Biography
Perhaps one of the most controversial filmmakers to emerge during the explosion of independent directors in the 1980s, Spike Lee single-handedly changed the way African-Americans were perceived in Hollywood films. Starting with "She's Gotta Have It" (1986), a stylish, ultra-low budget comedy that became an unexpected commercial success and planted him firmly on the map. Right out of the gate, Lee directed a series of films that dealt with the …
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Career Milestones
| Enrolled in New York University's Tisch School of the Arts | ||
| Founded the production company 40 Acres and A Mule Filmworks | ||
1980 | Debuted thesis film "Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads" at Lincoln Center's New Directors New Films Festival; the first student film to be showcased in the festival | |
1986 | First feature film (directed, wrote, produced and starred), "She's Gotta Have It" (made for approximately $175,000 and shot in 12 days) | |
1987 | First book published She's Gotta Have It: Inside Guerilla Filmmaking | |
1989 | Helmed the controversial drama "Do the Right Thing"; earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay | |
1991 | Produced first off-Broadway play, "Folks Remembers a Missing Page" | |
1992 | Directed Denzel Washington as the controversial and influential Black Nationalist leader in "Malcolm X" | |
1992 | Formed record label, Forty Acres and a Mule Music Works, a division of Sony; first artists signed: State of Arts, Youssou N'Dour and Lonette McKee | |
1996 | Filmed "Get on the Bus," about a group of African-American men taking a cross-country bus trip in order to participate in the Million Man March; released on the one year anniversary of the March | |
1997 | Produced and directed the documentary "4 Little Girls"; earned Academy Award nomination | |
1997 | Signed three-year, first-look production deal with Columbia Pictures | |
1998 | First No. 1 hit with "He Got Game," starring Denzel Washington | |
1999 | Helmed the controversial "Summer of Sam" | |
2000 | Again courted controversy with "Bamboozled," about a TV executive who creates a modern-day minstrel show that becomes a surprise hit TV series | |
2000 | Helmed the stand-up comedy feature "The Original Kings of Comedy" with Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, and Bernie Mac | |
2002 | Directed the crime drama "The 25th Hour" | |
2002 | Directed the documentary "Jim Brown: All American"; produced under the auspices of HBO sports (released theatrically in March) | |
2006 | Helmed the Hurricane Katrina documentary "When the Levees Broke" for HBO; earned an Emmy nomination for Producing | |
2006 | Re-teamed with Denzel Washington to direct the hostage drama "Inside Man" | |
2008 | Directed the WWII drama "Miracle at St. Anna," starring Derek Luke and Michael Ealy | |
2009 | Directed "Passing Strange," a theatrical stage production of the original Broadway musical for "Great Performances" (PBS) | |
2009 | Helmed the ESPN sport documentary "Kobe Doin' Work" | |
2011 | Executive produced the critically acclaimed independent feature "Pariah," directed by Dee Rees and starring Adepero Oduye | |
Awards
1987 | Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature in She's Gotta Have It |
1989 | Academy Award for Writing (Screenplay Written Directly For the Screen) in Do the Right Thing |
1989 | Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in Do the Right Thing |
1989 | Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture in Do the Right Thing |
1989 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Director in Do the Right Thing |
1991 | Cannes Film Festival for International Critic's Prize by the F.I.P.R.E.S.C.I. in Jungle Fever |
1997 | Academy Award for Documentary (Feature) in 4 Little Girls |
2001 | Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature in Love & Basketball |
2006 | MTV Movie Award for Silver Bucket of Excellence Award in Things to Do Before You're 30 |
2007 | Primetime Emmy Award for Exceptional Merit In Nonfiction Filmmaking in When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts |
2007 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing For Nonfiction Programming in When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts |
2008 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special in Real Time with Bill Maher |