11/11/2023 0 Comments Jordan spike leeObviously, it’s not steps backward, it’s an illumination of what’s already been there. PEELE And then, on the other hand, feel like steps backward. PEELE The duality of the time we’re in right now - you could say, to an extent, there’s always some kind of duality - but it’s confusing in one industry to feel and see what I’m hopeful is progress. These companies have to put out an apology, and then they get blasted and it happens again. PEELE It’s going to solve police brutality. LEE to say, “Hold the phone, so you know Black Lives Matter is a thing?” So giving the police officer a soda . LEE I don’t think there was a person of color in the room. Example number one: that motherfucking Pepsi commercial. We have to focus on people of color being in those rooms when those decisions are made - especially advertising. That’s why I think we start to focus on getting in those lofty, rarefied air positions of the gatekeepers. LEE Well, I’m not going to speak about it, but I’m not making a film in the theater next year. You’re coming out in March, I’m not gonna film next year, I don’t think Ryan and a whole bunch of other people have films. LEE the way to make sure this is not a phase, it’s not a trend. To the best of my knowledge, we’re not up there. In my opinion, those gatekeeping positions where these individuals, quarterly, decide what we’re going to make and what we’re not fucking making. For me, I’m looking forward, and that’s the gatekeepers. LEE What I’m focusing on now is not that we get a film, we’re past that point. LEE I would take a little different approach. There’s too much creativity, there’s too much artistry that’s been built up. I’m past the fear that this is a phase, or whatever. But now you can’t reverse this at this point. There was a while where, Spike, there was you, and it was like, “OK, we got one!” Case closed. LEE We’ve got to bring the sisters up too, now. How many white films don’t travel? You’re not talking about that.” There is this enormous lack of balance that has prevented black filmmakers from getting opportunities. But my response to that theory of black films don’t travel, I’m like, “How do you know? You’re not letting enough black people make films. I’m looking at this business side of things.” I felt like Straight Outta Compton had. PEELE The whole thing is going to be perpetuated as long as people can excuse themselves and say, “I’m not racist, I’m just looking at these numbers. You were very, very, very important in getting rid of that narrative. Historically, they say, “Black folks don’t travel the globe.” Your film and Black Panther, too, it’s going to be very hard for these guys to use that argument again. You’ve got something here.” Another thing is how the film has done internationally. That’s when I got your phone number, I called you up. The film was hitting at both levels, but there were certain things that the black audience laughed at - I mean, it was insider stuff - but it did not stop the white audience joining. The next day, I saw it with a white audience. I saw Get Out, and I said, “Holy shit.” I saw it with a black audience first, I said, “Let me do an experiment. LEE But, hey, it didn’t stop you from doing what you had to do. PEELE I don’t remember! I blocked it out. so I asked you a question, and you handed me my ass too. I thought, “Let me just bring this back on track.” You handed me my ass too. I remember asking you a question, I don’t know what I asked. I was so embarrassed to be, essentially, the one black dude in this room of white women asking you questions. I remember one woman - and look, this is with all respect to the great Forest Whitaker, one of our greatest actors - asked you, “Why would you use Denzel in your movies when there are actors like Forest out there?” You looked at her and you were like, “You are questioning my use of Denzel Washington? Denzel Wa - X! Mo’ Better! Glory!” I was just shrinking. I just remember there were a lot of stupid questions flying out. PEELE You really - the way I put it is - you really handed us our asses. She said, “Spike, I’m on the board of trustees, you’ve got to go!” So finally I said all right. SPIKE LEE My wife, Tonya, was twisting my arm. It was a packed little theater, and I had the distinct impression you did not want to be there. You came to talk to my film history class. JORDAN PEELE You probably don’t remember, but I remember: You came out to Sarah Lawrence. Peele, who served as a producer on BlacKkKlansman after being offered it as his directorial follow-up to Get Out, is here with Lee to talk about their first memories of each other, their thoughts on the “next frontier” in inclusion in the industry and the way their ancestors influence their outlook on where they are now.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |