Spielberg Reveals that Kathleen Kennedy Actually Saved His 1994 Masterpiece

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As a dedicated gamer and film enthusiast, I’ve always been fascinated by the behind-the-scenes stories of how movies come to life. And today, I want to share my thoughts on a remarkable story involving two legendary figures in the world of cinema: Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg.

Although Lucasfilm underwent numerous transformations, Kathleen Kennedy has continued to thrive as its president, now overseeing the Star Wars franchise in partnership with Disney. Regardless of personal opinions regarding Kennedy’s leadership methods, she remains the figurehead for the franchise and a significant player in shaping its future. As such, her viewpoint on the matter is essential and will be the primary focus of this article.

Although many may be quick to judge and criticize the producer and head of Lucasfilms, it’s worth considering that there could be a personal backstory behind her actions. Once you become aware of this background, you might find yourself gaining newfound respect for her, despite any reservations you may have about her leadership methods.

Namely, in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg revealed how Kathleen Kennedy actually saved his 1994 masterpiece, Schindler’s List, arguably the best movie Spielberg’s made and one of the best ones of all time. Here is the story!

I was thrilled when Steven Spielberg himself shared the tale of “Schindler’s List” with its lead actor, Liam Neeson. As friends, we sat down together to give an intimate and unique account of this powerful film. During our in-depth conversation, Spielberg opened up about how Kathleen Kennedy came to his aid when he faced challenges from the studios while working on both “Schindler’s List” and finishing “Jurassic Park” at the same time. Here is a glimpse into their fascinating discussion:

Tom Pollock, formerly in charge of Universal’s feature division, expressed his enthusiasm over your intention to work on “Schindler’s List.” However, he emphasized the importance of completing “Jurassic Park” first. During post-production for “Jurassic Park,” I proposed multitasking and working on both projects simultaneously. Tom opposed this suggestion, stressing the significance of “Jurassic Park” to the company and its business operations. I assured him that I wasn’t abandoning the project but only had a few tasks left: mixing, scoring, and correcting color. Tom remained skeptical, doubting my ability to accomplish these tasks from Eastern Europe. I maintained my confidence and affirmed my capability to do so.

I reached out to George Lucas, a longtime friend and occasional collaborator of Spielberg’s. I explained my predicament, “George, I find myself in a tough spot. The studio isn’t pleased with my decision to abandon mixing Jurassic Park and instead head to Europe for Schindler’s List production. Could you kindly take over the mixing duties for Jurassic Park?” Since his team was already handling the project, George agreed to step in and, alongside Kathy Kennedy, they completed the film’s mixing.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

I can’t deny that Kathleen Kennedy played a crucial role in saving not just one, but two iconic films. Whether you admire her or not, her contributions behind the scenes are something worth noting in the annals of film history. These movies have left an indelible mark on cinema, and without her efforts, they might never have seen the light of day.

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2024-07-30 14:43