Uzi Ben-Ami, Ph.D., is a Rockville, Maryland-based psychologist with over 30 years of experience. He frequently works with adults and children on a variety of issues, ranging from emotional dysregulation to bipolar disorder from mild OCD to full blown adult panic attacks and addiction. In his personal life, Uzi Ben-Ami, Ph.D., is an avid film connoisseur, enjoying the work of directors such as Steven Spielberg.
Steven Spielberg is widely regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers in American cinema, not to mention one of the most successful filmmaker. However, while Spielberg is known for award-winning films such as Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, and Lincoln, the director has also played important, less known roles in a number of additional films.
It was recently revealed, for example, that Tobe Hooper’s directing credit for the 1982 horror classic Poltergeist may have been more honorary than anything else, because Spielberg, credited as writer and producer, is considered by many the film’s true director. The rumor has circulated in Hollywood for years, with die-hard Spielberg fans finding the style of Poltergeist more in line with the sensibilities of Spielberg than Hooper, who directed the iconic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and a number of additional cult horror movies.
Furthering this rumor had been a contractual stipulation which prevented Spielberg from directing a film while working on E.T., which was in pre-production during the filming of Poltergeist. The speculation was finally put to rest when John Leonetti, a crew member on Poltergeist, spoke on a 2017 episode of the Shock Waves podcast. Leonetti asserted that on the Poltergeist set Hooper had creative input and directed isolated segments, but Spielberg served as the unquestioned director over the course of production. Poltergeist grossed an impressive $76.6 million at the box office and spawned a number of sequels, including a 2015 remake.
Steven Spielberg is widely regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers in American cinema, not to mention one of the most successful filmmaker. However, while Spielberg is known for award-winning films such as Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, and Lincoln, the director has also played important, less known roles in a number of additional films.
It was recently revealed, for example, that Tobe Hooper’s directing credit for the 1982 horror classic Poltergeist may have been more honorary than anything else, because Spielberg, credited as writer and producer, is considered by many the film’s true director. The rumor has circulated in Hollywood for years, with die-hard Spielberg fans finding the style of Poltergeist more in line with the sensibilities of Spielberg than Hooper, who directed the iconic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and a number of additional cult horror movies.
Furthering this rumor had been a contractual stipulation which prevented Spielberg from directing a film while working on E.T., which was in pre-production during the filming of Poltergeist. The speculation was finally put to rest when John Leonetti, a crew member on Poltergeist, spoke on a 2017 episode of the Shock Waves podcast. Leonetti asserted that on the Poltergeist set Hooper had creative input and directed isolated segments, but Spielberg served as the unquestioned director over the course of production. Poltergeist grossed an impressive $76.6 million at the box office and spawned a number of sequels, including a 2015 remake.
