Steven Spielberg's daughter begged him to make War Horse for her.
The director is currently promoting the period drama, which is set during World War I. It follows a young boy who enlists in the British army after his beloved horse is sold to the cavalry.
One of Spielberg's daughters is fanatical about horses and convinced him to helm the film.
"My daughter said, 'You have to make War Horse. You have to make it for me,'" Spielberg revealed to Cover Media at a London press conference for the film.
Although Spielberg's family were thrilled when he agreed to work on War Horse, he admits his hectic work schedule can take its toll on his private life.
The award-winning director does his best to ensure he doesn't miss out on any important events at home.
"Managing my time," he replied when asked about the downsides of his career. "Do I have enough time for my family and friends? I have seven children. When my career gets to a point when I cant go to see one of my kids' soccer games or my daughter's horse show."
War Horse stars young actor Jeremy Irvine.
Spielberg considered hundreds of the boys for the lead role, but Jeremy stood out from the crowd.
"Jeremy rose above the rest. Nobody had the heart, the spirit, the communication even without words," he explained. "We tested him five times and he just got better and better. I just like the authenticity of new people. Of uncensored human beings."
War Horse is an inspiring tale of the bond between a young boy and his horse. However, it does feature some distressing war scenes. When Spielberg was asked to give advice to people facing similar hardships, he urged individuals to rely on their inner strength.
"Never give up hope, never give up the recovery of your spirit," he counselled. "They must never give up."
Spielberg also revealed he feels a close affinity with his European audiences particularly those in the UK.
He enjoyed spending a lot of time in England shooting scenes for War Horse.
"This is a British film the most British film I ever made," he explained. "I have more proximity with the Europeans. I love history. My dad fought in WWII, he was stationed in Karachi and fought in Burma.
"My first movies were war movies. It throws characters into chaos. There is no better way to show who a person really is."
War Horse is released in the UK on January 13.