Spike Lee's Premiere of 'Red Hook Summer' Full Q&A at Sundance Film Festival

At Spike Lee's Q&A session of the premiere of 'Red Hook Summer' comedian Chris Rock asked, "What would you had done differently, if you actually gotten a bunch of studio money."

Lee explained(in a way some folk didn't went to hear), why he didn't go to Hollywood studios to make this film.

His plan was to film the project independently.

You tell 'em Spike Lee!

Watch video...

REWIND: Spike Lee - "She's Gotta Have It" Movie Trailer

"She's Gotta Have It" was filmmaker Spike Lee's first independent theater released project.

The film premiered in 1986 on one movie screen in New York City.

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State Farm "Empire State of Mind" Commercial (Dir by Spike Lee)

State Farm and Spike Lee came together to create a way to thank the firefighters of New York City on the 10th anniversary of The World Trade Towers Attack and Collapse.

Nearly 150 school children (ages 8-11) from the New York City area visited four firehouses and thanked the firefighters through song.

Go behind the scenes with Spike Lee and some of the children who participated in the commercial.

Watch the video inside...

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Spike Lee in Talks to Direct "OLDBOY" Remake

Filmmaker Spike Lee is in talk to direct "OLDBOY" remake(original directed by Chan-Wook Park).

A film about a man who was kidnapped and put in jail for 15 years, then released to seek revenge.

This project has been around for a minute with Steven Spielberg and Will Smith interested, but both have moved on to other projects. 

Read more...

via twitch

REWIND: EU - "Da Butt"

Is Spike Lee's Hat Making the Knicks Lose

Spike Lee watching the NY Knicks. Photo: Mary Altaffervia thebigpicture

Patrick Goldstein of the LA Times asks in his column, if Spike Lee's "hat fetish" is causing the Knicks bad luck.

I've been a Knicks fan for a loooong time so I could have told him, they had bad luck way before that hat and they're gonna keep on having it after it's gone.

Since I'm a fan, I'll just remember the days when the Knicks used to be good... in the 90's.

Read article here...

Spike Lee Selling Original 40 Acres and A Mule Building

Spike Lee is selling the former home of 40 Acres and A Mule. Kinda fly.

via curbedny

This isn't the first time this building has been on the market, but, it's the latest. It is the first time it has been listed at a price of $3.9 million.

Spike Lee has owned the building for 20 years. Considering when he bought it, it has appreciated considerably. Unfortunately, he hasn't seen much interest in the pair of duplex condos.

The original listing price was $6 million, then it got cut to $4.9, the price was later reduced to $4.2 million before being taken off of the market.

It's back!

Let's hope "four" is Spike's lucky number, since this is the fourth time the price has been "adjusted"(read slashed, cut, reduced, lowered).

The famed director, writer, actor and fellow fan of one of the NBA's worst franchises(NY Knicks) could use the good fortune to take his mind off of the Miami Heat acquiring Lebron James.

Read more...

Video: ABSOLUT BROOKLYN by Spike Lee

Spike Lee and ABSOLUT have partnered to shine light on the People'

s Republic of Brooklyn - Bedford-Stuyvesant(Bed Stuy) to be more specific.

The campaign celebrates "stoop life in Brooklyn" with a special apple and ginger flavored vodka and a newly designed bottle. (Okay.)

ABSOLUT Vodka has honored a different city each year since 2007, with a special flavor, beginning with New Orleans, then Los Angeles, Boston and now Brooklyn.

Is Newark next? Really. We shall see.

ABSOLUT will donate $50,000 of profits from the sale of ABSOLUT BROOKLYN(not any of its other liquor products).

Now you can get your drink on and fix up the neighborhood... I think.

Video: Sneak Peek @ Spike Lee's "Passing Strange"

via latimes

This film is Spike's documentary about the Tony-winning Broadway musical.

Having premiered in Los Angeles last week, the film will make its east coast debut in New York at the IFC Center in the West Village(6th Ave.) on Aug. 21st. (On Aug. 26th the Sundance Channel will offer a video-on-demand option for viewing the film.)

Lee filmed the shows two final performances and shot footage without an audience.

The Broadway show is about the adventures of a middle-class African American guy who leaves home to live the bohemian life in Amsterdam and Berlin.

The show, created by L.A. musician Stew, won the Tony Award for Book of Musical and was nominated for 6 others.

Nike Spike Lee Pack Quickstrike - Big Nike and Blazer

via nicekicks

Nike honors Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing with these two sneakers: The Blazer Hi and The Big Nike. Both shoes are deemed the Spike Lee Pack.

The Big Nike is patterned a lot after the Air Jordan 1, while the Blazer High uses the traditional skater design.

This is a first for Nike to pay homage to Lee's work with a shoe.

The shoe will be in stores around late November.

Spike Lee To Throw Block-Party Style Micheal Jackson Celebration

UPDATE: Michael Jackson's birthday party will be held at Prospect Park, not Fort Greene park as originally planned.

Date: Saturday Aug. 29th

Time: Noon to 5PM

Read the info and many of the comments about the event...

via crainsnewyork

Spike Lee is organizing a block party-style celebration in Brooklyn to mark Michael Jackson's birthday.

The party will be in Kings County on Aug. 29th, when Jackson would have turned 51.

DJ Spinna will be on the one and two playing all Michael Jackson songs. DJ Spinna is one of the best, so this will be a party you will hear about.

Lee and Jackson worked together on the music video for "They Don't Care About Us".

Michael Jackson will be buried the same day in Hollywood Hills, California.

I'll keep you posted on this one...

Spike Lee Revisits The Set Of "Do The Right Thing"

via nymag

Spike Lee revisits the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn where he shot, "Do The Right Thing", 20 years ago.

Jada Yuan of NYMag is along for the ride and captures some of Spike's interaction with the blocks residents and their shared memories.

They throw in a little bit of trivia about the filming of the movie, as well as update us on the neighborhood and how it has fared during the last 20 years since Spike Lee moved in and shot his classic film for 2 months.

You should read it here...

Spike Lee at The Michael Jackson Tribute @ The Apollo Theater

via new york times

Spike Lee and the Reverend Al Sharpton gettin' it in at the Apollo.

See more pics from the Apollo Tribute at NYT. (Enable cookies)

There were so many people out there in front of The Apollo. I knew people loved Michael Jackson, but I didn't know they "L-O-V-E-D" Michael Jackson!

It's good to see a person as innovative as he was receive this outpouring of affection from the fans.

This man took a "throw away promotional tool" like the music video that was only being used to sell acts to radio, record stores and book television appearances and showed how it could be used to sell records.

There is no question in my mind that the success of the Thriller album was related to the strong success he and The Jacksons had for 5 years leading up to Thriller, the lower price and commercial availability of the VCR and the video music program as a addition to cable television...the perfect storm.

Other people had the chance to do what he did, but they didn't... because they couldn't see it.

I could go discussing the sonic quality of his records or the numerous times he reinvented himself, but, it's all been said. What hasn't is how he saved the music business while he was living and he is doing it again... in death.

My point...he was a savvy businessman with the ability to think 4 or 5 steps ahead...and a dancer and singer. I love his dancing, but, I love even more that he wasn't a one dimensional character.

For now we wait to hear what unfolds from the LAPD and the family.

Related: Spike Lee Revisits The Set Of "Do The Right Thing"

Spike Lee and Best Buy Sponsoring Filmmaking Contest

Best Buy has a contest called MOFILM U12 and it is hosted by Spike Lee.

Best Buy is asking consumers to create branded videos through MOFILM U12. They want short, creative films showcasing how technology holds great promise, is entertaining, connecting and fuels life passions.

There will be 12 winners, who will have their work on display at Cannes Advertising Festival. The top 3 will be invited to attend an all expense paid trip to Cannes, France to attend the festival. $21,000 in prize money is available with the winner taking $12,000 and an apprenticeship with Spike Lee.

Contest runs through June 8.

To register for contest go here

via shadowandact

Spike Lee+Kobe Bryant+Tribeca Film Festival="Kobe Doin' Work " Documentary

Tribeca Film Festival- Kobe Doin' Work

To spotlight ESPN FIlms as a sponsor/partcipant in the Tribeca Film Festival, Spike Lee debuted his documentary on Kobe Bryant, 'Kobe Doin' Work". While I applaud ESPN and Tribeca for selecting Spike Lee to promote the sports based documentary genre, I have to knock the name of the film; couldn't someone involved have used a little more imagination? Although, I do like the approach of focusing on the athlete first, game second.

A private screening was held at Nike Sportswear at 21 Mercer. For those who don't know, that is Nike's boutique store in SoHo.

The film is primarily Kobe being followed by 30 cameras and 4 wireless mics at different points during last season. Collecting everything from meetings, practice and highlights with added commentary by the Kobe.

If you missed the premiere, it will air on ESPN commercial free Saturday, May 16 at 7:30 PM.

For more pics of the event go over to Freshnessmag

Variety reviews Kobe Doin' Work