Controversy Strikes Again

Spike Lee's new movie,Summer of Sam, opens this week amid a flurry of controversy. Though this is nothing new for Lee. One of the most controversial and talented filmmakers of recent time, Lee and many of his films often commanded public attention and commentary. On the less controversial side, he has also directed commericals for Nike, Taco Bell, American Express and other companies. He has also directed music videos for Michael Jackson, Bruce Hornsby, Prince, and Branford Marsalis among other artists.

Shelton (Spike) Jackson Lee was born on March 20, 1957, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was raised in Brooklyn, New York by his father, a jazz bassist and his mother, an art teacher. After high school, he attended Morehouse College and majored in mass communications. He then went to NYU's famous film school and earned a Masters of Fine Arts in film production.

Lee made two films while at NYU. The first, The Last Hustle in Brooklyn, centers around the summer of 1977. Out of school for the summer and having nothing better to do, Lee bought a movie camera and shot any and everything. He says the film, "was really like a highlight film of Black people and Puerto Rican people looting and dancing." Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads is Lee's second student film and was shown at the Lincoln Center. He won a student award from the Academy and he was ready to make his first feature film.

Despite all the accolades surrounding his student film, Lee had a hard time getting his first film made. He decided to go independent. With $125,000, Lee wrote,directed, and acted in She's Gotta Have It. The story of a woman that does not want to pick between her three lovers. It went on to make $8.5 million and earned Lee a young filmmakers award at Cannes. Lee has the best line in the whole film. While trying to convince Nola not to leave him, he says, "Please baby, please baby, please baby, baby, baby, please." Everybody was trying to get that line right after seeing the movie.

His next film, another comedy, School Daze, is the story of a college student's attempt to enlist the aid of his fellow schoolmates in a fight against the college administration. Everyone is too busy, though, with Greek activities.

Do the Right Thing takes place on the hottest day of the year in Brooklyn. Tensions are high and something is about to blow. A look at a Korean-owned grocery store and a white-owned pizza parlor in the midst of a black ghetto. Lee earned several nominations for best director, best picture, and best screenplay for this great film.

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