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Unfriendly surroundings at home and school made Steven strive even harder to achieve in the film world. He applied to two of the best film schools in the country: the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles. But even with a formidable 10 years of experiences in filmmaking and his friends at Universal Studios endorsing him, his grades were too poor, and he was flatly turned down at both institutions.
家庭和学校的冷漠环境让史蒂文更加努力，以期在电影界有所成就。他申请了两家国内最好的电影院校，南加州大学和加州大学洛杉矶分校。尽管有十年丰富的电影制作经验和环球影视公司朋友的支持，但是由于成绩太差，他仍被两个大学断然拒绝。
Unwilling to give up, Steven entered the California State University, where he hoped the program in TV and radio might open his way to Hollywood. Unfortunately, the university was not suited to his experience, and one academician recalled, "Steven knew more about cameras, mounts, and lenses than anyone else in the department. He could teach there." Despite his manifest talent, his low grades sabotaged transfer attempts, forcing real film schools to withhold acceptance.
史蒂文不愿意就此放弃，去了加州州立大学。他希望在那里广播电视的专业学习能打开他通往好莱坞的道路。不幸的是，这所大学并不适合他这种经历的人。一位学者回忆道：“史蒂文比系里的任何人都更懂摄像机、底座、镜头等相关知识，他完全可以在那里任教。”尽管他才华出众，但学业成绩太低使他转学受挫，真正的电影学校都不接纳他。
Steven contrived to rectify the situation on his own by diverting his attention away from academics. He cleaned his old suit and briefcase and returned to visiting Universal Studios where he had worked as a boy. He discreetly sneaked into any department he could, such as shooting rooms, editing and sound-mixing studios, and he quietly watched until he was discovered and ordered to leave. Introducing himself under the pretext of being either an actor, director, or producer, he would invite people to dinner to make connections and learn as much as he could. Even though he was caught and expelled at least once a day, he always returned to smuggle himself back in again.
史蒂文设法自己改变处境，将注意力从学业转移开来。他清理好旧制服和公文包，重新回到儿时曾工作过的环球影视公司。他悄悄地溜进任何他能进入的部门，像拍摄间、剪辑间、音效间等，静静地观看，直到被人发现并被赶走。他假装介绍自己是演员、导演或制片人，邀请别人一起吃饭来积攒人脉，并尽可能地学习。即使他每天至少有一次会被逮到并被赶走，但他总是回来再偷偷混进去。
Steven repeatedly tried to prove himself to the Universal executives, while working in a cafeteria to save up money for equipment. He would discretely create scenes and then shoot and re-shoot his movies. He kept upgrading from 8 to 16 and finally 35 mm film before he was allowed a screening. Finally, his film Amblin was given a chance in front of the executives. It was a short, silent film and the plot differed greatly from the sci-fi and combat films that would later predominate Steven's career. Still, the short film was awesome enough to win Steven, only 21 years old, a seven-year contract with Universal Studios.
史蒂文一边再三向环球公司管理层证明自己，一边在餐厅打工攒钱买设备。他将各场景单独进行创作，一次又一次地拍摄。在得到放映机会前，他不断升级胶片，从 8 毫米到 16 毫米，再到 35 毫米。最后，他的影片《漫步前行》终于有机会出现在管理层面前。这是一部无声短片，情节和史蒂文日后职业生涯中的主流科幻片和战争片大相径庭。不过那个短片依然足够精彩，为年仅 21 岁的史蒂文赢得了环球的七年合约。
After directing smaller TV dramas and low-budget projects, Steven earned the chance to direct his big Hollywood debut: a thriller film starring a shark! Jaws was a box office hit and it made Steven famous. He continued his relationship with Universal Studios to produce the notable movies E.T., Jurassic Park, and Schindler's List
在执导了多部小型电视剧和低成本项目后，史蒂文得到机会导演他的第一部好莱坞大片，一部关于鲨鱼的惊悚片！《大白鲨》成为了票房冠军，让史蒂文一举成名。他和环球继续合作，又拍摄了《外星人》、《侏罗纪公园》和《辛德勒的名单》等著名影片。
As his first producer said, "It is not by any coincidence that Steven is in his present position." Instead, it is Steven's committed spirit that has strengthened him in standing fast against all rejections, prejudice and skepticism and driven him to keep moving onward.
正如他的第一个制片人所言：“史蒂文能达到目前的地位绝非偶然。”相反，是史蒂文执著的精神让他能够脚踏实地，直面所有拒绝、偏见和怀疑，并推动他持续向前。
