Spike Lee
Producer, director, writer and actor Spike Lee has established himself as one of Hollywood's most important and influential filmmakers in the past decade. His work is technically original, politically-inspired, and often controversial. His eleventh film, He Got Game, starring Denzel Washington, was released in 1998, and instantly hit #1 in the box office.
Lee's other recent projects include an Academy Award-nominated documentary for HBO, 4 Little Girls, about the 1963 bombing of a Baptist Church in Birmingham, and the films, Get On The Bus and Girl 6. These works follow some of his most critically-acclaimed films: Malcolm X, Do The Right Thing, Jungle Fever, and Crooklyn.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Brooklyn, Spike attended Morehouse College in Atlanta. After graduation, he continued his education at New York University. His NYU student film was showcased at Lincoln Center and won the Student Award of the Academy of Motion Pictures. Spike received his Master of Fine Arts degree in film production and then founded 40 Acres and A Mule Filmworks (a production office), 40 Acres and A Mule Musicworks (a record company), and Spike's Joint (a retail company), all based in Brooklyn, where he resides. He was recently given an honorary doctorate from NYU.
Spike's debut film, the independently produced comedy, She's Gotta Have It (1986), earned him the Prix de Jeunesse Award at the Cannes Film Festival and set him at the forefront of the Black Wave in American cinema. School Daze (1988), his second feature, was not only highly profitable, but it also helped launch the careers of several young black actors. But it was with Spike's third effort that he joined the ranks of top movie makers. Do the Right Thing (1989), which explored urban racial tensions, won him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay and Best Film and Director awards from the L.A. Film Critics Association.
Spike has produced and directed music videos for such world renowned artists as Miles Davis, Michael Jackson, Tracy Chapman, Branford Marsalis, Anita Baker, and Public Enemy. His other music videos include work for the belated Phyllis Hyman, Naughty by Nature, and Arrested Development.
Spike's television commercial work began in 1988 with his famous Nike Air Jordan ads. He has collaborated with such sports stars as Michael Jordan, Sheryl Swoops, Reggie Miller, Edwin Moses, and Shaquille O'Neal and worked for such companies as Taco Bell, American Express, Ben & Jerry's, Nike, and Levi for television commercials.
Spike has directed several Art Spot shorts for MTV and a short film featuring Branford Marsalis and Diahnne Abbott for Saturday Night Live. He has produced several short films for HBO, many on sports figures. He received an Emmy award for his piece on Albert Belle for HBO/Real Sports. Also, Spike has authored several books on the making of his films. His most recent book, Best Seat In The House, was published by Crown Publishers, Inc.
