Do the Fright Thing

By Leslie Simmons

Spike Lee did what Spike Lee does best Wednesday night: push the envelope.

The filmmaker was honored with Chrysler's sixth annual Behind the Lens award at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel ballroom, and after an evening of tributes from actors -- many of whom, like including Rosie Perez, Savion Glover and Laurence Fishburne, have Lee to thank for their career -- and stirring performances by trumpeter Terence Blanchard, Lee gave a thank you speech that quickly tuned into much more.

He started with financing difficulties for indie films. "I took my ass on a plane to Europe and got the financing for this film," Lee said of his latest joint, the World War II drama "Miracle of St. Anna." "So, as Malcolm (X) said, the struggle is far from over."

Lee later introduced his Italian producing partners in the film, Luigi Musini and Marco Valerio Pugini, who were sitting far back in the corner.

"Don't get the wrong idea with them being in the corner," he joked. "When I was disgusted about not getting the financing for James Brown or the L.A. riots, I went to Italy."

Those two projects, he pointed out, had budgets of less than $60 million, below the price tag for many films these days.

After doing a bad Italian impression of the two producers telling him they'll help finance the film, Lee said, "It's a miracle this film got made."

Lee continued on what he called his "little tirade," addressing the African-American industryites in the audience and telling them it didn't matter what kind of car they drove or how big their houses are, "we're way behind in film," adding "None of them look like you. The only black guy I see is the brother man at the security gate."

He joked that the studios are "sneaking black faces" into the board room to make it look like they're integrated, but what they're really doing is plucking blue-collar workers and dressing them up for the meeting. "Then you leave and they kick their asses back to the mail room," he quipped.

Comments

[Griff]

Well, Savion Glover was pretty impressive on Broadway in THE TAP DANCE KID and George C. Wolfe's sensational BRING IN 'DA NOISE/BRING IN 'DA FUNK before ever appearing in a Lee film. Laurence Fishburne appeared (in some pretty good parts) in more than a dozen feature films (including APOCALYPSE NOW) and numerous television shows before appearing in Lee's SCHOOL DAZE. I wouldn't discount Lee's importance in recent film history, but I would also be careful not to overstate it.

[Arnie]

I think that Spike has a point. ... It is difficult to get dark [not horror dark, which is easy: Hostel anyone; Saw MMVX?] subject matter made. And it is difficult to get dark people in to the films being made -- except Will, Denzel and Halle and the chosen few.

[charleston]

what a repulsive little whiner

who owes him anything

he wants an affirmative action program for himself?

[YeK]

The last thing I need to hear is Spike whine and complain about is how America is somehow unfair to the black folk, especially considering that he is many many time more wealthy than any of us will ever hope to become because of how awesome a country this is. If he ain't happy now then he never will be. How much more does he think he is entitled to?

[Fried Waddymellons]

This kind of selfish "the world owes me", childish attitude of blacks creates more young racists than the KKK could have ever dreamed. No, I'm sure not ALL of them are like that but I've never met one that isn't and I've yet to see a single african american stand up and denouce this kind of "give me give me give me" attitude.

If there's a reason its hard for "black" films to be made its because films need to be financed. With 12% of the population theres just not enough blacks to make lots of movies to cater too. The potential audience is too small. The rest of us should not have ot pay for that.

[JoJo Shipp]

These comments from Lee are disturbing as heck. Here is a very successful black man, much more successful than anyone that I know who is in the entertainment business, and he is complaining about his race, his life, and most disturbing, white people. I am convinced that blacks are more racist than whites at this time. Hey Spike, shut your spoiled little face and enjoy your success.

[Frank]

Ask Tyler Perry how hard it is for him to get a film made. Martin Lawrence mean anything to anyone? Denzel Washington or Halle Berry can probably green light any project they want. I see all kinds of 'black oriented' movies being made and wonder how Spike Lee could feel so repressed give the millions he's made over the years. Boo hoo, he had to actually do some work to get a film financed. Welcome to reality where things are not handed to you based on skin tone. If I'm supposed to be 'the man' holding him back, where are the millions I must have? I get tired of people like Lee and Harry Belafonte telling me what a horrible person I am for being born white and how America is so repulsive to them. They have enough money to live anywhere they want, why not start exercising the right to choose and choose to live and work somewhere that will truly 'appreciate' them. I applaud people like Denzel or Bill Cosby who use their talents to not only make money for themselves, but who you see in the news consistently giving back to those less fortunate than themselves, regardless of color. Move on, Mr. Lee. Remember the words of Booker T. Washington... "You can't hold another man down without staying there yourself."

[Eric]

You know I used to love Spike Lee's movies. Do the right thing was really a different kind of movie and it had a message but was entertaining too. I have not seen his more recent films (other than Malcolm X which was also good).

Just an observation though. When someone makes racist and angry comments like he did in the video above it makes other people angry and jealous so they make comments that can be construed as racist (like we see on this board). This creates a cycle of hatred.

Truth is as we all know everyone is is arguably racist and stereotypes to some degree as there is no other way to process all of the messages we get in our busy lives. Yet, most of us can get past it and try to respect other human beings on a deeper level for who they are not what look like or where they come from. Comments like Mr. Lee's make that more difficult. More importantly, angry and bitter comments make the individual making them into an angry, bitter person and no amount of money that Spike could make in the future (if the alleged racism disappeared) would make up for a person having to live that way. I would rather be a happy and friendly middle-class film maker than a wealthy and bitter rich one.

Finally, I want to thank Spike for causing me to abandon the cause of championing the African-American equality bandwagon I was on while I was in college. He made me realize that I cannot spend my time helping others when I do not know who my own people are and what my own people stand for. He helped me to discover my own roots and religion and though I know this was not his intent it was a byproduct of his and Farrakhan's racist statements. Thanks Again Spike and I wish you a life without jealousy and bitterness in the near future and for the long term! You have a lot of talent it is a shame your attitude harms your message (which I assume is culturally equality).

[Fatima]

Did it ever occur to SL that maybe the films he wanted to make were not "marketable/commercial" enough... the only color that counts in Hollywood is GREEN! And if what you are proposing is not going to make them any GREEN, than your film that you think is "so important" has to be made has to go to Italy. And, don't get me wrong, you film idea may very well be a true gift to cinema and a few really insightful folks who see it will view it as such... but in the long run, it is how much is the film going to make (fair enough, it is there money). There are countless of white ideas that do not get made either. We all need to stop and get over our victim mentality so that we can see each other for what we really are--human beings.

[peoplemagazine lover]

Spike Lee gets spoiled, that is all there is to it. It happens to all of them; as soon as they get famous it starts..heck, it must be a virus!