The Steven Spielberg edition of “Inside the Actor’s Studio” ends with Holly Hunter, Spielberg’s good friend and one of his favorite actors, crashing the taping. Host James Lipton calls Hunter to the stage and, after exchanging amused greetings, she asks Spielberg how he enjoyed the evening. Spielberg’s reaction reveals the magic of the show.
The Steven Spielberg edition of “Inside the Actor’s Studio” ends with Holly Hunter, Spielberg’s good friend and one of his favorite actors, crashing the taping. Host James Lipton calls Hunter to the stage and, after exchanging amused greetings, she asks Spielberg how he enjoyed the evening. Spielberg’s reaction reveals the magic of the show.
“Best time of my entire life,” he says to her.
Hunter’s eyebrows raise excitedly. “Really?” she asks, and he repeats himself.
As the audience resumes a standing ovation, Spielberg shakes Lipton’s hand and draws the host into an embrace. Spielberg speaks quietly into Lipton’s ear, but the microphone is still live, and the viewer can hear Spielberg tell Lipton, “I really want to thank you. I’ll never forget this.”
“Inside the Actor’s Studio” is a fascinating combination of education and celebrity worship. Lipton, who runs the New School film department, interviews Hollywood stars in front of an audience comprised of university film students and assorted film buffs, all of whom want an honest glimpse into an actor’s mind.
My parents had “Studio” tickets this past semester, and I attended one of the evenings (with Dennis Quaid as the guest). The night is incredibly long and intense: Lipton’s interviews can last three hours, and the Q&A sessions that follow can easily run an hour or more.
I assumed actors and directors who volunteered for the interrocation did so because of the honor, but Spielberg’s comments reveal something more.
“Inside the Actor’s Studio” makes these people feel special. Indeed, they are often placed on pedestals, sometimes against their will, but that is out of admiration or envy, dissociate characteristics to the craft of acting.
Lipton gives the interviewees a different angle: They are special not because of their celebrity, but because of what they do and how they do it. Not because of looks or humor or good casting, but because effort and accomplishment is seen and appreciated by people who understand the degree of difficulty behind such excellence. Celebrity is shallow; recognition of craft is an invaluable reward.
A man like Steven Spielberg can make money in his sleep and receive awards and bring things to life that touch the world. But for him, spending a few hours discussing his craft with an excited, impressionable audience, and being appreciated by his peers for the superlative quality of his craft, is a rare and special treat.