You cannot suddenly direct like Spielberg just like you cannot suddenly decide to play like Michael Jordan. It's not a switch that you turn on like a video game level - not with the highly complex methodology he does. It doesn't even matter what Spielberg says because that's politics he's the master of that as well, which he seemed to be getting flack from the DGA for Poltergeist at the time. The proof is in the visual semantics and construction of the movie. You don't need someone to tell you Michael Jackson is singing a song, and you don't need for someone to tell you Spielberg is directing a movie.

@JosephKahn There were days that Tobe Hooper didn’t even come out of his trailer.

@AVARY Yeah there's all that.

@AVARY @JosephKahn What have you heard, Roger?

@AVARY @JosephKahn We desperately need a podcast with you guys explaining the whole thing

@AVARY @JosephKahn I never thought Spielberg didn't direct it — because Hooper didn't direct anything after that looked like Poltergeist.

@AVARY @JosephKahn Why did Spielberg bother to hire a director with a title only? Why not save cash and just give himself the official title? What am I missing?

@AVARY @JosephKahn "Tobe isn't ... a take-charge sort of guy. If a question was asked and an answer wasn't immediately forthcoming, I'd jump in and say what we could do. Tobe would nod agreement, and that became the process of collaboration." -- Spielberg May '82

@AVARY @JosephKahn or the shower

@AVARY @JosephKahn Toby was very laid back and also overwhelmed by the entire experience