Spike Lee
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Leeis an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionDirector
Date of Birth20 March 1957
CityAtlanta, GA
CountryUnited States of America
greatness matter talent
Our greatness, our talent has never been the question. It's been a matter of grappling for control over what we do.
tears criticism down-and
Critics like to build you up, tear you down, and then, if you're lucky, build you up again.
eulogy warning film
This film [Chi-Raq]is a declaration. It's a scream. It's a warning. And I can really break it down to one scene. That's the scene where we have the eulogy and sermon that is given by the great John Cusack.
editing acting tools
Music is, for me, a great tool of a filmmaker, the same way cinematography, the acting, editing, post-production, the costumes are. You know, to help you tell a story.
photography looks costumes
Any time you talk about the look of the film, it's not just the director and the director of photography. You have to include the costume designer and the production designer.
independent hollywood-films hybrid
I am a hybrid. I do independent films and also do Hollywood films - I love them both.
independent people cinema
If people go to IMDB, they will see that I'm very comfortable with independent cinema, and doing studio films too. For me this is not an either/or situation.
summer dream college
I didn't dream about being a director. I didn't know I wanted to do something with film until the summer between my sophomore and junior years at Morris College in Atlanta, Georgia.
couple giving racism
I give interracial couples a look. Daggers. They get uncomfortable when they see me on the street.
independent cutting creative
I'm an independent filmmaker with complete creative control of my films. I hire who I want. I have final cut. But at the same time, I go directly to Hollywood for financing and distribution. I find it's best for me to work within the Hollywood system.
numbers machines publicity
I consider Madonna a friend, and she sure knows how to work the publicity machine. Of course, I don't have breasts. If I did have, I'd be in the number one spot over Madonna.
summer jobs new-york
I decided to be a filmmaker between my sophomore and junior years at Morehouse. Before I left for the summer of 1977, my advisor told me I really had to declare a major when I came back, because I'd used all my electives in my first two years. I went back to New York and I couldn't find a job. There were none to be had. And that previous Christmas someone gave me a Super-8 camera, so I just started to shoot stuff.
nice stuff want
I get offered to do stuff where the money's nice but it's not something I want to do - I get offered a lot of commercials too.
passion people important
It is really important that young people find something that they want to do and pursue it with passion. I'm very passionate about filmmaking. It's what I love to do.