will Always Be Remembered.
I don't necessarily think Ford thought Spielberg was an idiot, he just knew he was a green 15 year old kid in his office. If you watch many of Spielberg's films, especially Jaws....and certainly in War Horse and look at the way many of the shots are framed, you can see he retained what he learned from that 5 minutes in John Ford's office for the rest of his life. I just re-watched Jaws recently and every horizon shot on the ocean makes a statement.
Ford was a filmmaker that made Mostly western epics where the horizon was a common backdrop. This is not the kind of advice to use when making a film in space or in a city or an office. What I think he was saying is pay attention to Where the camera is placed and photographing and make it interesting.
Ford was known for his mean and sarcastic demeanor. If he was especially mean to you, that meant he liked you. He was polite to people he didn't warm up to. He probably felt an affinity to the young Spielberg who would become a great director a few years later.
That’s well said because a lot of directors from the golden age didn’t have the mannerisms that they have now after hearing about dark stories surrounding with making those movies
@@jackcox8854 how is the film in general? I only ask because Spielberg I feel he has lost his touch the past few years (can’t blame him he is nearing 80 and with nothing to prove). Although I must admit I loved WSS even if it flopped. But I have a feeling this one won’t do well either. I hope I am dead wrong.
@@gpapa31 it’s an absolute masterwork. Best film I’ve seen this year at TIFF and I’ve seen about 15 or so, so far. The cinematography, editing and performances are all top notch. A long movie but it’s never boring or never lulls.
This is my theory on why Ford's horizon theory works: The horizon at the bottom of the frame makes the figures look taller while the horizon at the top of the frame makes them looks small I could be wrong but when I think about the movies I've seen that employ that technique that's what I think of.
Maybe Ford mind "the rule of thirds", in the composition of paintings, photographs and films. Two horizontal and vertical lines divided the image. The horizon sits at the lower third, the action from upper two thirds and the sky in the high tirds. F.e. the storm in "She wore a yellow ribbon". Masterclass of composition.
That's more the camera angle. A camera angle shot from below makes the figure look tall, shot from above makes the figure look short. He was referring to a level shot and how to properly fill space to make it interesting, basically a simplified version of the Rule of Thirds.
It could also be a question of scale, distance and emptiness. A low horizon would convey a greater distance making the characters that are the focus of the shot seem isolated from the world. The classic example would be Omar Sharif riding towards the waterhole early in David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia (linked below). Likewise a high horizon could give a sense that the figures are apart but not so distant as in the shot of an Indian war party or cavalry troop riding along a ridge line used in so many of Ford's own westerns. ua-cam.com/video/ud1zpHW3ito/v-deo.html
It seems very clear to me that this has been one of his absolute favorite stories to tell from the moment it happened to him haha. He's probably recited it to people multiple times a year for decades so he's got the details locked in cold.
thanks for all these interviews Jon, It's rare to get such a unique experience like this! you should do this for all of your films and spread the word to any other filmmakers to do the same, I would love to see stuff like this more for other films :)
@ortebalm09 No! Lucky young Spielberg. He meet John Ford and got a lesson in filmmaking from him. Clearly the lesson had an impact on Spielberg, don't ya think?
@Giles, yes that is amazing! He literally traces the 3 horizons perfectly on the screen at 2:38. Definitely the sign of a visual thinker, just imagined that perfect frame out in front of him.
Whats extraordinary about this is look- Spielberg draws a line EXACTLY across the middle of the frame, he points a line EXACTLY across the bottom of the frame and EXACTLY across the top. EXACTLY accurately. He's not even looking at the lense nor can he know what the camera man is even doing with the shot.
However, Ford wasn't simply saying "Never put the horizon in the middle of the screen," but rather to not habitually, unquestioningly do so every time. As an example, where is the horizon in the famous opening scene of The Searchers? Right in the middle.
Ah! That's Great! I wonder if Ford ever noted what a talent Spielberg became (or if he even remembered him). This story would have happened about 1967 or so. Spielberg was working before Ford's death in 1973 but his big film, Jaws, didn't come out until 1975. .
@@lynnturman8157 Not really. As I said - Spielberg WAS working before Ford's death. He just hadn't had his big break. Ford could have seen what a talent Spielberg was - from that earlier work - but - since it wasn't the big splash that Jaws was - I don't know if he did. If he'd lived long enough for Jaws to come out - yes - then I would imagine Ford would have heard of it - whether he remembered Spielberg or not. .
@@charleswinokoor6023 Actually, he has a lot of credits for different things. The stuff that goes back to the late '50's and early '60's is probably stuff he did as a kid - but there's a lot of television there in the late '60's and early '70's so maybe Ford did see some of it. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Spielberg_filmography My guess - is that these people that arranged for him to meet Ford - were really impressed by him and may have conveyed that to Ford. Something like: "Hey Jack, you should have a word with this kid. He's pretty sharp." .
lynch plays a similar role, perfectly, in the louis show, as a vetter for louis to replace letterman (fictionalised). ua-cam.com/video/HlEJbs02wAM/v-deo.html Louis - a show that can be rightly called an overused term on YT, underrated. IMHO
that's like saying: oh, that's not right many more directors were influenced by D. W. Griffith, it's ridiculous... You make it sound like Einsenstein's the best because you are clearly an Einsenstein aficionado but he simply is not, while he was a true pioneer in montage when it comes to true "intellectual" depth within film, picture makers like Hawks, Renoir, Welles and Ford are arguably the most influential artists that inspired Spielber's generation.
I stand my point on the filmmakers that inspired Spielberg's generation because is the damn truth, because they've said it and you can see it in their movies, your amazing Eisenstein sure inspired the generation before the one I mentioned, but it was in terms of technique and I bet you aren't as stupid as to think film is all about technique are you?,guess what,I've studied film as long as you have and I haven't finished yet, don't want to, guess I'm not as idiotic as to call myself an "expert".
JOHN FORD-------- I just don't get it!! Take a look at "Sgt. Rutledge" All John Ford actors and one of the worst films EVER! Donavan's Reef---trash. Punch people and drink and as Lee Marvin said,"...Ford said to me, you don't have to read the script just know we are filming in Hawaii"
More. "Sgt. Rutledge" Woody Strode, half afroamerican, half native american, ACTOR, sportman. In the Jonh Ford's last days, the only friend. The America I love.
"The Donovan's Reef". Maybe it isn't the best John Ford movie. But John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Haway, Whiskey, Punch Comedy ... sounds good: "-Many aussies. Pinkus, (turn his cap), now, you are Yankee... (and punch)". Ha ha ha.
As regards "Sgt. Rutleledge" - you just don't know what you're talking about. As per "Donavan"s Reef" - It's purely a recreactional film made in Hawaii made for the sheer fun of it (and by the way, Ford had sure earned it at that point, after almost a half century of being the most hard working filmmaker in Hollywood).
I'm here after watching The Fabelmans. Such an unexpected ending, and yet I could hardly think of a better one. It's the kind of scene that seems silly until you think about for a bit and realize how brilliant it is.
That ending is even more awesome when you remind yourself the kid grew up to be Steven Spielberg.
Also great how David Lynch played John Ford
@@hotchd1 Yeah, this really was the cherry on top--David Lynch in a cameo as John Ford!
@@hotchd1 Yep!
And...the last seconds before the credits when the camera jerks to put the horizon on the bottom?... I've never jumped off my couch and cheered before...there's a first time for everything.
I love it. This was the one and only moment between the two greatest American film directors and this is what happened. Brilliant.
Was Orson Welles hiding in a fern?
Kurosawa grew up watching John Ford films. Kubrick grew up watching Ford films. Hitchcock grew up watching Ford Films...John Ford was the greatest most influential director in the world bar none. And the most HUMBLE.
@@debodatta7398Steven Spielberg grew up watching John Ford films.
@@debodatta7398Ford wasn’t humble lol
Funny as hell:
David Lynch only did one scene as John Ford and he nailed it.
This has been one of my favorite UA-cam videos ever since it was posted. I've watched it at least a few times a year since 2011! I can't believe it's now a scene in one of his movies. When I heard David Lynch was playing Ford I could immediately imagine him reciting "NO NO NO where's the horizon??" and "Get the fuck out of here!" the way Spielberg described it, and his performance was just like I thought it would be and even better! I'm so glad Spielberg recreated this for a movie, it's incredible!!! Instant classic scene.
Listening to Mr. Spielberg telling this story, three things are perfectly clear: 1) This is how you tell a story with images; 2) This man was born to tell stories; 3) This man was born to make movies.
Spielberg is going to depict this scene in The Fabelmans with David Lynch as John Ford, complete with an eyepatch. It’ll be pitch perfect if Lynch acts like he does in Twin Peaks.
Elements of the scene play in a Lynchian manner. It was amazing.
Flash-forward: *the scene is in my UA-cam sidebar as I watch this*
Looks like you got your wish!
How did u know that
One of my favorite directors of all time
Thank you Mr Spielberg
Great remembrance by Spielberg. How fortunate he was able to meet with John Ford. It was quality time to be sure! Look what followed over the years! Both 'picture makers' are favorites of mine.
That advice is not only good for picture makers but it's also great for still photographers.
WHAT advice? Can U explain, when to set the horizon on top or to the bottom?
@@mauertal John Ford essentially explained to Spielberg the rule of thirds, where objects along a grid of lines dividing a frame into thirds is considered aesthetically pleasing and creates visual interest.
The FABELMANS! A must watch, if just to appreciate how inspiring life can be and how WE all can "Be the Inspiration" as well. Just now listening to what Steven described, I'm just LOVING even more the performance of David Lynch as Tom Ford! 🌱
Ford always downplayed his own genius. A magnificent composition could be as easy as where one places the horizon. It's like his famous adage, "Filmmaking isn't hard. Just shoot the eyes." It speaks to the unassuming brilliance of his films.
He once said the landscape was the star of his movies. The man loved this Earth.
I mean.... Dude could shoot landscapes like nobody's business, but he broke the 180 rule a lot when filming people in rooms having conversations, which is a pretty amateurish mistake.
@@Progger11 the 180 degree rule is way overrated. it can be a useful guide on the matter of shooting conversations in an interesting way without confusing the audience about relative character positioning, but it’s a mistake to propose that everyone breaking that rule does so out of incompetence and not because they have a way of shooting the conversation that they happen to find more interesting. there are no ironclad, unbreakable filmmaking rules. not one.
@@Progger11 lmfao "rule' gtfo of here
Steven Spielberg Sharing That So Great John Ford Meeting Him Story Was So Meaningful, Especially When Since The Great 80's. I Have Respected Steven Spielberg For Such Excellent Movies Started Making Back Then, Him And John Ford Will Always Be Remembered.
It's amazing hearing him recant this 12 years ago and he put this into The Fabelmans almost frame-by-frame.
I don't necessarily think Ford thought Spielberg was an idiot, he just knew he was a green 15 year old kid in his office. If you watch many of Spielberg's films, especially Jaws....and certainly in War Horse and look at the way many of the shots are framed, you can see he retained what he learned from that 5 minutes in John Ford's office for the rest of his life. I just re-watched Jaws recently and every horizon shot on the ocean makes a statement.
Ford was a filmmaker that made
Mostly western epics where the horizon was a common backdrop. This is not the kind of advice to use when making a film in space or in a city or an office. What I think he was saying is pay attention to
Where the camera is placed and photographing and make it interesting.
Ford was known for his mean and sarcastic demeanor. If he was especially mean to you, that meant he liked you. He was polite to people he didn't warm up to. He probably felt an affinity to the young Spielberg who would become a great director a few years later.
@speedystriper "If he was especially mean to you, that meant he liked you."
Dead solid perfect!
That’s well said because a lot of directors from the golden age didn’t have the mannerisms that they have now after hearing about dark stories surrounding with making those movies
Why are u talking like you met him and knew him personally.
I hope that scene is in The Fabelmans with David Lynch playing Ford.
It is.
@@JackCoxx did you see the film at Toronto Film Festival?
@@gpapa31 yes. Saw it last night. It’s exactly as he describes
@@jackcox8854 how is the film in general? I only ask because Spielberg I feel he has lost his touch the past few years (can’t blame him he is nearing 80 and with nothing to prove). Although I must admit I loved WSS even if it flopped. But I have a feeling this one won’t do well either. I hope I am dead wrong.
@@gpapa31 it’s an absolute masterwork. Best film I’ve seen this year at TIFF and I’ve seen about 15 or so, so far. The cinematography, editing and performances are all top notch. A long movie but it’s never boring or never lulls.
Spielberg is the Ford of our time
This is my theory on why Ford's horizon theory works: The horizon at the bottom of the frame makes the figures look taller while the horizon at the top of the frame makes them looks small
I could be wrong but when I think about the movies I've seen that employ that technique that's what I think of.
+Sam Harnish Yes, and a low horizon draws attention to the sky, while a high one draws attention to the earth.
Maybe Ford mind "the rule of thirds", in the composition of paintings, photographs and films. Two horizontal and vertical lines divided the image. The horizon sits at the lower third, the action from upper two thirds and the sky in the high tirds.
F.e. the storm in "She wore a yellow ribbon". Masterclass of composition.
That's more the camera angle. A camera angle shot from below makes the figure look tall, shot from above makes the figure look short. He was referring to a level shot and how to properly fill space to make it interesting, basically a simplified version of the Rule of Thirds.
It could also be a question of scale, distance and emptiness. A low horizon would convey a greater distance making the characters that are the focus of the shot seem isolated from the world. The classic example would be Omar Sharif riding towards the waterhole early in David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia (linked below). Likewise a high horizon could give a sense that the figures are apart but not so distant as in the shot of an Indian war party or cavalry troop riding along a ridge line used in so many of Ford's own westerns.
ua-cam.com/video/ud1zpHW3ito/v-deo.html
Yeah, love these stories of Master & Apprentice.
I like the complete lack of explanation for John Ford's face being covered in kisses in The Fabelmans! 🤣
1:04 2:53 He did that all from memory when he filmed The Fabelmans?
GENIUS!
It seems very clear to me that this has been one of his absolute favorite stories to tell from the moment it happened to him haha. He's probably recited it to people multiple times a year for decades so he's got the details locked in cold.
This is AMAZING.
Whose here after The Fabelmans
thanks for all these interviews Jon, It's rare to get such a unique experience like this! you should do this for all of your films and spread the word to any other filmmakers to do the same, I would love to see stuff like this more for other films :)
David Lynch was brilliant!
That is pure magic....
Now one has a clearer picture of what that moment meant to him.
Spielberg is the best.
Fabelmans ❤
"Get the fuck out of here!!!" Poor young Spielberg.
Great story, as John Ford made classics, like How green was my valley in 1942.
Great story
@ortebalm09 No! Lucky young Spielberg. He meet John Ford and got a lesson in filmmaking from him. Clearly the lesson had an impact on Spielberg, don't ya think?
Lynch is going to kill this scene! Cant wait to see it myself
He did it 😭
"When The Horizon Is In the Middle Of The Shot, It's BORING...Now, Get The FUCK Outta My Office!"
@Giles, yes that is amazing! He literally traces the 3 horizons perfectly on the screen at 2:38. Definitely the sign of a visual thinker, just imagined that perfect frame out in front of him.
Why the hell did they bleep it! I wanna hear Spielberg swear!
Great directors discussing the "master" fim maker!
Excellent! Thanks, and be sure to see David Lynch do this scene from the Fablemans.
Brilliant
Whats extraordinary about this is look- Spielberg draws a line EXACTLY across the middle of the frame, he points a line EXACTLY across the bottom of the frame and EXACTLY across the top. EXACTLY accurately. He's not even looking at the lense nor can he know what the camera man is even doing with the shot.
nah
@@markthomas8018 how is it not???
Why do so many people pronounce cavalry as "calvary"? Even Spielberg.
So he gave the biggest possible spoilers to the ending of his movie 11 years before release huh??
Came here post fabelmans
Steve heard John Fords brilliance, to bad he didn't catch on at the second picture! That was a mini John Ford production!
However, Ford wasn't simply saying "Never put the horizon in the middle of the screen," but rather to not habitually, unquestioningly do so every time. As an example, where is the horizon in the famous opening scene of The Searchers? Right in the middle.
Was it really John Ford; or more like David Lynch! ;-)
I feel like I saw this story in a movie…
Wow pretty accurate with the David Lynch scene
Where can I see the full interview?
"That is your oath."
*SLAP*
"And that is so you remember it."
Ah! That's Great!
I wonder if Ford ever noted what a talent Spielberg became (or if he even remembered him). This story would have happened about 1967 or so. Spielberg was working before Ford's death in 1973 but his big film, Jaws, didn't come out until 1975.
.
You answered your own question.
@@lynnturman8157 Not really. As I said - Spielberg WAS working before Ford's death. He just hadn't had his big break. Ford could have seen what a talent Spielberg was - from that earlier work - but - since it wasn't the big splash that Jaws was - I don't know if he did. If he'd lived long enough for Jaws to come out - yes - then I would imagine Ford would have heard of it - whether he remembered Spielberg or not.
.
I believe he had already made “Duel,” which was a fantastic made for TV movie with Dennis Weaver.
@@charleswinokoor6023 Actually, he has a lot of credits for different things. The stuff that goes back to the late '50's and early '60's is probably stuff he did as a kid - but there's a lot of television there in the late '60's and early '70's so maybe Ford did see some of it.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Spielberg_filmography
My guess - is that these people that arranged for him to meet Ford - were really impressed by him and may have conveyed that to Ford.
Something like:
"Hey Jack, you should have a word with this kid. He's pretty sharp."
.
@@BobSmith-dk8nwNo. In real life he was only 15 when that meeting with Ford took place.
@Frye666 You and me both brother!
Well, that was the great John Ford for you...
Haha great story
spielberg is a vegetarian, and donated thousands to a horse sanctuary here in l.a.
Conducted by JON
What's Happy doing here? Doesn't he have to be with Peter or else?
I wonder if John ford ever saw duel
one question,the secretary kissed john ford or not?
No, it was whoever Ford was having lunch with. The secretary ran in after him to wipe the kiss marks off.
is nobody else wondering wth the kiss marks were about?
Ford cheated on his wife many times.
He was out for “lunch.”
@@FrancoisDressler No, he didn't.
@cyborlite Hphmm I guess! didn't thought about it!
Spielberg is dressed like Jack.
Spielberg even sounds like Lynch doing Ford! 😀
@Frye666 For 3 lives, in my books.
lynch plays a similar role, perfectly, in the louis show, as a vetter for louis to replace letterman (fictionalised). ua-cam.com/video/HlEJbs02wAM/v-deo.html
Louis - a show that can be rightly called an overused term on YT, underrated. IMHO
Great story. Sounds like "Jack" Ford to me.
David lynch had a blast playing him 😅 john ford was kinda of a genius but also kind of an ass hat like kubrick
that's like saying: oh, that's not right many more directors were influenced by D. W. Griffith, it's ridiculous... You make it sound like Einsenstein's the best because you are clearly an Einsenstein aficionado but he simply is not, while he was a true pioneer in montage when it comes to true "intellectual" depth within film, picture makers like Hawks, Renoir, Welles and Ford are arguably the most influential artists that inspired Spielber's generation.
Holy crap. I am in LA for the summer and I want to be a director. This is what I need to do!
I stand my point on the filmmakers that inspired Spielberg's generation because is the damn truth, because they've said it and you can see it in their movies, your amazing Eisenstein sure inspired the generation before the one I mentioned, but it was in terms of technique and I bet you aren't as stupid as to think film is all about technique are you?,guess what,I've studied film as long as you have and I haven't finished yet, don't want to, guess I'm not as idiotic as to call myself an "expert".
1:35
2 caps and 1 head
jon favrau doesn;'t get a mention?
Hahaha john ford probally thought spielberg was an idiot. Wow was he wrong!
This story is obviously false. The real John Ford would have sworn a lot more.
😂 🤣
Spoiler 😃
Immediate nepotism.
JOHN FORD-------- I just don't get it!! Take a look at "Sgt. Rutledge" All John Ford actors and one of the worst films EVER! Donavan's Reef---trash. Punch people and drink and as Lee Marvin said,"...Ford said to me, you don't have to read the script just know we are filming in Hawaii"
Let it. He supports Trump.
My mame's John Ford.I make westerns.
Natani Nez, Tall Leader, the Navajos calling him.
The Greater Artist XX Century.
She, or whoever, or whatever...
More.
"Sgt. Rutledge" Woody Strode, half afroamerican, half native american, ACTOR, sportman. In the Jonh Ford's last days, the only friend.
The America I love.
"The Donovan's Reef". Maybe it isn't the best John Ford movie. But John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Haway, Whiskey, Punch Comedy ... sounds good:
"-Many aussies. Pinkus, (turn his cap), now, you are Yankee... (and punch)".
Ha ha ha.
As regards "Sgt. Rutleledge" - you just don't know what you're talking about. As per "Donavan"s Reef" - It's purely a recreactional film made in Hawaii made for the sheer fun of it (and by the way, Ford had sure earned it at that point, after almost a half century of being the most hard working filmmaker in Hollywood).
He talks too fast. Ford spoke sparingly and slow.
Ford made art.
Speilberg tries.
Ford was trash never made a good film