7 Secrets Spielberg Shared at SXSW About Storytelling and Humanity

There is a certain kind of energy that spreads through a room when the person who basically invented the modern blockbuster walks onto a stage. At SXSW this year, that energy was palpable. We were lucky enough to sit in on the keynote conversation between legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg and Sean Fennessey of The Big Picture podcast.

The auteur discussed his lifelong obsession with sci-fi, the "fear-based" imagination that drives his work, and the shift from his optimistic early films to more contemporary concerns about technology and disclosure.

There's a lot to learn from the panel, and we've listed our favorite takeaways for every creator trying to find their voice, manage a set, and stay human in a digital world.

Steven Spielberg on set for 'The Fabelmans' CREDIT: Universal Pictures

1. Weaponize Your Fears

Many of us started making movies because we had big imaginations, but Spielberg reminds us that imagination is a double-edged sword. As a child, he was terrified of everything. Filmmaking became his way of taking control of those "demons."

"Whenever I saw something... I would extrapolate and make it much worse than it actually was... I wanted to create some kind of talisman to protect myself. That’s where the whole movie thing started for me: wanting to find some kind of an outlet to be able to exercise the demons of fear and put it on someone else."

The Takeaway: Don’t run from the things that scare you or the anxieties that keep you up at night. Use them. If a concept makes you uncomfortable or terrified, that’s where the "juice" is. Put that fear on the screen so you don't have to carry it alone.

2. Listen to the "Whispers" of Intuition

We often get bogged down in "intellectualizing" our shots. We want a reason for every lens choice and every movement. But Spielberg, who is perhaps the greatest visual designer in cinema history, argues that over-thinking is the enemy of the "truth" on set.

"Our best friend is our intuition... I listen to the whispers more than I listen to the loud voice of the brain. Thewhispers of the intuition speak stronger to me than my brain, which is always trying to take over. It’s a fight between this and that."

He admits that on films like Schindler’s List and The Fabelmans , he didn't use a single storyboard. He showed up and let the space and the actors dictate the camera.

The Takeaway: Prep is vital, but don't let your shot list become a cage. If you get to a location and your gut tells you the camera belongs in a corner you didn't plan for, put it there. Trust your "whispers."

3. Blocking is Your Secret Language

In an era of fast cuts and "coverage," Spielberg advocates for the lost art of blocking. He points to masters like Elia Kazan and Mike Nichols as the gold standard. For Spielberg, how an actor moves through a space tells the story better than any line of dialogue.

"If you want to watch great blocking, just go back and look at anything that Elia Kazan ever directed... Look at the blocking of Casablanca... That’s storytelling the way I wish everybody would be telling their stories in these modern times."

The Takeaway: Before you settle for a standard "over-the-shoulder" master, ask yourself: How can the physical movement of the characters reveal their internal power dynamics? Use movies as your film school. Study the classics to see how they used the frame to create depth without relying on a million cuts.

'Schindler's List' CREDIT: Universal Pictures

4. The Human Element vs. AI

We’re always looking at how tech empowers us, but we also believe in the soul of the creator. Spielberg’s stance on AI is clear: it has a place in the toolbox, but it cannot sit in the writer’s chair.

"I am for AI in many different disciplines. I am not for AI that replaces a creative individual... Even [in] television, we have a writer's room and all the seats are occupied. There's not any chair with a laptop in front of it."

The Takeaway: Use tech to solve problems, especially in post-production, where budgets are tight, but never let the tool dictate the "why" of your story. The "humanity" is what the audience connects with.

5. Movies Are a "Collective Impulse"

With the rise of streaming, it’s easy to feel like the theatrical experience is on its way out. But Spielberg insists that the "social dislocation" of our modern world makes the dark room of a theater more important than ever.

"There is a collective impulse from a good story that hits all of us at the same time in exactly the same way. And there is something there that is about community and communication... That happens in full movie theaters, not sitting around living rooms."

The Takeaway: When you’re making your shorts or indie features, think about the scale of the experience. Even if you're shooting on a mirrorless camera with no budget, frame for the big screen. Make something that demands to be seen with a group of strangers.

6. Every Master is a Student At Heart

Even after winning multiple Oscars and changing the face of the industry, Spielberg still watches every Academy-nominated short and documentary. He still watches Lawrence of Arabia once a year on 70mm just to "stay humble."

"I always fear if I look back too much, I'll quit looking forward. And so I tend to just keep moving ahead."

He also teased his next project—a Western—promising it will "kick ass" and avoid the tropes of the past.

The Takeaway: If the most successful director in history still feels like he's "trying to be good" in his own eyes, it's okay if you feel that way too. Keep shooting, keep watching, and most importantly, keep listening to those whispers. (It also wouldn't hurt to watch Spielberg's favorite films!)

Steven Spielberg’s next film,Disclosure Day , hits theaters June 12th.