Signature Spielberg: 7 Filmmaking Techniques Of The Iconic Director

“The Spielberg Face” was first used to create effect in jaws.

The idea is simple, zoom in on a character as they are looking at something. Most of the time, this character is amazed, and the thing that they are looking at is revealed to the audience slowly, after the character shows their expression. Watch Jurassic Park, Close Encounters, and The Color Purple to see how often the director employs this technique.

One of his favourite camera angles is using a mirror or window reflection to capture his characters indirectly. Typically the character is watching something through the window, and that scene is reflected for the audience to see. Spielberg also uses rearview mirrors in cars to frame and show action, such as in Jurassic Park when the T-Rex is chasing the jeep.