Steven Spielberg's Advice to Emerging Horror Directors: Staying Grounded in Success
Renowned filmmaker Steven Spielberg recently shared valuable advice with emerging horror directors Curry Barker and Kane Parsons during an episode of The Rest Is Entertainment. Spielberg emphasized the importance of staying grounded and not letting success overshadow future projects. Drawing from his own experience directing Jaws in his 20s, Spielberg highlighted the need to approach each new film as a fresh start.
Both Barker's Obsession and Parsons' Backrooms have achieved significant success at the box office. Obsession, released on May 15, has become the highest-grossing festival acquisition ever, earning $238.7 million globally and receiving critical acclaim with a 94 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Backrooms, which premiered on May 29, has grossed $220.6 million worldwide against a $10 million budget, making it A24's top-grossing film in North America.
Following Spielberg's advice, Barker expressed gratitude for the director's praise of Obsession during an appearance on Today. Spielberg's words serve as a reminder to emerging filmmakers that each project presents a new opportunity to prove themselves and continue growing in their careers.