There's something really sobering about seeing a filmmaker who's films you really admire sat in front of you, explaining his own awe at being in the same room as a filmmaker who's films he himself admires (Spielberg). Just people like anyone else.
I'm probably butchering the points that were actually put across during the Q&A, but the nuggets that stayed with me the ride home are:
Good filmmakers are 'good filmmakers' because they keep making bad films until they end up with something that is exactly what they had envisioned. Plough through the bad movies and don't stop until you hit something good, then keep going.
What do you have to offer which is different? For E.W. it was making a spaghetti western in Somerset. There's something unique about your surroundings and personal experience, find a way to weave that into your story in an interesting way which hasn't been done before.
Every limitation is a creative opportunity. Maybe the unique thing that you bring to the table hasn't been done, not because no one's thought to do it that way, but no one's had to do it that way. (Jaws' limited screen time for example).
Story/Idea trumps budget every time. Some of the most unbearable films out of Hollywood are so because they've been swimming in money and surrounded by 'yes men'. Some of the most captivating pieces of cinema are so because the filmmakers have thrown all focus onto the story, which means letting the drama/action/characters/ hold our attention and not the shiny expensive things.
Do as much talking with your actors beforehand as possible, so when you're on set they can get into the game and everyones already on the same page. The shoot should, ideally, be a matter of execution and not rewriting.
Nail your first set up and shot in the first 30 - 60 mins of the day. This gets everyone in tempo and sets the pace for the rest of the day. Hit the ground running - quickly move through the first shot, repeat and continue (One of E. W.'s busier days saw the crew get 60 shots out of the way in a single day).
Give every character an emotional honesty, comedy or not. If they're doing something, what is it that is causing them to do this today? Be kind to your characters, even the nasty ones.
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