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Spike Lee

Spike Lee Quotes

Film director

Spike Lee, born on March 20, 1957, is a renowned American film director. His works are known for their deep insight into American social issues and critical thinking, with notable films such as 'Do the Right Thing' and 'School Daze'. Lee's directorial style is unique, often using nonlinear narrative and black-and-white imagery, which has won him the admiration of audiences.

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All Film People Thinking Ifs Black Trying Want Stories Black People Filmmaker Way Knows Looks White Done New York Racism Right Thing World Young

Famous Spike Lee Quotes

“I mean, I think there's a lot of hope in my work. I don't think I'm a total pessimist, so I think you can find hope in all my films. Some more than others, but there's definitely... I think we want to convey the feeling of hope with the montage at the end.”

Thinking Want Ends Feelings Film Pessimist

Author:Spike Lee

“As a writer I want everybody to get a chance to voice their opinions. If each character thinks that they're telling the truth, then it's valid. Then at the end of the film, I leave it up to the audience to decide who did the right thing.”

Ifs Thinking Want Ends Character Film Voice Chance Opinion Audience Right Thing Telling The Truth

Author:Spike Lee

“I don't think racism can be eliminated in my lifetime ... or my children's or grandchildren's. But I think it's something we have to strive for. I'm going to keep working toward that day coming.”

Thinking Children Racism Lifetime Strive My Children Grandchildren

Book:Spike Lee: Interviews

Source: Spike Lee: Interviews

“We've got to turn this backward thinking around where ignorance is championed over intelligence. Young black kids being ridiculed by their peers for getting A's and speaking proper English: that's criminal.”

Thinking Kids Young Turns Black Ignorance Criminals Peers

Author:Spike Lee

“I don't think my films are going to get rid of racism or prejudice. I think the best thing my films can do is provoke discussion.”

Thinking Film Can Do Racism Prejudice Best Things Discussion Provoking

Book:Spike Lee: Interviews

Source: Spike Lee: Interviews

“I think my work shows that I love women. I understand where these types of criticisms are coming from because black people have been so dogged out in the media, they're just extra sensitive.”

People Thinking Has Beens Shows Black Media Type Criticism Sensitive Extras Black People

Author:Spike Lee

“There's a lot of Americans, black and white, who think that we've arrived where we need to be and nothing else needs to be done and affirmative action needs to be dismantled.”

Thinking Needs Done Action Black White Black And White Affirmative Action Affirmative

Author:Spike Lee

“I think if people looked at my body of work, they'd see a great breadth of work.”

People Ifs Thinking Body Breadth

Author:Spike Lee

“I don't like to use the word 'remake', I think reinterpretation is a better word. It's just a matter of respecting the source, and then trying to make your own film, and trying not to be inhibited by being so beholden to every single thing... We respect the source, but we make changes to it.”

Thinking Trying Matter Use Film Source Making Changes Remakes Reinterpretation

Author:Spike Lee

“Surprises are good. I'm not of the thinking where you tell the audience everything. Sometimes I don't even want to see the trailers. You see the trailer, you've seen the movie.”

Thinking Want Sometimes Audience Surprise Trailers

Author:Spike Lee

“I'm a storyteller, and there's some genres I like. I don't think I'm ever going to do science fiction, but I want to do a musical one day. I want to tell stories, I don't really try to get boxed in by a specific genre.”

Thinking Want Trying Stories Fiction One Day Science Fiction Musical Genre Storyteller

Author:Spike Lee

“I'm always open to new, innovative stuff and people trying to do stuff in a different way. I knew that the theatrical release would be like getting on the launch pad for Amazon Prime but I was okay with that because I think what Jeff Bezos and Ted Hope are doing is innovative.”

People Thinking Way Trying Different Would Be Stuff Okay Release Different Ways Prime Innovative Theatrical Amazon Pads

Author:Spike Lee

“I think people who have faults are a lot more interesting than people who are perfect.”

People Thinking Perfect Interesting Faults

Author:Spike Lee

“Don't think that because you haven't heard from me for a while that I went to sleep. I am still here, like a spirit roaming the night. Thirsty, hungry, seldom stopping to rest.”

Thinking Stills Spirit Night Sleep Heard Havens Hungry Stopping Thirsty Roaming

Author:Spike Lee

“I don't think I'm a total pessimist, so I think you can find hope in all my films.”

Thinking Film Pessimist

Author:Spike Lee

“I think it would be very boring dramatically to have a film where everybody was a lawyer or doctor and had no faults. To me, the most important thing is to be truthful.”

Thinking Important Would Be Film Doctors Important Things Faults Boring Lawyer Truthful Being Truthful

Author:Spike Lee

“I think the best actors in the world are here in New York City. And this city is just so vibrant the energy is just phenomenal. Great crews here. All the technicians, all the artists that work in this industry. I've just been very happy with the body that we've been able to do, especially those films we shot here in New York City.”

Thinking World Body Able Film Artist Actors Energy Cities New York Industry Shots New York City Crew Very Happy Phenomenal Technicians

Author:Spike Lee

“There’s always been this hocus-pocus or magical, mystical thing associated with the making of film that sort of psyches people out and makes them think that this cannot be done; that this is a craft that cannot be learned.”

People Thinking Done Film Crafts Mystical Psych Hocus Pocus

Book:Spike Lee: Interviews

Source: Spike Lee: Interviews

“I think it is very important that films make people look at what they've forgotten.”

People Thinking Looks Important Film Forgotten

Author:Spike Lee

“I think black people have to be in control of their own image because film is a powerful medium. We can't just sit back and let other people define our existence.”

People Thinking Film Black Powerful Existence Mediums Black People

Author:Spike Lee

About the Author

Born: March 20, 1957
Known for: Film director
Quotes: 131

Related Topics

Film People Thinking Ifs Black Trying Want Stories Black People Filmmaker Way Knows Looks White Done New York Racism Right Thing World Young

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Books & Sources

Spike Lee: InterviewsRelated source material

Do the Right Thing: A Spike Lee JointRelated source material

Five for five: the films of Spike LeeRelated source material

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