Steven Spielberg is one of the most respected and talented people to have ever existed in the film industry. Having the knowledge of a legend in cinema, a lot can be learned from him. Many would give a lot to get an opportunity to ask the filmmaker just one question. But of course, very few get such a chance.
Josh Brolin, best known for his work as Thanos in the MCU, No Country for Old Men and Sicario, once got this rare gift. One would assume that the skilled and successful actor would have asked the perfect question from the filmmaker and gotten the perfect response. However, the truth could not be further from it.
Josh Brolin Has An Odd Question For Steven Spielberg
Josh Brolin gave an interview with GQ, where he took a trip down memory lane of his professional life. One of his first-ever acting gigs was the 1985 film, Goonies, directed by Richard Donner. During the filming of the movie, Steven Spielberg would often visit the sets, even though he was not a part of the film, a practice that is not unheard of in Hollywood.
“It was a really innocent and a really fun time, and I thought that’s how movies were done and they weren’t. I remember coming up to Spielberg at some point, ’cause I was reading Stanislavsky, and even though he didn’t direct it, he was there pretty much every day” said Brolin
During one such visit, Brolin found the perfect opportunity to ask him a question. There is a part in the film where the characters are in a tunnel. The young and new actor decided to go up to one of the most successful directors of all time and ask him if he thought the caves looked like the inside of his mother’s womb.
“I said, “Hey, like, don’t you think these tunnels are like my mother’s womb, and that, like, that I’m scratching to get out of the womb, and that I need to be born again?” But it’s a different-whatever I said.” he continued.
He further elaborated that he felt as though he was scratching the walls to get out of her womb and needed to get reborn as a different person.
Steven Spielberg Gave An Insightful Answer
While the question on its own would mortify many, Steven Spielberg gave a simple, two-worded answer. He told Josh Brolin to just act, asking him to do the job that he was there to do. While these two words can be misinterpreted in the worst of ways, the Thanos actor clarified that the intention behind them was anything but negative.
“And he looked at me, and he goes, “Just act.” And I was like, “I know, but-” And he wasn’t being rude, he was just like, “Don’t overcomplicate it. Just get in there, look around, listen to people, and just do your deal.””
Brolin went on to reveal that what Spielberg was trying to tell him through these words was to not get lost in his own head and distract himself from his craft. He understood that the young actor was quick to get carried away by his thoughts and wanted to make sure that he did not do that yet again. So, Spielberg asked him to focus on acting, as a way to keep his attention on one thing.
