Steven Spielberg and Rachel Zegler on West Side Story and Which of His Films Changed the Most

With West Side Story now playing in theaters, I recently got to speak with director Steven Spielberg and Rachel Zegler (Maria) about making the fantastic remake. During the interview, they talked about what it really takes to make a movie on this scale, what it’s been like for Zegler going from playing the role on the stage in New Jersey to being in a massive Hollywood movie, how her friend McKenna Reynolds’ changed her life, and more. In addition, Spielberg reveals which of his films changed the most in the editing room and he also shares his advice for up-and-coming filmmakers. Based on the critically acclaimed 1957 Broadway musical with music by the legendary Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story first made its way to the big screen in 1961. Directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, with a screenplay by Ernest Lehman, the film went on to win 10 out of the 11 Oscars it was nominated for, including Best Picture and Best Director, and is considered to be one of the best mo