The eldest son of director Steven Spielberg has completed work on his first film, a short thriller about a couple caught up in a string of murders.

Max Spielberg, 17, wrote, produced, directed, filmed and edited the movie, entitled Snap Shot, during a filmmaking workshop run by the New York Film Academy.

He attended the four-week course, held at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, over the summer.

The film focuses on a tourist couple whose camera becomes mixed up with that of a serial killer, drawing them into the investigation when their photos turn out to be of his victims.

There are no plans for the film to be given a public screening in the near future.

"It will be for his own personal use when he pursues other avenues in the industry," said a spokesperson for the New York Film Academy.

Adopted

Max is the eldest of six children either born to or adopted by Spielberg. His mother is actress Amy Irving, who was previously married to the director.

Spielberg is currently married to actress Kate Capshaw, who starred in Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom for the director in 1984.

The director hit the headlines last week when he spoke out in favour of President Bush's stance on Iraq.

"If Bush, as I believe, has reliable information on the fact that Saddam Hussein is making weapons of mass destruction, I cannot not support the policies of his government," Spielberg said at a press conference in Rome.

He has been in Europe promoting the release of Minority Report, which has been a big hit both in the UK and US.

Spielberg's next film, Catch Me If You Can, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, will be released in January 2003.