Steven Spielberg Pays Tribute to John Williams at Maestro’s Doc Premiere: “Greatest Creative Partner I Have Ever Had”

As a gamer who has grown up with the magical world of cinema, I can’t help but feel like a kid in a candy store reminiscing about the timeless collaboration between Steven Spielberg and John Williams. Their partnership is not just a symphony of creativity, but a journey through my childhood memories.


During the inaugural screening of Disney+’s documentary titled “Music by John Williams” at the AFI Fest’s opening ceremony on a Wednesday evening, esteemed filmmaker Steven Spielberg paused for a moment to reminisce about his decades-long partnership with the revered composer.

The pair have collaborated on almost thirty films, such as Jaws, E.T., Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, and the Indiana Jones series. Spielberg is producing a new documentary about Williams, and during a private viewing in LA, he reminisced about their long-standing tradition of hosting benefit concerts for orchestras across the U.S. For amusement, Spielberg showed a four-minute clip from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade without music, commenting that it would seem like 14 minutes. However, when Williams conducted an orchestra to play the same scene, the same four minutes felt like just 90 seconds.

Spielberg praised film scoring, particularly John Williams’ work, saying it consistently elevates movies and leaves an indelible mark. He added that often, after watching a movie with John Williams’ score, one might forget the film itself, but the music remains vividly in memory.” (Paraphrased)

He went on to say, “I adore John, he’s not just a friend, but feels like family; he’s an exceptional collaborator. Over the past 52 years that John and I have been working together, composing music for my films, I can honestly say he’s the best creative partner I’ve ever had in this field.

Despite the absence of 92-year-old Williams, the event was attended by producers such as Ron Howard, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall. Additionally, there were notable supporters like J.J. Abrams, Gustavo Dudamel, and Bryce Dallas Howard in attendance.

Howard expressed gratitude to Williams for entrusting the team with sharing his story, and added his thoughts about whether the composer would actually retire as suggested earlier. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he speculated, “I believe Steven will entice him for another project.

Laurent Bouzereau has been persistently urging Williams for many years to create a documentary. When Williams turned 90, it appeared to be the perfect moment. Bouzereau mentioned that the composer is thrilled with the film, stating that he’s called, written, and even talked to him this morning. He said Williams felt it was very unique, adding that it took some time for him to grow fond of the project due to his reserved nature and preference for privacy. However, as the process went on, Williams warmed up to it and even asked when they would do the next interview. The team followed him everywhere, so he eventually got accustomed to their presence.

On November 1st, I’ll be thrilled to catch the premiere of John Williams’ music, which is set to debut on Disney+. There will also be a select few theatrically screenings happening in New York, Los Angeles, and London for those who prefer the big-screen experience.

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2024-10-24 19:54