Talking to Spike Lee: “I’m Not Controversial”
Is getting your films seen harder now, though, because there are so many more out there?
Well, yeah. Unless you really have something that’s distinct and you stay true to your voice, you’re gonna get lost in the sauce, lost in the films everybody’s making. Everybody and their mama. Everybody and their grandmother is making a film today.
You’re obviously a good interviewer. I can’t believe you got George Wallace to say his best friend is black, in 4 Little Girls.
That’s one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever been a part of.
It was really something. And the expression on that guy’s face [the black orderly Wallace called his “best friend”] was quite eloquent.
[Laughs] His face. When he walked out of there, he said: “Let me get outta there.” You couldn’t have planned that one.
So if you were interviewing yourself, what would you ask yourself?
I really… my wife, Tonya says this all the time. I’m not really one of these hypothetical people. I can’t interview myself, so why even think about it?
You never did get to make that Jackie Robinson movie you were trying to make for so long.
No. Someone else is making it.
Is there something else you’re really like to do that you’re having a hard time getting money for?
Oh, I’ve got scripts that, you know, eventually… I’ve come to realize that everything is timing, so in due time these projects will get done.
You’re living on the Upper East Side now, but you come here a lot to work?
Every day.
This is certainly a nice neighborhood. Has it changed a lot in the years since you’ve been based here?
Fort Greene? Yeah, it’s changed a lot. [Laughs] You walked around here? [Laughs]
So how do you feel about that? It’s some good, some bad, that kind of change, right?
It’s good changes and bad changes.
You don’t want to elaborate, huh?
Just trying to get along. [Smiles]