THE FABELMANS Q&A with Steven Spielberg, Paul Dano and Michelle Williams | TIFF 2022 

I'm happy to see Paul Dano playing characters that are not crazy.

It's admirable that this movie has no villains - even the bullies, Sammy just wants them to be kind to him for just 5 minutes, even seeing a potential friend in one of his enemies

What a career this man has had.. so greatful to have lived in the same generation and to be able to say I've watched his movies at the cinema. Seeing jurrasic park for the first time in a theatre with my family was truly incredible and a memory I will never forget. Looking forward to seeing this as the enthusiasm in Steven Spielberg looks great and that's sold it for me.

In 1999, Steven Spielberg said he had been thinking of directing a film about his childhood for some time. Titled I'll Be Home, the project was originally written by his sister Anne Spielberg. He explained, "My big fear is that my mom and dad won't like it and will think it's an insult and won't share my loving yet critical point of view about what it was like to grow up with them." In 2002, Spielberg said he was nervous about making I'll Be Home: "It's so close to my life and so close to my family - I prefer to make films that are more analogous. But a literal story about my family will take a lot of courage. I still think I make personal movies even if they do look like big commercial popcorn films." In 2005, while working on Munich, Spielberg told screenwriter Tony Kushner his life story, with Kushner telling him in response: "You're going to have to make a movie about that someday." The film's plot outline was worked on in 2019 during filming of Spielberg's 2021 film version of West Side Story. The work on the screenplay for The Fabelmans began in October 2020 during the lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kushner reflected on the experience, saying, "We wrote three days a week, four hours a day, and we finished the script in two months: by leagues the fastest I've finished anything. It was a blast. I loved it. In March 2021, Spielberg was announced to direct the film, with his involvement as co-screenwriter marking his first writing venture on a film since A.I. Artificial Intelligence. It was also reported that Kristie Macosko Krieger would produce the film with Kushner and Spielberg. In March 2022, cinematographer Janusz Kamiński said the film would chronicle Spielberg's life from age seven to eighteen and deal with "his family, with his parents, conundrums with his sisters, but primarily deals with his passion for movie-making," while adding that it will touch on the themes of "young love, parental divorce, and early formative relationships ... It's a very beautiful, beautiful personal movie. It's very revealing about Steven's life and who he is as a filmmaker." In casting the film, Spielberg explained that "Part of it had to be organic, and it had to be authentic to me. It wasn't really about anything beyond who can I have the most profound connection with and that reminds me the most of the people that brought me into the world and raised me and gave me good values." In March 2021, Michelle Williams was in negotiations to star as Mitzi Fabelman, the role inspired by Spielberg's mother Leah Adler, but with "an original voice." Spielberg himself had her in mind for the role after watching her performance in Blue Valentine. That same month, it was reported that Seth Rogen joined the cast to play Bennie Loewy, the role inspired by "the favorite uncle of young Spielberg", while Williams was confirmed to have been cast. On April 8, 2021, Paul Dano joined the cast as Burt Fabelman, the role inspired by Spielberg's father Arnold. Dano admitted that he felt intimidated by playing the role because "the stakes felt really high ... You're embodying one of the most important, influential, complicated figures in [Spielberg's] life. It was incredible to see how much of this was in his work the whole time. He's sharing a piece of himself that I find very moving. There's a real gift in it, when somebody of that stature and at that level of artistry is willing to do that." In May 2021, after a three month search, Gabriel LaBelle entered final negotiations to portray the lead role, Sammy Fabelman, a young aspiring filmmaker based on Spielberg himself. He would be confirmed the next month in addition to the casting of Julia Butters as Reggie Fabelman, the role inspired by Spielberg's sister Anne. Later that June, Sam Rechner was cast as well. In July, Chloe East, Oakes Fegley, Isabelle Kusman, Jeannie Berlin, Judd Hirsch, Robin Bartlett and Jonathan Hadary were added to the cast. In August, Gabriel Bateman, Nicolas Cantu, Gustavo Escobar, Lane Factor, Cooper Dodson and Stephen Matthew Smith were cast. They were later followed by newcomers Keeley Karsten, Birdie Borria, Alina Brace, Sophia Kopera, and Mateo Zoryna Francis-Deford. In February 2022, it was announced David Lynch would also star in an undisclosed role. In September 2022, during the film's world premiere, LaBelle revealed that he initially did not win the part of Sammy following his first audition but did upon receiving a callback three months afterward. On finally reading the script and learning the details about his character being a fictionalized version of Spielberg himself as a teenager for mostly the entire film, he recalled "When I was auditioning, the character’s name was Teenage Sammy - I thought as opposed to Adult Sammy ... I get the script and you’re reading it for 30 pages and he’s 6 and 8 years old. Page 35 or so Teenage Sammy comes along. OK, good! Now this is my part. It’s going to be a three-act movie, it’s going to be a Moonlight or something. I kept waiting for my exit but it never came." Spielberg himself revealed that the role of Sammy was the hardest to cast, saying "As a kid growing up, I always had a lot of reasons why I was always in the corner, why I was always not the center of conversation ... I needed someone who wasn’t going to bring too much self-awareness to Sammy." Principal photography began in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles in July 2021. During the shoot, the cast gained access to home movies, photographs and recollections from Spielberg's family's past to learn what they were like and how to portray the fictionalized versions of them (the Fabelman family) on screen, while making them feel fresh and original. Paul Dano reflected "It was overwhelming and it was sort of a heavy cloak to bear because we were with someone who was having a big experience everyday, revisiting and reworking through a part of their life ... For somebody like Steven to share that much of himself with us - with the audience too - it was really a profound experience." For the scenes of Sammy filming his own 8mm films, Spielberg decided to have the character recreate the exact ones he made during his childhood, and worked with Kamiński to ensure that they were portrayed as accurately as possible, but with improvements in the camera angles. Spielberg remarked "It was joyful being able to recreate those films ... I shot a lot of films when I was a kid on 8mm. It was unique in those days. Not a lot of people were going out and shooting in 8mm. It was physical; it was a craft. You had to sit there with a…splicer, and then you had to scrape the emulsion off the film in order to get a seal so when you put glue on it, you literally glued the film together. And I must say, I miss it." Gabriel LaBelle was unaware of the casting of David Lynch until the day the scene he had to do with him was filmed. He recalled that once Lynch came onto the set, it enabled him to embody Sammy and how he was feeling, recalling "[Lynch is] a great guy. But leading up to it, Sammy's nervous, so I'm getting nervous."

I knew Leah like a soulmate, we had an instant connection in 1977 (did not know who Steve was, but obviously found out ) and I worked in her first restaurant for four years About thirty hours a week. I stayed because of our closeness and, after, visited her regularly for forty years. We were confidants, and truly trusted and loved one another. She was a social artistic being but let very few people into her private life. A complex beautiful woman. All her children came in often, and I knew her life's story, these stories, back then. I never met a family so like my own. Sometimes friends share with each other what they may not with family, so this is going to be an emotional ride; to see someone you knew so deeply portrayed in a film. I am both nervous and excited. Leah, I miss you and know you would want this. xox

Definitely want to see this. So glad Speilberg is directing a movie on his life.

Steven is the kindest man. I met him quickly last year at a west side story screening. I’m disabled and I was bullied in middle school and I think it’s so funny he says ‘the bullying wasn’t a reflection on the school’. My bullying was DEFINITELY a reflection of the school, Steven, but you’re being nice. 🤣

Remarkable! This film appears to have a defining truth for many aspiring artists of the past, present, and future generations. There’s a nobility to follow one’s dreams, despite the external struggles. This is a love letter to all film makers of the world. Thank you, Steven!

Spielberg is a national treasure and regarding Paul Dano's performance in The Fabelmans movie, I could notice how talented he is as an actor.

Soo excited for this. Michelle looks soo happy here, she's glowing 🥰🥰

He’s so excited, I love it! Can’t wait to see this. It’s going to be an emotional one. So happy he premiered it at TIFF. Well deserved 👏👏👏

Extraordinary filmmaker and producer, my all time favourite..what a great filmography in his lifetime.

Oh THANK GOD Spielberg said it's not because he's going to retire. Honestly, I was afraid of that. Wonder if he saw my reaction to one of their posts lol. Thanks Steven for clearing that up WOOOHOOOOOO. Can't wait for the movie to be released in the Netherlands

Over 40 years of filmmaking and this was the first festival where Spielberg entered one of his films?! That’s surprising!

His moivies come out of his heart. That's indisputable.

I'm a screenwriter in Hollywood and dream everyday that Spielberg would make my war epic film. I'm an Army veteran and wrote a film that has an all-star cast that would be a perfect fit for the director. Wish me luck...

This one is Spielberg’s “Super 8” …I’m happy Steven was able to do what JJ Abrams did earlier. It would have been great to see JJ collaborate as a writer or actor in this one ! Can’t wait to see it. What a bunch of terrific people.

Gracias Sr. Spielberg. Sus películas formaron parte de mi niñez, adolescencia y adultez. Formaron parte del desarrollo de mi creatividad e ideas acerca del mundo real y ficticio.

I love paul dano

I wrote a fictional semi autobiographical screenplay as well. When I learned Spielberg was doing a similar script I was so excited. He's one of the best directors and I can't wait to watch this.

Gabriel LaBelle did so goood! I can’t believe he’s a new discovery

Can't wait to see this. So glad it made its debut here in Toronto!

The great Steven Spielberg, winner 6 academy awards for best picture, Jaws, Close encounters, Raiders, E.T., Schindlers list and Saving private Ryan.

I recognize a lot of stories I have heard about Spielberg's early life in this trailer Im excited for this movie I wonder how far into his life this movie will be

The last time a Spielberg movie won Best Picture at the Academy Awards was 30 years ago when Schindler's List won in 1994. IT'S ABOUT TIME to add another movie of one of the best directors of all time to that list of Best Picture winners

Can’t wait to see this!!

Love, love. Love this film! Bravo Stephen, Tony, and the whole cast.

Definitely have to see this film!

An incredible moving....loved it.

Great observations/questions here from the host. Steven Spielberg is a class act.

AHHHH! I can't wait 🥰

I sure hope his new movie will MUST WIN those Oscar awards. Would u fans agree??

🐐🐐🐐

Steven: "Tony I think I need therapy, I need closure in a bunch of subjects of my past" Tony: "Wanna talk about it...while we make it into a biopic?"

The question on everyones mind.....where is David Lynch? I’d love to be a fly on the set when Steven was directing David.

If anyone saw Jay Cheel in the audience, he had covid so get checked

Why did they not provide chairs for them to sit down in.They should have provided chairs especially for Michelle Williams who is quite pregnant.

Paul Dano is very tall

Did they forget to mention Seth Rogan?

is seth rogen transforming into ron perlman?

DITCH the cigars, Steven. I thought you had more sense.

Meeeeh

Wait...Steven Spielberg is JEWISH?!?!

Whose the big blonde doofus with the glasses & the beard? They need to have better security at these events.

Unfortunately, I’m boycotting Seth Rogen. Will never watch this movie

So self serving...