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( America ’s Premiere Lifestyle Column) Volume 9, Edition 5
(March 30, 2006)
With an illustrious film career that moves past the 20 year mark this year, director Spike Lee has good reason to celebrate. Having already earned a permanent place as one of America’s most seminal directors for films like, She’s Got to Have It,” “Do the Right Thing” and “Malcolm X”, Lee can now add box office champ to his long list of credentials after the strong opening for his new film “Inside Man”. With opening weekend grosses over 29 million dollars, the Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster and Clive Owen bank robbery drama clearly demonstrates that the Lee is only getting better with time.
Never one to shy away from thought-provoking controversy, Lee just completed work on a documentary that spotlights the horrific aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that’s schedule to air on HBO later this year. With his trademark candor and humor in tow, Lee agreed to be interviewed by the Robertson Treatment’s popular 6 Question series to talk about what it’s like to be a Hollywood “inside man” and his plans for the future.
RT: How do you feel about your elevated status as a filmmaker?
SL: I don't think of myself as having an elevated status. That's just not the way I think of myself. So you know , we're very happy that this year we're going to do several things . . . celebrate the 20 years of making film. But it's just not the celebration of me. It's a celebration of the body of work and the people who've been part of that over 20 years. So we're very happy . . . It's not just me, so again, it's not just me. Gordon Parks just passed. Ossie Davis. Those individuals — they made it possible for myself. . . Oscar Michaud , Melvin Van Peebles — those men enabled me . . .”She's Gotta Have It” opened 20 years ago, and when it opened in LA, I was in front of the theatre — you know, just being outside the theatre, and after the movie came out, this skinny kid with glasses this thick said — hello, My name is John Singleton, I'm in high school, I want to make movies like you. True story. So there's this evolution, and people making movies now were inspired by Singleton's film, “ Boyz n The Hood”. So you gotta keep it going.
RT: Considering the legacy of Black Filmmakers, what do you think of current black cinema being released today like the Tyler Perry movies, Soul Plane and things like that?
SL: Well, I don't know if we can lump Tyler 's films together with “Soul Plane” (laughter). I have mad love for Tyler . His films have become a force. I mean, he got it made. When he was trying to get that made, people were telling him, black people go to church, they don't go to movies, that kind of stuff, he didn't take that — let it stop the man — he's been a box-office king, so hopefully people would use him as an example, that if you have a vision and are driven, no matter who you are, Black, White, Latino, Asian, you get your stuff done.
RT: Spike what was it like working with lead actors who happen to have directed themselves?
SL: That was something I've never thought about until recently. You know, Denzel directed “ Antwone Fisher” and Jodie directed “Little Man Tate”. These are just great actors. So it wasn't a concern at all.
RT: Spike what do you think of suggestions that you and Denzel are this generation’s De Niro and Scorsese?
SL: How many did they do together? Let's count them. “Mean Streets”, “Raging Bull”, “ Goodfellas”, “Taxi Driver”, “Casino” — they're more. What Denzel and I have said, we hope that if you look at the timetable, it's been a minute since “He Got Game” so the next film can't be as long — we don't know what it's gonna be, but we only want to work together — soon. So we can get to number five.
RT: Talk about your next project and how much of a challenge is the Katrina film given there’s still no closure to that story?
SL : That's a very good question. It's something I think about every day. My first documentary, “Four Little Girls”, was about the bombing of the Baptist Church in Birmingham , Alabama , in 1963. We did that film 20 years later, so for the most part the story would have been told. But for this documentary we're doing on Katrina for HBO, it's called When The Levees Broke, every day there's something new. This story is constantly shifting and changes. It was a challenging project that I'm thinking about it all the time. It comes out on August 29th on HBO.
RT: What’s your next project?
SL: I'm going to be directing a pilot for Brian and CBS called “Sharks” that stars James Woods. I’ll begin that project very soon in Los Angeles .
Best Bets – Home Entertainment
“The Adventures of Brer Rabbit” (Universal Home Video) - Danny Glover , Wayne Brady, D.L. Hughley , Wanda Sykes and Nick Cannon headline the all-star voice cast of the new full-length animated feature based on Dr. Julius Lester’s prized adaptations of the classic Uncle Remus ’ tales. Both parents and kids will enjoy the escapades of the most spirited and clever Brer Rabbit as he outwits Brer Fox, Brer Bear and a whole cast of other critters! Featuring irresistible and toe-tapping new songs, “The Adventures of Brer Rabbit” offers solid family time fun. Grade: A
Best Bets: Things to Do…
Cinematic icon Ruby Dee will be receive the 8th annual The Method Fest Independent Film Festival's Lifetime Achievement Award, during the festival’s Lifetime Achievement presentation taking place at the Louis B. Mayer Theatre of the Motion Picture and Television. The Method Fest Film Festival is the only film festival in the United States to put its emphasis on acting, will also screen "The Way Back Home," a new independent movie starring Ruby Dee that same evening. For more information visit: www.methodfestival.com
Visit: www.Robertsontreatment.com
Email: syndicatedcolumn@robertsontreatment.com
Copyright 2006, Robertson Treatment
Never one to shy away from thought-provoking controversy, Lee just completed work on a documentary that spotlights the horrific aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that’s schedule to air on HBO later this year. With his trademark candor and humor in tow, Lee agreed to be interviewed by the Robertson Treatment’s popular 6 Question series to talk about what it’s like to be a Hollywood “inside man” and his plans for the future.
RT: How do you feel about your elevated status as a filmmaker?
SL: I don't think of myself as having an elevated status. That's just not the way I think of myself. So you know , we're very happy that this year we're going to do several things . . . celebrate the 20 years of making film. But it's just not the celebration of me. It's a celebration of the body of work and the people who've been part of that over 20 years. So we're very happy . . . It's not just me, so again, it's not just me. Gordon Parks just passed. Ossie Davis. Those individuals — they made it possible for myself. . . Oscar Michaud , Melvin Van Peebles — those men enabled me . . .”She's Gotta Have It” opened 20 years ago, and when it opened in LA, I was in front of the theatre — you know, just being outside the theatre, and after the movie came out, this skinny kid with glasses this thick said — hello, My name is John Singleton, I'm in high school, I want to make movies like you. True story. So there's this evolution, and people making movies now were inspired by Singleton's film, “ Boyz n The Hood”. So you gotta keep it going.
RT: Considering the legacy of Black Filmmakers, what do you think of current black cinema being released today like the Tyler Perry movies, Soul Plane and things like that?
SL: Well, I don't know if we can lump Tyler 's films together with “Soul Plane” (laughter). I have mad love for Tyler . His films have become a force. I mean, he got it made. When he was trying to get that made, people were telling him, black people go to church, they don't go to movies, that kind of stuff, he didn't take that — let it stop the man — he's been a box-office king, so hopefully people would use him as an example, that if you have a vision and are driven, no matter who you are, Black, White, Latino, Asian, you get your stuff done.
RT: Spike what was it like working with lead actors who happen to have directed themselves?
SL: That was something I've never thought about until recently. You know, Denzel directed “ Antwone Fisher” and Jodie directed “Little Man Tate”. These are just great actors. So it wasn't a concern at all.
RT: Spike what do you think of suggestions that you and Denzel are this generation’s De Niro and Scorsese?
SL: How many did they do together? Let's count them. “Mean Streets”, “Raging Bull”, “ Goodfellas”, “Taxi Driver”, “Casino” — they're more. What Denzel and I have said, we hope that if you look at the timetable, it's been a minute since “He Got Game” so the next film can't be as long — we don't know what it's gonna be, but we only want to work together — soon. So we can get to number five.
RT: Talk about your next project and how much of a challenge is the Katrina film given there’s still no closure to that story?
SL : That's a very good question. It's something I think about every day. My first documentary, “Four Little Girls”, was about the bombing of the Baptist Church in Birmingham , Alabama , in 1963. We did that film 20 years later, so for the most part the story would have been told. But for this documentary we're doing on Katrina for HBO, it's called When The Levees Broke, every day there's something new. This story is constantly shifting and changes. It was a challenging project that I'm thinking about it all the time. It comes out on August 29th on HBO.
RT: What’s your next project?
SL: I'm going to be directing a pilot for Brian and CBS called “Sharks” that stars James Woods. I’ll begin that project very soon in Los Angeles .
Best Bets – Home Entertainment
“The Adventures of Brer Rabbit” (Universal Home Video) - Danny Glover , Wayne Brady, D.L. Hughley , Wanda Sykes and Nick Cannon headline the all-star voice cast of the new full-length animated feature based on Dr. Julius Lester’s prized adaptations of the classic Uncle Remus ’ tales. Both parents and kids will enjoy the escapades of the most spirited and clever Brer Rabbit as he outwits Brer Fox, Brer Bear and a whole cast of other critters! Featuring irresistible and toe-tapping new songs, “The Adventures of Brer Rabbit” offers solid family time fun. Grade: A
Best Bets: Things to Do…
Cinematic icon Ruby Dee will be receive the 8th annual The Method Fest Independent Film Festival's Lifetime Achievement Award, during the festival’s Lifetime Achievement presentation taking place at the Louis B. Mayer Theatre of the Motion Picture and Television. The Method Fest Film Festival is the only film festival in the United States to put its emphasis on acting, will also screen "The Way Back Home," a new independent movie starring Ruby Dee that same evening. For more information visit: www.methodfestival.com
Visit: www.Robertsontreatment.com
Email: syndicatedcolumn@robertsontreatment.com
Copyright 2006, Robertson Treatment
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