We knew it was going to be somebody, but I never thought it would be the “liberal” New York Times.
Yeah, perhaps “the formerly liberal” New York Times.
You know, I thought it would be the New York Post. (LAUGHS)
What happened?
We had a teaser campaign, and they rejected that ad. Then we had two one-sheets that compliment each other. One is a pick-a-ninny eating a watermelon. The other one you’ve probably seen with Savion and Tommy in black face. So, they told me they rejected all the ads because they felt they were offensive to their readers. Then we threatened with a lawsuit, and my lawyer talked to their lawyer. So, we came up with this compromise where we made some more ads, and basically, it’s the same thing. I think what really got them was the first time we submitted the stuff it was in color. Then we submitted the others in black and white, and I guess it doesn’t read as harsh or whatever.
You’ve been nominated twice for an Oscar and…
…And Bamboozled killed any chance–(LAUGHS!)
No, I actually think you’ve got a shot. For some reason, correct me if I’m wrong, I get the feeling you’d like to win one.
Nah.
I believe that the Academy awards Oscars to one kind of movie — dramas with white people.
But look at 1989. Do the Right Thing didn’t even get nominated, and what won that year? Driving Miss Daisy!
“You change it by getting into those positions of the gatekeepers, the people who decide this show’s getting made and this show’s not getting made. The decision-making positions.”
It’s almost as if the “safe” interpretations of African Americans are the ones that get any kind of recognition whatsoever.
I met Spike Lee three years ago at Tribeca Film Festival I was working for the fest at the time. I actually had a Film Threat hat on and he was walking by me I saw him looking at my hat. He actually gave me a head now and stuck his hand out and shook my hand. I told him seeing School Case as a kid was one of the reasons I got into film. He’s a super cool humble guy.