Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese are not only two of the greatest filmmakers of our time, but also close friends, their paths crossing back in the 1970s. Despite their similar stature in the industry, each director has a distinctive style, clearly visible in their individual projects — but that doesn't mean they're above giving each other creative input.
For example, one day Spielberg rather unexpectedly ended up acting as second unit director on the set of Scorsese’s hit comedy — and, according to those present, made the lead actor quite nervous in the process.
Steven Spielberg 'Directed' a Scene in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street
Scorsese himself shared the story back in 2013 when the film hit theatres. In an interview that included stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, the director recalled how Spielberg happened to be at the studio one day where The Wolf of Wall Street was being filmed. He dropped by just to say hello — but ended up staying for the entire day.
At the time, they were shooting the scene involving Steve Madden, and at some point, Spielberg apparently slipped into full director mode, offering Scorsese advice on how to frame certain shots. Scorsese admitted that this was a rather unusual situation for him — even though the two had shared creative tips back in their early days, by the time Wolf was made, both had firmly established their own very different cinematic paths.
Spielberg’s Presence Shook the Entire Set — Even Leonardo DiCaprio
Although DiCaprio had previously worked with Spielberg on the comedy Catch Me If You Can, the director’s surprise visit still rattled the actor. According to DiCaprio, everyone on set suddenly felt they had twice the pressure — after all, now there were two master directors watching from the sidelines: Scorsese and Spielberg.
Jonah Hill later added that Spielberg seemed completely at ease on his friend’s film set, occasionally passing Scorsese notes with his suggestions and spending the whole day sitting beside him.
