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Biography
Having a track around the Pop Ambient 2004 compilation, Japan’s Tetsuo Sakae (creation) and Mayuchi (visuals) joined with Cologne, Germany’s Kompakt label. A few months following the duo’s 1st bow, they released the Quiet Just like a Millpond mini-album, which continuing showing them developing their affinity for Cocteau Twins-inspired ambient styles (and game titles).
Quick Facts
Music Songs Iceblink, Blue, Voices, Big and Silent Waves, Butterflies, Sakura
Albums Calm Like a Millpond
- Facts
- Filmography
- Awards
- Salaries
- Quotes
- Trademarks
- Pictures
| # | Fact |
|---|---|
| 1 | Friends with Bill Nunn. |
| 2 | He is left-handed. |
| 3 | Attended John Dewey High School in Brooklyn, New York. Director Larry Charles also went to Dewey, but graduated one year later. |
| 4 | Endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential election of the United States. |
| 5 | Preparing to make a follow-up film to "When the Levees Broke" [January 2010] |
| 6 | He's good friends with Martin Scorsese. |
| 7 | Mentioned in the song "Light My Candle" from Jonathan Larson's musical Rent. He was also considered to direct the movie version of Rent before Chris Colubus was chosen. |
| 8 | Has directed 2 actors to Oscar-nominated performances: Danny Aiello (Best Supporting Actor, Do the Right Thing (1989)), and Denzel Washington (Best Actor, Malcolm X (1992)). |
| 9 | Nephew of Consuela Lee Morehead. |
| 10 | His favorite movie is The Deer Hunter (1978). It is the movie that inspired him to be a director. |
| 11 | Is a big fan of musicals from Hollywood's Golden Age. |
| 12 | Member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 2004. |
| 13 | The Lees bought their 9,800-sq.-ft. Italian palazzo-style home from Jasper Johns in 1998; it was originally built for a Vanderbilt. |
| 14 | Made the introduction of the song "The Church" on De La Soul's album "The Grind Date". |
| 15 | One of his classmate at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts was director Ang Lee. The Taiwan-born Lee worked on the crew of Spike's thesis film, Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983). |
| 16 | When Norman Jewison was originally hired to direct Malcolm X (1992), Lee met with him and convinced him he needed to "sit this one out". Feeling that only a black director was qualified and would bring the necessary perspective, Lee then stepped in as director with Jewison's blessing. |
| 17 | Is a huge Arsenal fan and personal friend of team captain Thierry Henry. Is often known to wear Arsenal jerseys while on set. |
| 18 | Is a fan of Michael Moore's films. Bowling for Columbine (2002) was his favorite film of 2002. |
| 19 | Grandson of Zimmie Shelton, who helped finance his featurette, Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983). She received a producing credit on the film, which went on to win a Merit Award at the Student Academy Awards. |
| 20 | Often casts real-life family members in his films. In Do the Right Thing (1989) , for example, he cast Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee (real-life husband and wife), himself and Joie Lee (real-life siblings), and Danny Aiello and Rick Aiello (real-life father and son). Other films he does this in include School Daze (1988), Mo' Better Blues (1990), Jungle Fever (1991) and Malcolm X (1992). |
| 21 | Was voted the 48th Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly. |
| 22 | Has been trying for more than ten years to direct his dream project: a film about the life and times of Jackie Robinson. Says that he personally promised to Robinson's widow, Rachel Isum, to make the film. Another as-of-yet (2003) project he has often spoke of but has yet to do is a film on the boxing match between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling. |
| 23 | Vied for the director's seat on Ali (2001). Says that he knew he wouldn't get the job after speaking to the movie's star, Will Smith (one of the many financiers on Lee's Get on the Bus (1996)), who wanted Lee to make a film with "a broader appeal". |
| 24 | Is now (2002) the Artistic Director of the graduate division of the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. The position gives Lee an advisory position, allowing him to teach and advise third year students, as well as aid with industry networking. |
| 25 | Was featured in numerous Nike campaigns in the early '90s |
| 26 | Was a Visiting Lecturer in Afro-American Studies and Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard University in the early 1990s. |
| 27 | The name of his production company, "40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks", came from an unfulfilled promise that many politicians made to freed slaves after the Civil War. |
| 28 | Between the making of his award-winning student short, Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983), and his debut feature, She's Gotta Have It (1986), Lee attempted to make a featured called "Messenger". Over $100,000 was raised, but the film never materialized. |
| 29 | He and producer/director Monty Ross are frequent collaborators and were classmates and graduates of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. |
| 30 | He has never learned how to drive an automobile. |
| 31 | His grandmother, Zimmie Shelton, helped fund his first full-length feature film, She's Gotta Have It (1986). |
| 32 | His grandmother, Zimmie Shelton, an alumna of Spelman College (class of 1929), sent him to Morehouse College, the historically black all-male institution affiliated with the all-female Spelman College. |
| 33 | Children, with Tonya Lewis Lee, Satchel (b. 1994) and Jackson (b. 1997). |
| 34 | Graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1979. |
| 35 | Graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 1982. |
| 36 | Serves as a master teacher of film at the Tisch School of the Arts and Harvard University. |
| 37 | After the Columbine high school shootings Spike said that National Rifle Association president Charlton Heston should be shot. Heston replied that if Spike wanted to take a shot at him he should go ahead and try it. Lee later apologized for the comments. |
| 38 | Friend of Soledad O'Brien. |
| 39 | Brother of Joie Lee, Cinqué Lee and David Lee. |
| 40 | Son of Bill Lee. |
| 41 | His production company is 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks. |
| 42 | Big New York Knicks fan: Has courtside seats for all games. Partially responsible for the "off colored" baseball caps, as he started wearing a red Yankees cap during the 1996 World Series. |
| 43 | Cousin of Malcolm D. Lee. |
Director
Director
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jesus Children of America | 2005 | Short | |
| Miracle's Boys | 2005 | TV Mini-Series 2 episodes | |
| Sucker Free City | 2004 | TV Movie | |
| She Hate Me | 2004 | ||
| 25th Hour | 2002 | ||
| Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet | 2002 | segment "We Wuz Robbed" | |
| Jim Brown: All American | 2002 | TV Movie documentary | |
| Come Rain or Come Shine | 2001 | Documentary short | |
| The Concert for New York City | 2001 | TV Special documentary segment "Come Rain or Come Shine" | |
| A Huey P. Newton Story | 2001 | TV Movie documentary | |
| The Making of 'Bamboozled' | 2001 | Video documentary | |
| Bamboozled | 2000 | ||
| The Original Kings of Comedy | 2000 | Documentary | |
| And Ya Don't Stop: Hip Hop's Greatest Videos, Vol. 1 | 2000 | Video video "Fight the Power" | |
| Un matin partout dans le monde | 2000 | TV Short | |
| Pavarotti & Friends 99 for Guatemala and Kosovo | 1999 | TV Movie documentary | |
| Summer of Sam | 1999 | ||
| John Leguizamo: Freak | 1998 | TV Special | |
| He Got Game | 1998 | ||
| Michael Jackson: HIStory on Film - Volume II | 1997 | Video documentary video "They Don't Care About Us" | |
| 4 Little Girls | 1997 | Documentary | |
| Get on the Bus | 1996 | ||
| Michael Jackson: They Don't Care About Us, Prison Version | 1996 | Video short | |
| Girl 6 | 1996 | ||
| Michael Jackson: They Don't Care About Us | 1996 | Video short | |
| Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel | 1995 | TV Series 1 episode | |
| Lumière et compagnie | 1995 | Documentary | |
| Clockers | 1995 | ||
| Crooklyn | 1994 | ||
| Malcolm X | 1992 | ||
| Jungle Fever | 1991 | ||
| Mo' Better Blues | 1990 | ||
| Do the Right Thing | 1989 | ||
| Public Enemy: Fight the Power | 1989 | Short | |
| School Daze | 1988 | ||
| She's Gotta Have It | 1986 | ||
| Horn of Plenty | 1986 | TV Short | |
| Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads | 1983 | ||
| Sarah | 1981 | Short | |
| The Answer | 1980 | Short | |
| Last Hustle in Brooklyn | 1979 | Short | |
| She's Gotta Have It | 2017 | TV Series 10 episodes post-production | |
| Rodney King | 2017 | ||
| Brave, Visions for Moncler | 2017 | Short | |
| Spike Lee's Lil Joints | 2015-2016 | TV Mini-Series documentary 2 episodes | |
| Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall | 2016 | Documentary | |
| Kevon Carter: We Gotta Do Better | 2015 | Video short | |
| Chi-Raq | 2015 | ||
| NBA 2K16 | 2015 | Video Game | |
| Mo'ne Davis: I Throw Like a Girl | 2014 | Documentary short | |
| Jerrod Carmichael: Love at the Store | 2014 | TV Special documentary | |
| Katt Williams: Priceless: Afterlife | 2014 | TV Special | |
| Da Sweet Blood of Jesus | 2014 | ||
| Amex Unstaged Pharrell Williams Live at the Apollo | 2014 | Video | |
| Eminem Feat. Nate Ruess: Headlights | 2014 | Video short | |
| Go Brasil Go! | 2014 | Documentary | |
| Old Boy | 2013 | ||
| Bad 25 | 2012 | Documentary | |
| Red Hook Summer | 2012 | ||
| Da Brick | 2011 | TV Movie | |
| If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise | 2010 | TV Mini-Series documentary 1 episode | |
| Michael Jackson: This Is It | 2009 | Video short | |
| Passing Strange | 2009 | ||
| Kobe Doin' Work | 2009 | TV Movie documentary | |
| Great Performances | 1998-2009 | TV Series 2 episodes | |
| Miracle at St. Anna | 2008 | ||
| Lovers & Haters | 2007 | Short | |
| M.O.N.Y. | 2007 | TV Movie | |
| Shark | 2006 | TV Series 1 episode | |
| When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts | 2006 | TV Mini-Series documentary 2 episodes | |
| Inside Man | 2006 | ||
| All the Invisible Children | 2005 | segment "Jesus Children of America" |
Producer
Producer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| She's Gotta Have It | 2017 | TV Series executive producer - 1 episode post-production | |
| Hollywood Renegade | Documentary executive producer post-production | ||
| Off-Time | associate producer post-production | ||
| Rodney King | 2017 | producer | |
| Spike Lee's Lil Joints | TV Mini-Series documentary executive producer - 2 episodes, 2015 - 2016 producer - 1 episode, 2016 | ||
| Chi-Raq | 2015 | producer | |
| NBA 2K16 | 2015 | Video Game executive producer | |
| Spike Lee's Lil Joints and of the Son: The Legacy of David & Jackie Robinson | 2015 | TV Movie documentary executive producer | |
| The Girl Is in Trouble | 2015 | executive producer | |
| Touched with Fire | 2015 | executive producer | |
| Cronies | 2015 | executive producer | |
| Independent Lens | 2015 | TV Series documentary executive producer - 1 episode | |
| Mo'ne Davis: I Throw Like a Girl | 2014 | Documentary short executive producer | |
| Katt Williams: Priceless: Afterlife | 2014 | TV Special executive producer | |
| Da Sweet Blood of Jesus | 2014 | producer | |
| Beats of the Beautiful Game | 2014 | Short executive producer | |
| Manos sucias | 2014 | executive producer | |
| Evolution of a Criminal | 2014 | Documentary executive producer | |
| Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth | 2013 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Old Boy | 2013 | producer | |
| You're Nobody 'til Somebody Kills You | 2012 | executive producer | |
| Red Hook Summer | 2012 | producer | |
| Da Brick | 2011 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Doubles with Slight Pepper | 2011 | Short executive producer | |
| Pariah | 2011/I | executive producer | |
| If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise | 2010 | TV Mini-Series documentary producer - 1 episode | |
| Dream Street | 2010 | executive producer | |
| Saint John of Las Vegas | 2009 | executive producer | |
| Kobe Doin' Work | 2009 | TV Movie documentary producer | |
| Great Performances | 2009 | TV Series producer - 1 episode | |
| Miracle at St. Anna | 2008 | producer | |
| When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts | 2006 | TV Mini-Series documentary producer - 2 episodes | |
| All the Invisible Children | 2005 | producer - segment "Jesus Children of America" | |
| Jesus Children of America | 2005 | Short producer | |
| Sucker Free City | 2004 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| She Hate Me | 2004 | producer | |
| Good Fences | 2003 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| 25th Hour | 2002 | producer | |
| Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet | 2002 | producer - segment "We Wuz Robbed" | |
| Jim Brown: All American | 2002 | TV Movie documentary producer | |
| Home Invaders | 2001 | executive producer | |
| 3 A.M. | 2001 | co-executive producer / producer | |
| Bamboozled | 2000 | producer | |
| The Original Kings of Comedy | 2000 | Documentary producer | |
| Love & Basketball | 2000 | producer | |
| The Best Man | 1999 | producer | |
| Summer of Sam | 1999 | producer | |
| He Got Game | 1998 | producer | |
| 4 Little Girls | 1997 | Documentary producer | |
| Get on the Bus | 1996 | executive producer | |
| Girl 6 | 1996 | producer | |
| Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel | 1995 | TV Series producer - 1 episode | |
| Clockers | 1995 | producer | |
| Tales from the Hood | 1995 | executive producer | |
| New Jersey Drive | 1995 | executive producer | |
| Drop Squad | 1994 | executive producer | |
| Crooklyn | 1994 | producer | |
| Malcolm X | 1992 | producer | |
| Coca Cola Pop Music Backstage Pass to Summer | 1991 | TV Special segment producer - segment "Fishbone" | |
| Jungle Fever | 1991 | producer | |
| Mo' Better Blues | 1990 | producer | |
| Do the Right Thing | 1989 | producer | |
| School Daze | 1988 | producer | |
| She's Gotta Have It | 1986 | producer - as Shelton J. Lee | |
| Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads | 1983 | producer |
Writer
Writer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| She's Gotta Have It | TV Series based upon story by - 1 episode, 2017 writer - 1 episode, 2017 post-production | ||
| Chi-Raq | 2015 | written by | |
| NBA 2K16 | 2015 | Video Game | |
| Da Sweet Blood of Jesus | 2014 | screenplay | |
| Red Hook Summer | 2012 | screenplay | |
| She Hate Me | 2004 | screenplay | |
| Bamboozled | 2000 | written by | |
| Summer of Sam | 1999 | screenplay / writer | |
| He Got Game | 1998 | written by | |
| Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel | 1995 | TV Series 1 episode | |
| Clockers | 1995 | screenplay | |
| Crooklyn | 1994 | ||
| Malcolm X | 1992 | screenplay | |
| Jungle Fever | 1991 | written by | |
| Mo' Better Blues | 1990 | written by | |
| Do the Right Thing | 1989 | written by | |
| School Daze | 1988 | written by | |
| She's Gotta Have It | 1986 | ||
| Horn of Plenty | 1986 | TV Short | |
| Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads | 1983 | writer |
Actor
Actor
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Garden's Defining Moments | 2015-2016 | TV Mini-Series | |
| Red Hook Summer | 2012 | Mr. Mookie | |
| Life, in Hollywood: Homevideo | 2011 | Video | |
| Just for Me Stories | 2001 | TV Series | Narrator (voice) |
| 3 A.M. | 2001 | Filmmaker | |
| Lisa Picard Is Famous | 2000 | Spike Lee | |
| Summer of Sam | 1999 | John Jeffries | |
| Girl 6 | 1996 | Jimmy | |
| Clockers | 1995 | Chucky | |
| Crooklyn | 1994 | Snuffy | |
| Ghostwriter | 1992 | TV Series | Special Agent Pete |
| Malcolm X | 1992 | Shorty | |
| Jungle Fever | 1991 | Cyrus | |
| Mo' Better Blues | 1990 | Giant | |
| Do the Right Thing | 1989 | Mookie | |
| School Daze | 1988 | Half-Pint | |
| Saturday Night Live | 1986 | TV Series | Mars Blackmon |
| She's Gotta Have It | 1986 | Mars Blackmon |
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth | 2013 | TV Movie directed for stage | |
| Una noche | 2012 | presents | |
| If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise | 2010 | TV Mini-Series documentary archive source - 1 episode | |
| C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America | 2004 | presenter |
Soundtrack
Soundtrack
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chi-Raq | 2015 | producer: "Pray 4 My City" | |
| Do the Right Thing | 1989 | lyrics: "Don't Shoot Me" / music: "Don't Shoot Me" |
Camera Department
Camera Department
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise | 2010 | TV Mini-Series documentary still photographer - 1 episode | |
| Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads | 1983 | assistant camera |
Editor
Editor
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| She's Gotta Have It | 1986 | ||
| Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads | 1983 |
Cinematographer
Cinematographer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Come Rain or Come Shine | 2001 | Documentary short |
Assistant Director
Assistant Director
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 2014 | TV Series segment director - 1 episode |
Thanks
Thanks
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 2016/I | thanks | |
| Doomed to You | 2016 | TV Series very special thanks - 1 episode | |
| Forever | 2016/I | Short the producers wish to thank | |
| The Birth of a Nation | 2016 | the director wishes to thank | |
| Carmelo | 2015 | Short thanks | |
| Your Love | 2014 | Short very special thanks | |
| F to 7th | 2014 | TV Series short very special thanks - 8 episodes | |
| Bump & Go | 2014 | Short special thanks | |
| Surviving Cliffside | 2013 | Documentary very special thanks | |
| Outpost | 2013 | Short very special thanks | |
| Black Girl in Paris | 2013 | Short special thanks | |
| La jaula de oro | 2013 | thanks | |
| Mango Bajito | 2012 | very special thanks | |
| Laff Mobb Presents | 2012 | TV Series special thanks - 2 episodes | |
| Una noche | 2012 | the filmmaker wishes to thank | |
| Violet & Daisy | 2011 | special thanks | |
| Pariah | 2011/I | extra special thanks | |
| Window on Your Present | 2010 | grateful acknowledgment | |
| I Bet You | 2009 | special thanks for inspiration | |
| Us: A Love Story | 2009 | Short very special thanks | |
| Streetballers | 2009 | special thanks | |
| Edge of Outside | 2006 | Documentary special thanks | |
| Secuestro | 2005 | TV Short special thanks | |
| Birth of a Nation: The Making of 'School Daze' | 2005 | Video documentary short special thanks | |
| Date | 2004 | Short special thanks | |
| El Delivery | 2004 | TV Short special thanks | |
| The Living Silence | 2003 | Short special thanks | |
| Five Deep Breaths | 2003 | Short special thanks | |
| Snapped | 2001 | Short special thanks - as Shelton J. Lee | |
| Chutney Popcorn | 1999 | special thanks | |
| Dogma | 1999 | humble thanks | |
| Nowhere Fast | 1997 | special thanks - as Shelton Lee | |
| Clerks | 1994 | special thanks: for leading the way | |
| Ax 'Em | 1992 | special thanks | |
| Boyz n the Hood | 1991 | thanks | |
| High Wire | 1984 | Documentary short thanks |
Self
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| PoliWood | 2009 | Documentary | Himself |
| Bring Your 'A' Game | 2009 | Documentary short | Himself - Director |
| Up Close with Carrie Keagan | 2008 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Showbiz Tonight | 2008 | TV Series | Himself |
| 40 x 15 | 2008 | Documentary | Himself |
| Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & the Movies | 2008 | Documentary | Himself |
| Children of the Storm | 2007 | Documentary | Himself - Host |
| Lights! Action! Music! | 2007 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies: 10th Anniversary Edition | 2007 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| That's the Way It Is: Celebrating Cronkite at 90 | 2007 | TV Movie documentary | |
| Stars on Stars | 2007 | TV Series | Himself |
| Building a Dream: The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy | 2007 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The 100 Best Black Movies (Ever) | 2007 | Documentary | Himself |
| The 12th Annual Critics' Choice Awards | 2007 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter |
| Ali's 65 | 2007 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Pixote, in memorian | 2007 | Documentary | Himself |
| Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith | 2006 | TV Series | Himself |
| The 2006 Black Movie Awards | 2006 | TV Special | Himself |
| Real Time with Bill Maher | 2005-2006 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts | 2006 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Himself |
| This Week | 2006 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Tavis Smiley | 2004-2006 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Making 'Inside Man' | 2006 | Video short | Himself |
| Chappelle's Show | 2006 | TV Series | Himself |
| 2006 MTV Movie Awards | 2006 | TV Special | Himself |
| Legends Ball | 2006 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The Ultimate Heist: Making 'Inside Man' | 2006 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| TV One on One | 2006 | TV Series | Himself |
| Corazón de... | 2006 | TV Series | Himself |
| Inside Men: Denzel & Spike - Man to Man | 2006 | TV Short | Himself |
| HARDtalk Extra | 2006 | TV Series | Himself |
| Le grand journal de Canal+ | 2006 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| That's What I'm Talking About | 2006 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Stevie Wonder | 2006 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X' | 2005 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| CenterStage | 2005 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| 2nd Annual VH1 Hip-Hop Honors | 2005 | TV Movie | Himself |
| The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame... | 2005 | TV Series | Himself |
| Movies That Shook the World | 2005 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| There Is No Direction | 2005 | Documentary short | Himself |
| Street Fight | 2005 | Documentary | Himself |
| Through the Fire | 2005 | Documentary | Himself |
| How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It) | 2005 | Documentary | Himself |
| Birth of a Nation: The Making of 'School Daze' | 2005 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| College Daze | 2005 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Making a Mark | 2005 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| The Difference | 2004 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Comme au cinéma | 2004 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and Dr. Strangelove | 2004 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| No Fighting in the War Room or Dr. Strangelove and the Nuclear Threat | 2004 | Video short documentary | Himself |
| Five Directors on 'The Battle of Algiers' | 2004 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Film '72 | 2004 | TV Series | Himself |
| Film School | 2004 | TV Series | Himself |
| ESPN SportsCentury | 2004 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Spike Lee's '25th Hour': The Evolution of an American Filmmaker | 2003 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Breakfast | 2003 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| 34th NAACP Image Awards | 2003 | TV Special | Himself |
| Le vrai journal | 2003 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| 2003 Trumpet Awards | 2003 | TV Special | Himself |
| Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson | 2002 | TV Series | Himself |
| A Tribe Called Quest: The Video Anthology | 2002 | Video | Himself (segment "Scenario") |
| New York at the Movies | 2002 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| It's Black Entertainment | 2002 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
| Independent View | 2002 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Bravo Profiles | 2002 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| The Making and Meaning of 'We Are Family' | 2002 | Documentary | Himself |
| The 100 Greatest Films | 2001 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Late Night with Conan O'Brien | 1995-2001 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Making of 'Bamboozled' | 2001 | Video documentary | |
| The 2001 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards | 2001 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter (uncredited) |
| Michael Jordan to the Max | 2000 | Documentary | Himself |
| Arena | 2000 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| 2000 Essence Awards | 2000 | TV Special | Himself |
| The Directors | 2000 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Film-Fest DVD: Issue 2 - Cannes | 1999 | Video documentary | Himself |
| El Magacine | 1999 | TV Series | Himself |
| I'll Make Me a World | 1999 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Himself |
| The World's Best Sellers: The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money | 1998 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Great Performances | 1990-1998 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Chris Rock Show | 1998 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | 1993-1998 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| 4 Little Girls | 1997 | Documentary | Interviewer (voice, uncredited) |
| 10th Anniversary Essence Awards | 1997 | TV Special | Himself |
| Split Screen | 1997 | TV Series | Himself |
| When We Were Kings | 1996 | Documentary | Himself |
| Lumière et compagnie | 1995 | Documentary | Himself (segment "Sarah Moon") |
| World AIDS Day Special | 1995 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| American Cinema | 1995 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| The Making of 'Tales from the Hood' | 1995 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| A Century of Cinema | 1994 | Documentary | Himself |
| Drop Squad | 1994 | Himself | |
| The Essence Awards | 1994 | TV Special | Himself |
| The Arsenio Hall Show | 1989-1994 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| ESPN Outside the Lines Primetime | 1994 | TV Series | Himself |
| Hoop Dreams | 1994 | Documentary | Himself - Film Director |
| The Cronkite Report: The Faltering Dream | 1993 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Seven Songs for Malcolm X | 1993 | Documentary | |
| The Last Party | 1993 | Documentary | Himself |
| Abbey Lincoln: You Gotta Pay the Band | 1993 | TV Movie | Himself |
| Rock the Vote | 1993 | TV Movie | Himself |
| Comic Relief V | 1992 | TV Special | Himself |
| Oliver Stone: Inside Out | 1992 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Our Hollywood Education | 1992 | Documentary | Himself |
| Ebony/Jet Showcase | 1988-1992 | TV Series | Himself |
| Siskel & Ebert | 1992 | TV Series | Himself |
| The 64th Annual Academy Awards | 1992 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short |
| Adieu, Babylone! | 1992 | Himself - Cineaste | |
| Saturday Night Live | 1991 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | 1991 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| MTV's 10th Anniversary Special | 1991 | TV Movie | Himself |
| A Comedy Salute to Michael Jordan | 1991 | TV Movie | Himself |
| Lonely in America | 1990 | Himself | |
| America This Morning | 1990 | TV Series | Himself |
| The 62nd Annual Academy Awards | 1990 | TV Special | Himself - Nominee: Best Original Screenplay |
| American Tribute to Vaclav Havel and a Celebration of Democracy in Czechoslovakia | 1990 | TV Movie | Himself |
| The 47th Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1990 | TV Special | Himself - Nominee: Best Motion Picture Drama, Best Director & Best Screenplay |
| The 11th Annual Black Achievement Awards | 1990 | TV Special | Himself |
| 22nd NAACP Image Awards | 1990 | TV Special | Himself |
| Story of a People: The Black Road to Hollywood | 1990 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
| Decade | 1989 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The Media Show | 1989 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Making 'Do the Right Thing' | 1989 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| First Works | 1989 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The Oprah Winfrey Show | 1989 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Debbie Allen Special | 1989 | TV Special | Himself |
| Moving Image Salutes Sidney Poitier | 1989 | TV Movie | Himself - Speaker |
| 21st NAACP Image Awards | 1989 | TV Special | Himself |
| Branford Marsalis Steep | 1988 | Himself | |
| The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross | 1988 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| 20th NAACP Image Awards | 1988 | TV Special | Himself |
| The 9th Annual American Black Achievement Awards | 1988 | TV Special | Himself |
| New York Framed | 1986 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The Dick Cavett Show | 1986 | TV Series | Himself - Director |
| Hollywood Renegade | Documentary post-production | Himself | |
| Le journal du Festival | 2017 | TV Series | Himself |
| Independent Lens | 2017 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Anderson Cooper 360° | 2016 | TV Series | Himself - Interviewee |
| Mike & Mike | 2015-2016 | TV Series | Himself - Film Director |
| The Dr. Oz Show | 2016 | TV Series | Himself |
| CBS This Morning | 2016 | TV Series | Himself |
| Steve Harvey | 2016 | TV Series | Himself |
| Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall | 2016 | Documentary | Himself |
| Good Morning America | 2010-2016 | TV Series | Himself - Guest / Himself |
| French cinema mon amour | 2015 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The IMDb Studio | 2015 | TV Series short | Himself |
| Weekend Today | 2015 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| IMDb: What to Watch | 2015 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Larry King Now | 2015 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| PBS NewsHour | 2015 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore | 2015 | TV Series | Himself - Panelist |
| Today | 1989-2015 | TV Series | Himself - Guest / Himself |
| The Daily Show | 2004-2015 | TV Series | Himself / Himself - Guest |
| Made in Hollywood | 2015 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | 2015 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 2015 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Insider | 2014-2015 | TV Series | Himself |
| Academy Originals: What Movies Mean to Me | 2015 | TV Mini-Series short | Himself |
| Highly Questionable | 2015 | TV Series | Himself |
| Champs | 2015 | Documentary | Himself |
| Last Call with Carson Daly | 2015 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The View | 2004-2015 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The 46th Annual NAACP Image Awards | 2015 | TV Special | Himself - Honoree |
| Mo'ne Davis: I Throw Like a Girl | 2014 | Documentary short | Himself (voice) |
| Entertainment Tonight | 2008-2014 | TV Series | Himself |
| Spike Lee: Do the Right Thing, 25 Years On | 2014 | TV Short documentary | Himself |
| Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee | 2014 | Documentary | Himself |
| HuffPost Live Conversations | 2014 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Lineup: Best New York Movies | 2014 | TV Mini-Series | Himself |
| Oprah's Next Chapter | 2013 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Bracket | 2013 | TV Series | Himself |
| Inside the Actors Studio | 2000-2013 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony | 2013 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter |
| The Lineup: Best Sports Movies | 2013 | Short | Himself - Panelist |
| The Hour | 2012 | TV Series | Himself |
| 25 Jahre BAD - Das Phänomen Michael Jackson | 2012 | Documentary | Himself |
| UnderGround | 2012 | Documentary | |
| Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | 2012 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Piers Morgan Tonight | 2012 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Big Morning Buzz Live | 2012 | TV Series | Himself |
| Charlie Rose | 1995-2012 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| ESPN Friday Night Fights | 2012 | TV Series | Himself |
| BET Awards 2012 | 2012 | TV Special | Himself |
| The BET Honors | 2012 | TV Special | Himself |
| Brooklyn Boheme | 2011 | Documentary | Himself |
| On the Shoulders of Giants: The Story of the Greatest Team You Never Heard Of | 2010 | Documentary | Himself |
| We the People: From Crispus Attucks to President Barack Obama | 2010 | Documentary | |
| A Man's Story | 2010 | Documentary | Himself |
| Talk Stoop with Cat Greenleaf | 2010 | TV Series | Himself |
| Guest | 2010/II | Documentary | Himself |
| Who Do You Think You Are? | 2010 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| The Brian McKnight Show | 2010 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| 30 for 30 | 2010 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Everything Is Practice | 2010 | Short | Himself |
| With All Due Respect | 2009 | TV Movie | Himself |
| Newsnight | 2009 | TV Series | Himself |
| I Believe in Miracles | 2009 | Video documentary | Himself |
| Late Show with David Letterman | 1994-2009 | TV Series | Himself / Himself - Guest |
Archive Footage
Archive Footage
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike & Mike | 2014-2017 | TV Series | Himself - Movie Director / Himself |
| Extra | 2016 | TV Series | Himself |
| Entertainment Tonight | 2009-2016 | TV Series | Himself |
| Late Night with Seth Meyers | 2016 | TV Series | Himself - At NBA All-Star Celebrity Game |
| Democracy Now! | 2016 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Insider | 2014 | TV Series | Himself |
| Twenty Feet from Stardom | 2013 | Documentary | Himself (uncredited) |
| 30 for 30 | 2012 | TV Series documentary | Mars Blackmon / Himself |
| Chelsea Lately | 2012 | TV Series | Himself |
| Comedy Lab | 2010 | TV Series | Himself |
| Cleanflix | 2009 | Documentary | Himself |
| Filmania: Eiga no tatsujin | 2009 | TV Series | Himself |
| New Orleans Story | 2008 | Documentary | Himself |
| The O'Reilly Factor | 2008 | TV Series | Himself / Himself (segment "Pinheads & Patriots") |
| Reinventando Hollywood | 2008 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| La rentadora | 2007 | TV Series | Himself |
| 80s | 2005 | TV Series documentary | Mookie |
| Headliners & Legends: Denzel Washington | 2002 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Who Is Alan Smithee? | 2002 | TV Movie documentary | Himself (uncredited) |
| The Miles Davis Story | 2001 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Biography | 1999 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| The Universal Story | 1995 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Ghostwriter | 1993 | TV Series | Special Agent Pete |
| Hollywood Mavericks | 1990 | Documentary | Mookie |
Won awards
Won awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie | Award shared with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Honorary Award | Academy Awards, USA | |||
| 2015 | President's Award | Image Awards | |||
| 2015 | New York Emmy | New York Emmy Awards | Interview/Discussion | The Lineup: Best New York Movies (2014) | · Roman Gackowski (director) · Fran Healy (host) · Dan Galway (producer) · Michael D. Ratner (director) · McKenzie Barney (producer) · Matthew Hirschhorn (associate producer) · Chris Kostianis (director of photography) · Filipe Deandrade (camera) · Lee Umphred (editor) · Jeffrey Lyons (talent) · John Leguizamo (talent) · Edward Burns (talent) · Mari White (talent) |
| 2015 | New York Emmy | New York Emmy Awards | Entertainment: Program/Special | The Lineup: Best New York Movies (2014) | · Roman Gackowski (director) · Fran Healy (host) · Dan Galway (producer) · Michael D. Ratner (director) · McKenzie Barney (producer) · Matthew Hirschhorn (associate producer) · Chris Kostianis (director of photography) · Filipe Deandrade (camera) · Lee Umphred (editor) · Jeffrey Lyons (talent) · John Leguizamo (talent) · Edward Burns (talent) · Mari White (talent) |
| 2015 | Humanitarian Award | Satellite Awards | |||
| 2014 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Director, TV Movie or Mini-Series | Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth (2013) | |
| 2012 | Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award | Venice Film Festival | |||
| 2012 | Future Film Festival Digital Award | Venice Film Festival | Bad 25 (2012) | ||
| 2012 | Biografilm Award | Venice Film Festival | Bad 25 (2012) | ||
| 2011 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Television Documentary | If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise (2010) | |
| 2007 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Director | Inside Man (2006) | |
| 2007 | Image Award | Image Awards | Outstanding Directing in a Feature Film/Television Movie - Comedy or Drama | Inside Man (2006) | |
| 2007 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming | When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006) | |
| 2007 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking | When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006) | · Samuel D. Pollard (producer) · Sheila Nevins (executive producer) · Jacqueline Glover (supervising producer) |
| 2006 | Silver Bucket of Excellence Award | MTV Movie Awards | Do the Right Thing (1989) | ||
| 2006 | Venice Horizons Documentary Award | Venice Film Festival | When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006) | ||
| 2006 | Human Rights Film Network Award | Venice Film Festival | When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006) | ||
| 2006 | FIPRESCI Prize | Venice Film Festival | Parallel Sections | When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006) | |
| 2006 | Special Achievement Award | African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) | |||
| 2006 | Black Movie Award | Black Movie Awards | Best Director | Inside Man (2006) | |
| 2005 | Ossie Davis Award | Atlanta Film Festival | |||
| 2004 | WFCC Award | Women Film Critics Circle Awards | Hall of Shame | She Hate Me (2004) | |
| 2004 | Innovator Award | American Black Film Festival | |||
| 2003 | Honorary César | César Awards, France | |||
| 2003 | Hall of Fame | Image Awards | |||
| 2002 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards | |||
| 2002 | Special Award | BAFTA Awards | |||
| 2001 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Film | Love & Basketball (2000) | · Sam Kitt (Producer) |
| 2001 | Maverick Tribute Award | Cinequest San Jose Film Festival | |||
| 1999 | Inspiration Award | Empire Awards, UK | |||
| 1998 | Golden Satellite Award | Satellite Awards | Best Motion Picture, Documentary | 4 Little Girls (1997) | · Samuel D. Pollard |
| 1997 | CINE Golden Eagle | CINE Competition | Documentary | 4 Little Girls (1997) | |
| 1997 | Special Mention | Berlin International Film Festival | Get on the Bus (1996) | ||
| 1992 | Filmmaker Award | Gotham Awards | |||
| 1991 | Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special Mention | Cannes Film Festival | Jungle Fever (1991) | ||
| 1990 | CFCA Award | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Director | Do the Right Thing (1989) | |
| 1990 | Filmcritica "Bastone Bianco" Award - Special Mention | Venice Film Festival | Mo' Better Blues (1990) | ||
| 1989 | LAFCA Award | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | Best Director | Do the Right Thing (1989) | |
| 1987 | Independent Spirit Award | Independent Spirit Awards | Best First Feature | She's Gotta Have It (1986) | |
| 1986 | Award of the Youth | Cannes Film Festival | Foreign Film | She's Gotta Have It (1986) | |
| 1986 | New Generation Award | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | She's Gotta Have It (1986) | ||
| 1984 | Audience Award | Amiens International Film Festival | Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983) | ||
| 1983 | Ernest Artaria Award | Locarno International Film Festival | Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983) | ||
| 1983 | Merit Award | Student Academy Awards, USA | Dramatic | Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983) |
Nominated awards
Nominated awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie | Award shared with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Independent Short | 2 Fists Up (2016) | |
| 2016 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Director, Motion Picture | Chi-Raq (2015) | |
| 2016 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Original or Adapted Screenplay, Motion Picture | Chi-Raq (2015) | · Kevin Willmott |
| 2016 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Motion Picture | Chi-Raq (2015) | |
| 2014 | Hollywood Award | Acapulco Black Film Festival | Best Director | Oldboy (2013) | |
| 2013 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Director | Red Hook Summer (2012) | |
| 2013 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted | Red Hook Summer (2012) | · James McBride |
| 2013 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Documentary | Bad 25 (2012) | |
| 2011 | IDA Award | International Documentary Association | Best Limited Series | If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise (2010) | · Sheila Nevins (executive producer) · Samuel D. Pollard (producer) · Jacqueline Glover (supervising producer) · Butch Robinson (line producer) |
| 2010 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Director | Passing Strange (2009) | |
| 2010 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Documentary | Great Performances (1971) | |
| 2010 | Image Award | Image Awards | Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television) | Passing Strange (2009) | |
| 2009 | Image Award | Image Awards | Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television) | Miracle at St. Anna (2008) | |
| 2008 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Director | Miracle at St. Anna (2008) | |
| 2008 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Film | Miracle at St. Anna (2008) | · Roberto Cicutto · Luigi Musini |
| 2007 | IOMA | Italian Online Movie Awards (IOMA) | Best Director (Miglior regia) | Inside Man (2006) | |
| 2006 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Director - Television | Miracle's Boys (2005) | · Bill Duke · Ernest R. Dickerson · Neema Barnette · LeVar Burton · Kevin Arkadie |
| 2006 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Director - Television | Sucker Free City (2004) | |
| 2006 | Venice Horizons Award | Venice Film Festival | Best Film | When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006) | |
| 2005 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Director | She Hate Me (2004) | |
| 2005 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted | She Hate Me (2004) | · Michael Genet |
| 2005 | Gold Hugo | Chicago International Film Festival | Best Short Film | Jesus Children of America (2005) | |
| 2005 | BET Comedy Award | BET Comedy Awards | Outstanding Directing for a Theatrical Film | She Hate Me (2004) | |
| 2005 | BET Comedy Award | BET Comedy Awards | Outstanding Writing for a Theatrical Film | She Hate Me (2004) | · Michael Genet |
| 2004 | IOMA | Italian Online Movie Awards (IOMA) | Best Director (Miglior regia) | 25th Hour (2002) | |
| 2003 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Theatrical - Best Director | 25th Hour (2002) | |
| 2003 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Film | 25th Hour (2002) | · Tobey Maguire · Jon Kilik · Julia Chasman |
| 2003 | Golden Berlin Bear | Berlin International Film Festival | 25th Hour (2002) | ||
| 2002 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Network/Cable - Best Director | A Huey P. Newton Story (2001) | |
| 2002 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Network/Cable - Best Film | 3 A.M. (2001) | · Sam Kitt |
| 2002 | Un Certain Regard Award | Cannes Film Festival | Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet (2002) | · Kaige Chen · Víctor Erice · Werner Herzog · Jim Jarmusch · Aki Kaurismäki · Wim Wenders |
|
| 2001 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Theatrical - Best Director | Bamboozled (2000) | |
| 2001 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Theatrical - Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted) | Bamboozled (2000) | |
| 2001 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Film | Bamboozled (2000) | · Jon Kilik (Producer) |
| 2001 | Independent Spirit Award | Independent Spirit Awards | Best First Feature | Love & Basketball (2000) | · Gina Prince-Bythewood (director) · Sam Kitt (producer) |
| 2001 | Golden Berlin Bear | Berlin International Film Festival | Bamboozled (2000) | ||
| 2000 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Theatrical - Best Director | Summer of Sam (1999) | |
| 2000 | Black Reel | Black Reel Awards | Best Film | The Best Man (1999) | · Sam Kitt · Bill Carraro |
| 1999 | Stinker Award | The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards | Worst Supporting Actor | Summer of Sam (1999) | |
| 1999 | Golden Spike | Valladolid International Film Festival | Summer of Sam (1999) | ||
| 1999 | Black Film Award | Acapulco Black Film Festival | Best Director | He Got Game (1998) | |
| 1999 | Black Film Award | Acapulco Black Film Festival | Best Screenplay | He Got Game (1998) | |
| 1998 | IDA Award | International Documentary Association | Feature Documentaries | 4 Little Girls (1997) | · Samuel D. Pollard |
| 1998 | OFTA Film Award | Online Film & Television Association | Best Documentary Picture | 4 Little Girls (1997) | · Samuel D. Pollard |
| 1998 | Stinker Award | The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards | Worst Sense of Direction (Stop them before they direct again!) | He Got Game (1998) | |
| 1998 | Oscar | Academy Awards, USA | Best Documentary, Features | 4 Little Girls (1997) | · Samuel D. Pollard |
| 1998 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Non-Fiction Special | 4 Little Girls (1997) | · Samuel D. Pollard · Daphne McWilliams (line producer) · Jacqueline Glover (co-ordinating producer) · Sheila Nevins (executive producer) |
| 1998 | Black Film Award | Acapulco Black Film Festival | Best Director | 4 Little Girls (1997) | |
| 1997 | Golden Berlin Bear | Berlin International Film Festival | Get on the Bus (1996) | ||
| 1995 | Golden Lion | Venice Film Festival | Clockers (1995) | ||
| 1993 | CFCA Award | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Director | Malcolm X (1992) | |
| 1993 | CFCA Award | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Screenplay | Malcolm X (1992) | · Arnold Perl |
| 1993 | USC Scripter Award | USC Scripter Award | Malcolm X (1992) | · Arnold Perl (screenwriter) · Alex Haley (author) · Malcolm X (author) |
|
| 1993 | Golden Berlin Bear | Berlin International Film Festival | Malcolm X (1992) | ||
| 1992 | CFCA Award | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Director | Jungle Fever (1991) | |
| 1991 | Palme d'Or | Cannes Film Festival | Jungle Fever (1991) | ||
| 1990 | PGA Award | PGA Awards | Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures | Do the Right Thing (1989) | |
| 1990 | Golden Lion | Venice Film Festival | Mo' Better Blues (1990) | ||
| 1990 | Oscar | Academy Awards, USA | Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen | Do the Right Thing (1989) | |
| 1990 | Golden Globe | Golden Globes, USA | Best Director - Motion Picture | Do the Right Thing (1989) | |
| 1990 | Golden Globe | Golden Globes, USA | Best Screenplay - Motion Picture | Do the Right Thing (1989) | |
| 1989 | Palme d'Or | Cannes Film Festival | Do the Right Thing (1989) | ||
| 1989 | NYFCC Award | New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Screenplay | Do the Right Thing (1989) | |
| 1980 | Gold Hugo | Chicago International Film Festival | Best Short Film | The Answer (1980) |
2nd place awards
2nd place awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie | Award shared with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | LAFCA Award | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | Best Screenplay | Do the Right Thing (1989) |
3rd place awards
3rd place awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie | Award shared with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | NSFC Award | National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA | Best Director | Do the Right Thing (1989) |
| Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Malcolm X (1992) | $3,000,000 |
| # | Quote |
|---|---|
| 1 | One thing I hope "School Daze" does is knock all this goddam "Black Woody Allan" shit put the window. Peop;r say I should take it as a , compliment. F__k dat. So often black artists are compared to whiter artists, To me it's saying that I've patterned myself after Woody, that my work is not original. |
| 2 | I had a great education. From kindergarten to John Dewey High School in Coney Island, I am public-school educated. |
| 3 | [advice to young people considering a show-business career] You've got to have heart and you've got to have drive. And when you get knocked down you've got to pick yourself up - put your hands up on the ropes and pull yourself to your feet. Because, if you can't take a hit, you're not going to last long, that's for sure. |
| 4 | [his advice for aspiring filmmakers] I hope they're doing it because they love it, not because they want to be rich or famous. Not that those things can't happen, but the main reason, the focus is, "This is what I want to do for the rest of my life and I love it." Not to say that you don't want to make money, but the passion should be driven by your love for that particular thing that you're doing. {2015] |
| 5 | [on why other companies passed on Chi-Raq (2015) before Amazon Studios] They never give you a reason; they just say, "It's not for us." My co-writer Kevin Willmott and I wrote the script and went to Sundance and everybody was saying no, no, no, no, no. Amazon said yes. I tell my students, "All it takes is one yes. You get a bunch of motherf-ing nos, but all it takes is one yes." [2015] |
| 6 | [on how independent filmmaking changed since he started] That might as well have been a million years ago. Filmmakers like Jim [Jim Jarmusch] and I, the only reason we went to film school was because of the equipment. We didn't care about the MFA. You went to film school to get the equipment. Now students look at the cost of going to schools and say, "I could use that money to buy my own camera and lighting kit." It's a new world. [2015] |
| 7 | Black people can't be racist. Racism is an institution. |
| 8 | [re Oldboy (2013)] Rage doesn't have to fester for years, but revenge? That stuff takes time. It's the oldest staple of films, in stories. It goes back to the Bible. |
| 9 | [on why he became a filmmaker] I had just finished my sophomore year, so I came back to New York trying to find a summer job. Couldn't find one, so with a super-8 camera that I had gotten, I just spent the whole summer shooting stuff around New York City. That summer happened to the summer of 'the blackout' and that summer was also the first summer of disco, and there were always block-parties around everywhere, and people would just plug up their tables to the streetlights. That was the first summer that 'the hustle' came out, so I made a film called 'Last Hustle Brooklyn', which I inter-cut with the looting from the blackout and the block-party stuff. That's when I really decided I wanted to become a filmmaker. |
| 10 | Each artist should be allowed to pursue their artistic endeavors, but I still think there is a lot of stuff out today that is coonery and buffoonery. I know it's making a lot of money and breaking records, but we can do better. ... I am a huge basketball fan, and when I watch the games on TNT, I see these two ads for these two shows (Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns (2009) and House of Payne (2006)), and I am scratching my head. We got a black president, and we going back to Mantan Moreland and Sleep 'n' Eat?". |
| 11 | You gotta make your own way. You gotta find a way. You gotta get it done. It's hard. It's tough. That's what I tell my students every day in class. I've been very fortunate. Some people might call me a hardhead, but I'm not going to let other people dictate to me who I should be or the stories I should tell. That doesn't register with me. |
| 12 | [on the Academy Awards] What film won Best Picture in 1989? Driving Miss motherfucking Daisy! That's why [Oscars] don't matter. Because, 20 years later, who's watching Driving Miss Daisy (1989). |
| 13 | Racism is when you have laws set up, systematically put in the way to keep people from advancing, to stop the advancement of a people. Black people have never had the power to enforce racism, and so this is something that white America is going to have to work out themselves. If they decide they want to stop it, curtail it, or to do the right thing then it will be done, but not until then. |
| 14 | It has been my observation that parents kill more dreams than anybody. |
| 15 | "Before, I used to think that everything was based on race. Now class matters just as much. If you are a poor person: black, white, Latino, whatever, the Bush Administration does not have your best interests at heart. If the Government thought poor people mattered, the response [to Katrina's disaster] would have been much quicker." (March 2006) |
| 16 | [Speaking out after the death of comedian Richard Pryor]: "He was an innovator and a trailblazer. It's a great loss". |
| 17 | You have to do the research. If you don't know about something, then you ask the right people who do. With She's Gotta Have It (1986), I don't think I got any revelation; it was just good to hear the women whom I interviewed confirm what I thought already. |
| 18 | Amongst black people, you have always heard it said that once a black man reaches a certain level, especially if you are an entertainer, you get a white trophy woman. I didn't make that up. |
| 19 | But actresses are asked to compromise themselves, not just from the director but the producer too - 'Are you going to show your tits or your ass?' They say that shit all the time. It is men making decisions. And of course they would rather have heads explode on screen than show a penis. |
| 20 | For me, a large part of Jungle Fever (1991) is about sexual mythology: the mythology of a white woman being on a pedestal, the universal standard of beauty, and the mythology about the black man as sexual stud with a ten-foot dick. Buying into the mythology is not a strong foundation for a relationship. |
| 21 | You just have to be on good terms with the actors and talk stuff out beforehand. A perfect example is She Hate Me - I had many different discussions with many different women, and also with [the actor] Anthony Mackie, so they knew. And this was before they even agreed to do the film. But actors want to know - 'Here, it says they make love. What type of acts are we talking about? What's going to be seen?' I have no problem with that. At the same time, I still want to allow myself some flexibility. But shooting a sex scene is very mechanical - 'Will you move this way? That way? Raise your leg?' And for the most part the crew isn't allowed to be there - I close the set, make it as comfortable as possible. |
| 22 | Agents aren't going to get you anywhere if you aren't established. |
| 23 | "I respect the audience's intelligence a lot, and that's why I don't try to go for the lowest common denominator." -- at the New York premiere of his media satire "Bamboozled". |
| 24 | Wim Wenders had better watch out 'cause I'm waiting for his ass. Somewhere deep in my closet I have a Louisville Slugger bat with Wenders' name on it. |
| 25 | Making films has got to be one of the hardest endeavors known to humankind. Straight up and down, film work is hard shit. |
| 26 | What's the difference between Hollywood characters and my characters? Mine are real. |
| 27 | I've been blessed with the opportunity to express the views of black people who otherwise don't have access to power and the media. I have to take advantage of that while I'm still bankable. |
| # | Trademark |
|---|---|
| 1 | Frequently uses a technique he calls the "double dolly." This is where the camera and the subject are placed on a dolly and pushed through the scene. This makes the subject look like they are floating or gliding. |
| 2 | Often casts Denzel Washington and Michael Imperioli. |
| 3 | Baseball: Every one of his narrative feature films makes reference to baseball teams and players. |
| 4 | His films often have the phrase "Wake Up!" as in an urging to the awakening of maturity and social conscience. |
| 5 | Frequently has characters directly address the camera. Frequently places actors on dollies to achieve a gliding or rotating effect against the background of the shot. |
| 6 | Films called "A Spike Lee Joint" |
| 7 | His films frequently involve African Americans and African-American themes |
| 8 | Frequently casts John Turturro,Samuel L. Jackson, Delroy Lindo, Kim Director and Roger Guenveur Smith |
| 9 | Frequently casts himself |
