Steven Spielberg

And I bring that up because I think a lot of people, maybe people early in their career, understand that the way that you get better is by having people challenge you, right?

You have longtime collaborators, but I wonder how, putting modesty aside for a moment, do you think about how your stature affects how people interact with you, how people challenge you?

And just generally, how do you continue to grow when you are at the level that you are at?

Well, it was a hindrance to me at the beginning of my career because everybody felt so open and free to help me because I was young.

I was 22 years old when I directed my first television show.

And the help was fantastic.

When I made my first film, Sugar Land, I had a lot of help from the actors, from Goldie Hawn, from the crew.

They were all there to help me.

They asked me questions.

They gave me suggestions.

Then Jaws was made.

And Jaws was a phenomenon.

And...

All of a sudden, all that input stopped.

I started to make close encounters and everybody was quiet, as if I knew what to do, as if I knew I had all the answers.

I didn't have all the answers.

I was desperate for collaboration, for opinions.

Everybody assumed I knew everything and didn't need any help.

I solicited.

I went around asking people questions.