- STEVEN SPIELBERG
Steven Spielberg is a brilliant writer and filmmaker aside from being among the richest businessman in the U.S. with earnings of $110 million in 2007. He is best known of writing, producing and directing movies which were mostly blockbuster hits and became classic through time. He is best known for his film “Jaw” (1975) which became a hit and gave birth to the tradition of summer blockbuster. He was also known for his film, “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial”, which aside from being another blockbuster hit, had also awaken the awareness of viewers on the possibility of other living creatures other than those who live on earth. It somehow triggered more explorations on the outer space in quest for understanding the universe and the possibility of finding another habitable planet (IMDb website).
Spielberg was born in Cincinati, Ohio and grew up in Arizona to a family of four with an electrical engineer as a father. He was an average student at school but was pampered at home. Because of his father’s work too, they moved a lot and rarely had a permanent set of friends. He has always been an amateur filmmaker until the time that he became one of the youngest directors for television at the Universal Studios.
Other than his science fiction and futuristic films, he is also known for His historical films such as the movie “Schindler’s List” which depicts a businessman protagonist who help saved several Polish-Jewish refugees from the Holocaust by employing them in his factories. He portrayed the hardship of life during the World War II and brought the viewers back in time where even our lives are in the hands of the political leaders (Bio website). His great affection to the victims of war was also manifested when he organized the USC Shoah Foundation from the profit of his film (DreamWorks Studio Website).
He also portrayed the violence of war through his movie “Saving Private Ryan” which became a box office hit. He won his 2nd academy award in this film for the realistic depiction of war violence. It was followed by movies such as the “Black Hawk Dawn” and “Enemy at the Gates” which also manifested the effects of war. He was greatly inspired by the experiences of his father who fought during the World War II.
Beyond making top-grossing films, Steven Spielberg is a genius in depicting real-life scenarios in his movies. He was able to influence the mindset of people and motivated them to help those who were greatly affected by war through his foundations.
It is said that he value much his reputation that he would take out his name from the film if he sees it to be below his standards. He is also not a fan of digital film and prefers the old style (IMDb website). Despite all these, he continues to produce and direct films that are either pleasant to the eyes of the viewers or warm to their hearts. He is also involved as executive producer of award-winning TV series such as the “E.R” and “Band of Brothers”.
STEVEN HAWKING
Steven Hawking is legendary for his works in theoretical physics and cosmology. He is known for his prediction that black holes emit radiation which is often called Hawking Radiation. His discussion of his own theories (A Brief History of Time) on British Sunday Times was publish for 237 weeks. He is a known supporter of the interpretation of quantum mechanics (The Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia).
He was born in a poor family but a family of thinkers but known to be eccentrics at Oxford England. At an early age, he is already been known to be an exceptional student but with few friends. He led a very active life that involves creation of games, recycling of rudimentary materials into useful materials like computers, solving complex mathematical equations and joining sports activities like the rowing team of Oxford. He was offered a career in medicine but turned it down and chose to study the field of mathematics, cosmology and physics instead.
In 1963, Hawking had a Motor Neuron Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and was given two years to live. In his book “My Brief History”, he claimed that his prospect of early death led to many breakthroughs in his life. Born under a highly intellectual family, Hawking was used to intellectual undertakings and research. His Scottish mother was one among the few women who thought of going to college. His father was a medical researcher who specialized in tropical diseases (Bio website). Further, Hawking also does not believe in the existence of a Supreme Being. Despite this, he is able to have a good marriage life with Jane Wilde who has strong belief for Christianity most especially during the period prior to the degradation of his health condition.
Even with his disease, Hawking became famous for his works and became a Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. It was the same position held by Isaac Newton in 1663. He was also regarded as the most brilliant theoretical physicist after Albert Einstein (Stephen Hawking website). His works were greatly anchored on the Theory of Relativity by Einstein.
With Hawking’s determination and strong will to not become fully dependent to others because of his disease and with the help of his wife Jane Wilde, he was brought home and taken cared of round the clock. This was made possible by the American Foundation who shoulders the expenses. He was later provided with a computer program called “Equalizer” courtesy of Walt Woltosz, of which he uses until today. He uses a voice which is similar to the voice of a robot, however even with the new and more “humane” voice, Hawking refuse to change the robotic voice he is using. Though highly regarded as a brilliant scientist, Hawking is also know to be sometimes indifferent and lacks engagement which leads to some criticism. At some point, his traits are being tolerated for scientists are known to have their eccentricities and peculiarities.
His papers are now the basis for the continuing research on theoretical physics and had been invited to the comedy sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” where the lead roles portray to be theoretical physicists at Caltech University in Pasadena, California.
REFERENCES:
Bio. Stephen Hawking Biography. Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/stephen-hawking-9331710
Bio. Steven Spielberg Biography. Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/steven-spielberg-9490621
Dream Work Studios. Steven Spielberg: Principal Partner Retrieved from http://www.dreamworksstudios.com/about/executives/steven-spielberg
IMDb. Steven Spielberg Biography. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000229/bio
Stephen Hawking Official Website. Retrieved from http://www.hawking.org.uk/
