Paul Schrader and Steven Spielberg seem like a marriage made in heaven. What happened? I love reading and learning about film history. There are so many great writers and directors who often collaborated behind the scenes, helping one another achieve their best work. Recently, a friend sent me an article on how Paul Schrader worked behind the scenes with Steven Spielberg on a near draft of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I went on a deeper dive and found some audio discussing his work on the film and the ideas in general. Check out the recording, and let's talk after the jump. Brief spoilers for Close Encounters to follow. What Did Paul Schrader's First Draft of Close Encounters Look Like? Most writers don't want to talk about their failures. I have a long list of them that I hate going over. At one point in his life, Paul Schrader called his Close Encounters script “one of the most embarrassing screenplays ever professionally turned in to a major film studio or director.” So you know where he's coming from. Read More...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Wednesday, 3 February, 2021