Spike Lee

Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee (born March 20, 1957) is an Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated American film director, producer, writer, and actor, noted for his films dealing with controversial social and political issues. He also teaches film at New York University and Columbia University. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983.

Lee was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Jacqueline Shelton, a teacher of arts and black literature, and William James Edward Lee III, a jazz musician, and composer.[1] Lee moved with his family to Brooklyn, New York when he was a small child. The Fort Greene neighborhood is home of Lee's production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, and other Lee-owned or related businesses. As a child, his mother nicknamed him "Spike." In Brooklyn, he attended John Dewey High School. Lee enrolled in Morehouse College where he made his first student film, Last Hustle in Brooklyn. He took film courses at Clark Atlanta University and graduated with a B.A. in Mass Communication from Morehouse College. He then enrolled in New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He graduated in 1978 with a Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_Lee

Lee has always been a very controversial figure in the film world. His political views, and the fact he is an independent filmmaker tends to allow him to continue to produce films that are not generally thought of as mainstream. Many of his recent films focus on topics and issues that mainstream/commercial films fail to address.

One of his most controversial films, "Bamboozled" created a uproar in the film world. "Bamboozled" broke down the racial stereotypes that have been present in cinema in this country since the Luminier Brothers.

This film tends to make people uncomfortable, because Lee doesn't sugarcoat the racial stereotype that existed in early film in this country. As well as he explores the affects of African American racial stereotypes that still exist in American film. This is a satirical film, that created a lot of controversy upon its' debut.

Spike Lee's Bamboozled Trailer

This brings up the concept of Black Film, and Black Filmmakers. Spike Lee is a filmmaker who focuses on the Black Experience in American culture.

Lee is a prolific writer, and producer. Often times he is pegged as a Black Filmmaker. When in reality he is a Filmmaker who documents the Black experience.

Filmography