Steven Spielberg ‘fell a little bit short’ on making The Fabelmans autobiographical, says producer Kristie Macosko Krieger

The Fables Producer Kristie Macosko Krieger sat on a panel with her other Zanuck Awards nominees at Saturday’s Producers Guild Awards Nomination Breakfast. Krieger revealed that director Steven Spielberg was visibly emotional in the making of his autobiographical film.

“He almost broke down on set,” Krieger said. “Sometimes it was joy. Sometimes it was sad. Sometimes it was as if he could have his parents back for a while.

Spielberg co-wrote the screenplay with Tony Kushner. The Fabelman family moves to Arizona, where young Sammy Fabelman (Gabiel LaBelle) develops an interest in filmmaking.

As Sammy grows older, he pays more attention to the conflict between his parents (Michelle Williams, Paul Dano) and their eventual divorce. Krieger said she was aware of the importance of creating a protective environment for Spielberg.

“They definitely wanted to surround him with very reliable associates, people with whom he felt safe, people with whom he wanted to spend all his time because he trusted us all with his life,” Krieger said. “We all felt a great responsibility for him and for him to protect him.”

Krieger added that Spielberg expected the screenwriting process to trigger all these memories. He was surprised it wasn’t finished at the time of production.

“He started getting memories from his childhood,” Krieger said. “He thought he was done writing. He told the cast: ‘I’m done, I’ve had my screenwriting therapy with Tony Kushner.’

Everything everywhere at once Producer Jonathan Yang also shared an emotional experience about his film. Yang said that after receiving 11 Oscar nominations, Yang understood the pressure his own father put on him to achieve it.

“I understood where my father was coming from,” Yang said. “You don’t have to meet any specific standard. It was that he wanted to provide security.”

Yang admits he broke, but privately.

“I was in the shower crying so hard,” Yang said. “It was beautiful, because I realized what my father had been doing all these years.”

Top Gun: Maverick Producer Jerry Bruckheimer also shared the emotional side of the year’s biggest blockbuster. Bruckheimer admits that two key characters are missing from the sequel:

“My partner, Don Simpson, who was no longer with us,” Bruckheimer said. “Of course the diamond [director][TonyScottwhosevisionstaysalivetodayin[TonyScottwiesevisievandagnoglewendigbly[TonyScottdessenVisionenheutelebendigbleiben[TonyScottwiensvisietotopdedagvanvandaaglevendblijft[TonyScottwhosevisionstaysalivetodayinTop Gun: Maverickand we are so proud of it.”