Apparently Steven Spielberg used to be a real jerk to his crew until producer Kathleen Kennedy stepped in and gave him what for. The woman had seen that he could be a very loving and kind man to his cast but would be a draconic and often hard-handed jerk to his crew. He would work them relentlessly and be entirely too demanding and something of a hothead to those that he depended on. It seems that this might be the same for a lot of directors, but Kennedy was having none of it on the set of E.T.: The Extraterrestrial. Much as an old-fashioned schoolmarm might have done she marched Steven in his office and let him have it.
For his own part Steven listened and paid attention, citing that he felt a sudden shift in his life that occurred during her browbeating. He stated that at that point he knew he had to change since someone he truly respected had just given him the verbal drubbing he so badly needed. From that point on Spielberg started attempting to treat everyone on his crew with more respect. Good on you Kathleen, sometimes even grown men need to hear that they’re stepping too far out of line. Since then Kathleen has been involved with a number of different films and Spielberg has become a legend in his own right. He’s also been a lot nicer guy as some people would attest to.
There’s a trick when it comes to working with people and it’s pretty simple if one can learn it quickly and apply to their professional lives. The Golden Rule isn’t just lip service to an outdated time when manners were important. It’s a very stout and important guideline for how to treat people in all walks of life, from the grandest to the most destitute. If one desires for others to treat them with respect then it’s necessary to extend that same level of respect. To get you must give and by giving you tend to earn the regard of your fellow man or woman in a way that’s far more satisfying and can lead to a much more productive and efficient time on the set. Working in the movie industry is undoubtedly stressful and very fast-paced, but there’s no pace quick enough to elude the need for manners.
Spielberg has admitted that when he was young he was impetuous, hot-headed, and liked having his way. After the talk with Kennedy however he suddenly realized that the world wasn’t going to bow to his every whim forever unless he learned how to give as well. That’s something that a lot of people either don’t learn or ignore upon entering the workplace. It might be better to get ahead of the next person, but lording it over them and demanding that they give up more and more of their time and effort to please you is not an acceptable method of interaction. Thankfully Spielberg got the lesson loud and clear since he’s been tolerable and even pleasant ever since.
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