Curated playlist
American science fiction film directors
- Steven SpielbergSteven Spielberg walked into Universal Studios without a pass, and the guard waved him in.
- Stanley KubrickAfter copycat crimes and death threats, Stanley Kubrick pulled A Clockwork Orange from release in the United Kingdom.
- George LucasGeorge Lucas turned down a higher directing fee for Star Wars. He asked for toy and merchandise rights instead.
- Christopher NolanChristopher Nolan has no smartphone and no email address. He hand-delivers his scripts to the actors he wants.
- Rian JohnsonRian Johnson shot his debut film, Brick, at his old high school. It cost roughly $450,000 and grossed nearly $4 million.
- J. J. AbramsJ. J. Abrams wrote his first film score at age 16 for a horror movie. The 1982 low-budget film was called Nightbeast.
- Dave FiloniDave Filoni thought George Lucas's job offer was a prank. He later became president of Lucasfilm.
- Michael CrichtonMichael Crichton once submitted a George Orwell essay as his own and got a B-minus.
- Joss WhedonJoss Whedon earned more from a web musical than from directing The Avengers.
- The Duffer BrothersThe Duffer Brothers turned down Florida State's film school because it would not let the twins study together.
- Colin TrevorrowA strange 1997 magazine ad seeking a time-travel partner became Colin Trevorrow's breakout film.
- Irvin KershnerIrvin Kershner once asked George Lucas a direct question: "Of all the younger guys around, all the hot-shots, why me?" Kershner told the story himself, and Lucas had an answer ready: "Well, because you know everything a Hollywood director…