How Spike Lee Directs a Film | The Director's Chair

Director and writer Spike Lee explains his approach to filmmaking, how to fight for your vision, put the work in, and never stop learning.
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Chapters:
00:00 Intro - How Spike Lee Ray Became a Filmmaker
00:59 Early Life & Career
02:15 Fight for you Film
04:16 Find your Lane
05:40 Challenge your Audience
08:41 Never Stop Learning
10:21 Put the Work In
11:36 Final Takeaways
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SPIKE LEE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR
Spike Lee is one of the preeminent auteurs in American cinema. He built a reputation on a foundation of fierce independence and an unmistakable artistic voice. In this video, we collected Spike Lee interviews from throughout his career. From his film school days, including winning a student Academy Award, to winning another Oscar for writing BlacKkKlansman 3 decades later.
WHO IS SPIKE LEE
Spike Lee was born on March 20, 1957 in Atlanta but spent his formative years in Brooklyn. In fact, there are few filmmakers as closely identified with their hometown as Lee is with that NY borough. After attending film school at NYU, he began his career with confrontational and poignant films while helping to usher in the independent film movement of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
SPIKE LEE JOINTS
In 1989, Spike Lee wrote and directed a landmark film called Do the Right Thing. It deals with racial tensions that boil to the surface and eventually erupt on the hottest day of the summer. The film is the exemplar for Lee’s ability to challenge his audiences with uncomfortable topics and no easy answers. As he explains, “For drama, you gotta have two people butt heads. And it elevates the drama when they’re both right.”
For his epic ode to Malcolm X, the studio wanted Lee to cut it down from 3 hours to 2. But Spike refused and explained that to truly honor the evolution of Malcolm’s life, the story needs to unfold organically. And when the budget ran low, Lee had to cold-call everyone he knew to help get the film finished. It is obstacles like these that have molded Lee’s work ethic: you gotta fight for your film.
Spike Lee doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. For over 4 decades, he has worked in various genres and mediums, like documentaries and commercials, and carved out a singular voice. If you’re a filmmaker looking for a guiding light through the insane world of filmmaking, Spike Lee is the one you need.
#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking
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♬ SONGS USED:
"Fight The Power" - Public Enemy
"Everyday People" - Sly & The Family Stone
"We Love Roll Call Y-All" - The Natural Spiritual Orchestra
"Nola Cleans Up" - Bill Lee
"Return Of The Crooklyn Dodgers (Instrumental)" - Crooklyn Dodgers '95
"Nola - Piano" - Bill Lee
"Opening Credits" - Terence Blanchard
"Flashback" - Terence Blanchard
"Nola - Instrumental" - Bill Lee
"Still Barkin" - Chad Tuthill
"Summit - Alternative Version" - Gray North
"Everything Hunky Dory" - Terence Blanchard
"Wake Up Finale" - The Natural Spiritual Orchestra
"Father To Son" - The Natural Spiritual Orchestra
"What's Going On (Instrumental)" - Marvin Gaye
"White Power Theme" - Terence Blanchard
"Young Malcolm" - Terence Blanchard
"A Thought (Reprise) - Bill Lee
"PHD" - PhilDavid
"Changed" - Jon Gegelman
"Morning Sunbeams" - Yehezkel Raz
"A New Morning" - PORTL
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[@StudioBinder]

Chapters: 00:00 Intro - How Spike Lee Ray Became a Filmmaker 00:59 Early Life & Career 02:15 Fight for you Film 04:16 Find your Lane 05:40 Challenge your Audience 08:41 Never Stop Learning 10:21 Put the Work In 11:36 Final Takeaways

[@caffiye]

This channel is my film school

[@danextra858]

Agreed.

[@Evaaugustine97]

Yes!

[@BigLump95]

No but seriously!

[@ajayalexjohnson1635]

Mine too

[@1okdude]

For real

[@denvorsden7903]

Spike Lee's use of colour and movement is what I love.

[@StudioBinder]

He's one of the best!

[@daphnegabriel4482]

Same!!

[@nomecognome8737]

Mo' Better Blues is insane in that regard

[@DelightLovesMovies]

I love Spike and his films, however "Do The Right Thing" is one of my all time favourite films that's so engaging and brilliant I never get tired of watching it.

[@StudioBinder]

It's awesome!

[@Pancrasio-it9qd]

😎

[@sandymakesplans]

i was waiting for the shoe to drop when you said 'however'

[@mcdonaldsemployee4979]

What was Spike's point in showing Rosie's breasts? What was that for?

[@nomecognome8737]

@@sandymakesplans yeah right lol

[@danextra858]

I currently make films without a big budget and I act in them too because I can't afford actors. And seeing Spike Lee started some what the same way, inspires me so much. I might not achieve the same things or I might not be as good as Spike all my life, but one thing I learned watching this video is to be consistent and not ever stop learning, you'll eventually reach a height that you could've never imagined you'd reach.

[@StudioBinder]

Happy filming :)

[@tturnquest1]

Spike Lee is one of the best directors working today. Top 5 movies by him. 1. Do The Right Thing 2. Da 5 Bloods 3. She got have it 4. Inside Man 5. Malcom X 6:02 Also that Cats reference is priceless with its timing.

[@StudioBinder]

Nice 👌

[@dejavu2752]

oh but 25th Hour has to be somewhere amongst top 5

[@anthonydixon8967]

POOR spike lee. when did tarantino django come out, he said: "American slavery was not a Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western. It was a Holocaust. My ancestors are slaves stolen from Africa. I will honor them." you understand, if spike's ancestors had not been kidnapped from Africa by terrible white colonists, now he would be a Liberian or Cameroonian director, and would make much cooler films than now. and an essay from the studiobinder about him would be more interesting.

[@michaelkinful1915]

solid list. Mine has 25th Hour instead of Da 5 Bloods, but still very solid

[@BattleOfBowties]

Crooklyn didn't make your list? Miracle at St. Anna the only one I didn't like half way through is Red Hook Summer. 25th Hour, Summer of Sam. I was a kid buying Spike Lee Joints on VHS from tower records. Mo' Better Blues and She Hate Me so many masterpieces! I love Spike movie's

[@jupiterjones3789]

One thing you can really learn from the series: How the editors are becoming better and better Starting at a professional and basically flawless level but continouisly mastering the format, finding the small changes you can make, fitting the timing and inserting matching seconds of footage

[@StudioBinder]

We appreciate that!

[@mrroberttrujillo]

Spike is one f the greatest filmmakers ever to live. I'm thankful for the inspiration and artistry over the years! Thx Studio Binder for highlighting his work, please highlight more filmmakers of color!

[@mcdonaldsemployee4979]

What do you think about Spike using profanity in interviews, and using sex in his movies?

[@mrroberttrujillo]

@@mcdonaldsemployee4979 I mean, it is what it is. If he were giving a presentation to children under the age of 12 I would say it’s in appropriate. And his films are rated R. Sometimes I think the sex scenes fit right in with the story, sometimes not. Was there a point you wanted to make about either?

[@leftissatanic]

His movies sux he's also a racist and no doubt an FTM. He dresses like a purple flower him and Al roker with those ridiculous glasses. Both of them are also married to bigfoot's.

[@clubbinmag3]

@@mcdonaldsemployee4979I don’t care.. it’s life

[@PREEM513]

Great video. Spike Lee doesn’t get the love for his films that he deserves.

[@StudioBinder]

👌

[@Thespeedrap]

I agree with you he just needs to get the same level of respect like Scorsese Coppola and Kubrick.

[@tonychennault]

I love this episode. Spike Lee was a trailblazer who opened the doors for many black filmmakers today. I would love to see a How to Direct like John Singleton and Martin Scorsese episode.

[@StudioBinder]

We have Scorsese done! kzbin.info/www/bejne/eauTk6x4ic-ne7c

[@robertobuatti7226]

Spike Lee is one of the most talented and cerebral filmmakers out there and really knows how to tell a compelling story with amazing visual camera compositions.

[@StudioBinder]

Agreed!

[@robertobuatti7226]

@@StudioBinder Thank you, much appreciated.

[@Ayogenius67]

Yooo the intro was a hit❤❤❤

[@StudioBinder]

Glad you liked it!

[@danny_fantom3244]

About time y’all did something on Spike

[@StudioBinder]

Hope you liked it!

[@islet6916]

Actually, doing what you love in the best. Spike Lee go higher!

[@StudioBinder]

🚀

[@Lala216]

This was more of his philosophy of filmmaking rather than how he directs a film. I was thinking we would get more into specific shots that are iconic to him, his use of montage, his classic dolly shot, insight on the way he writes scripts. I'd love another video getting into his technicalities!

[@lexkanyima2195]

But every director is different

[@yeyeande]

I think we heard the explanation why in the excerpt from S. Jackson with his comparison to Tarantino. He mentioned that Tarantino will really get into the weeds of the motivation, framing, and thought process of the characters while directing, meanwhile Spike Lee mostly has trust in the actors chosen to have a similar vision to his own and intuit from there. But yes, of course it would have been nice to get his reasoning behind his iconic dolly shot and use of Red. But still, maybe it's one of those things that he just intuited to be great for the life of the film and continued using it.

[@clausvergara9702]

Yes, I have for this such a long time!!!! Spike Lee is one the greatest influence director of the modern time. Thank you Studiobinder !!!!

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for watching!

[@jaidenlefler577]

“..If the artist cannot find the way, the way cannot be found” - Terence Mckenna

[@StudioBinder]

Nice quote!

[@ImmortalEntertainment252]

People go to film school and learn same thing and pay for it and studio binder giving it free. Thank you to the team of studio binder. You always have respect in my heart. Love from India. 🇮🇳

[@piusgyagenda]

Such stories keep me going with my KZbin channel with a hope that one day I will be a film director off KZbin Thank you studiobinder for such inspirational stories

[@StudioBinder]

Good luck!

[@lookintok]

Real talk I need this video to get me up and get back into the motivation. I’m gonna make some films now!

[@StudioBinder]

Good luck!

[@josalalvani3426]

best youtube channel by far

[@StudioBinder]

Cheers!

[@angelomorales1932]

FINALLYYYYYY!!!! One of my favourite directors. This one is long overdue

[@StudioBinder]

Hope it was worth the wait!

[@gmamalee6588]

thank you for making this video I love this page and website it gives me so many tools

[@fahmidamiah]

Thank you for this, this was truly inspirational. I adore Spike Lee.

[@StudioBinder]

Glad you liked it!

[@chrislee343]

love the music you guys choose for these videos!

[@josephpalos2207]

I've been thinking about watching some of Spike's films lately and then you go and post this?? Guess I just gotta do it now!

[@Tagalongproductions]

Mannnn watching this help me change the way I was thinking about film school and film itself. Much appreciated brother💯💯

[@photograffyc2139]

Thank you for this special inspiring video.

[@sungphoto]

I think anyone that wants to be a creative, or functional human for that matter should watch this. Spike Lee is a master

[@StudioBinder]

Lots of takeaways from his journey

[@Ayogenius67]

Thanks this piece of advice entered straight in my brain ❤❤more love

[@StudioBinder]

Glad you liked it!

[@moniquejohnson3855]

Spike is legend. One of the best!

[@YoungDecent1]

Great job spike! I seen this at the right time👏🎥

[@StudioBinder]

Nice!

[@povdiaries]

Great video and update. Nice.

[@StudioBinder]

Glad you liked it :)

[@mohammadsadramanshadi8060]

Hello and welcome back hope you keep making videos and grow

[@StudioBinder]

no plans on stopping!

[@thisissaurav_]

A great fan of this channel ❤️ Can you guys can do a video on directing style of Japanese film director Satoshi Kon, like some of his great movies like Paprika(2006), Perfect Blue(1997).

[@Thouse2great]

Great piece

[@haroldedmunds8928]

Mr. Lee. Thanks for the memories.

[@Evaaugustine97]

YES! Thank you

[@StudioBinder]

Enjoy!

[@jahosaphat]

Than You Mr. Spike Lee and thank you Studio ?Binder.

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for watching!

[@cinemonger1270]

"Artists led the way to get to the truth"

[@CharcoalCinema]

Thanks Coach .

[@rosellajoseph5307]

Could you do one on John Singleton next? Loved this!

[@diamonddonn8826]

Good idea

[@user-zi1vs8qg4e]

I'd be interviewed on this channel one day😅, love the intro sound it gives this vibe i can.t explain❤.

[@quieteron1516]

Amazing

[@escarface]

Thank you

[@CharcoalCinema]

Authentic and Solid .

[@CharcoalCinema]

The basketball Head Coach was like a movie star to me , because he made the team good every year .

[@juanesilva]

My fav director

[@StudioBinder]

He's one of the best!

[@channel-tv8nb]

Spike director to give me inspirational energy..#🤔🎬

[@DelightLovesMovies]

Hi StudioBinder..❣

[@StudioBinder]

hello!

[@Kardinaal29]

Can y’all please do a Director’s Chair/ Directing Styles video on Nicholas Winding Refn? I think he’s such a unique director. Would love to see y’all break his filming down. Thanks!

[@ORTyOW]

That is very inspiring

[@StudioBinder]

Cheers!

[@CharcoalCinema]

I needed to polish up . I have bouts with depression and anxiety . I stay to myself for the most part , like 90 percent of the time .

[@dvance7586]

Thanks Spike!

[@StudioBinder]

🙏

[@QNPMEDIA]

More people need to study this man

[@diamonddonn8826]

I'm here for it

[@CharcoalCinema]

I kept this curiosity all to myself .

[@typen8549]

Can you make a video about acting... ?? Its may help many of people or many of aspiring actor like me.... Love this channel and its now its one of my fav. ❤️❤️

[@StudioBinder]

Anything in particular about acting you want covered?

[@alancabral8661]

Please put more i bag you guys from all filmmakers on the planet

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for watching!

[@olgameow3804]

OMG he went to the same high school as me!!!! I had no idea! I graduated John Dewey class of 2001! ❤

[@elichilton7031]

Mr. Lee was one my first cinema role models when I got in to the movies. I was just a young teen and I discovered Do The Right Thing and all the movies that followed. He is the one that showed me, "it can be done, it won't be easy, but it can be done."

[@StudioBinder]

💖💖

[@nhlanhlasithole2899]

Using horns as his signature is my favorite scoring

[@CharcoalCinema]

The TV . My grandparents and I viewed Motown 25 and then it happened , Michael Joseph Jackson performed my favorite song , Billie Jean . My grandmother giggled in awe . She remembered the ABC Michael , but this was new .

[@CharcoalCinema]

The curiosity in TV started early , during an episode of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air . All I knew then was that you wrote ir down like a school Christmas play . 📺💡

[@claytonedric5998]

Hi would like to give a suggestion, will you cover Wong Kar Wai's directing style too? Thank you! Anyways bless Spike Lee too

[@MelanatedMaternity]

GOAT ❤

[@theodorenohamitole4133]

We need one of these for James Cameron and Damien Chazelle

[@StudioBinder]

Not a bad idea!

[@theodorenohamitole4133]

@@StudioBinder I feel special now😭

[@QaggenStarnah]

Hi StudioBinder family. I was on your website trying to contact you. I was wondering if you guys have a software to do timecode dialogue sheets or know any company that does.

[@mayankrana3345]

Please make a video on game survival genre movies like- maze runner series, hunger games series, divergent series basiclly battle royale type movies.

[@LycanVisuals]

Still need to see Malcolm X and Do The Right Thing.

[@StudioBinder]

worth the watch!

[@deejaydosmuchoz5209]

My eight-year-old seen “do the right thing” for the first time in November, Ask for a do the right thing T-shirt for Christmas went right to Spikes joint and got it

[@CharcoalCinema]

My youngest aunt was a cheerleader and she had the prettiest friends . I was crushing on all of them . She baked just like grannie and knew how to do all of the Hip Hop dances . I learned some too .

[@unphantom173]

Hope the knicks do well I just wanna see spike happy on his team for once😭

[@ROCKNROLLFAN]

Netflix should pay Spike Lee to do the Prince documentary that Ava Duvernay back out on that has been approved by the Estate.

[@daniellereid7576]

Ryte he could really dig deep and start from his childhood to up til his death he loved and respected prince so he should do it only spike lee can tell our stories

[@CharcoalCinema]

My mother worked a lot . After my grandmother passed and all of my uncles and aunts left the nest , and my grandfather moving out , it was just me and my momma I was home alone a lot as a teenager because my mother either worked the evening or graveyard shift . Being home alone had it's perks . I thought of girls , girls , girls 😁

[@CharcoalCinema]

My grandmother baked just as good as Ms. Duncan Hines did . Cakes , pecan pies , banana pudding , sweet potato pies , cookies , etc .

[@jrallday]

I can’t believe Moff Gideon loves Pizza & Air Jordan’s 😂

[@strawberrysnowflake5488]

Bout time you do a Black filmmaker, StudioBinder!!! I thought you forgot the man!

[@shubhamp.r.s7332]

Can you make this series with francis Ford Coppola and federico fellini,plzz! plzz! 🙏

[@CharcoalCinema]

One time the head basketball coach came to visit my grandparents and he told them that my youngest uncle and some more players got caught smoking reefer . My grandparents were grateful for the information . When the head coach left , my uncle got a whooping .

[@sushiinparis9906]

👏👏👏👏

[@StudioBinder]

💖

[@Hitchfred_Alcock]

Thanks again for this insight @studiobinder

[@StudioBinder]

Happy to help!

[@CharcoalCinema]

Back in the '80' s , teenagers got whippings . Not abuse , whippings out love , with switches and belts . That's love .

[@TScalibrate]

The clip that starts at 2:18 with the woman boxing, where is that from?

[@Maddolis]

It's from the opening credits of Do the Right Thing.

[@TScalibrate]

@@Maddolis Thank you!

[@StudioBinder]

Do the Right Thing

[@janelperez9726]

Yo do not let the Knicks behind.They need you buddy.Good stuff Lee.

[@mohammadsadramanshadi8060]

Hello everyone this is his new video in a while so pls drop a like and comment so he can come back strong

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks!

[@CharcoalCinema]

During downtime , there was that TV 📺 with cable . No internet . Black shows were everywhere .

[@mohammadsadramanshadi8060]

Support

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for watching!

[@eltonarthur1233]

How to be like spike lee/Spike Lee's philosophy/advice: Fight for your film Find your lane Challenge your audience. Don't play the audience. Give them adult mature topics/subjects to think and talk about. Never stop learning. Akira Kurosawa said there's a university of filmmaking still out there to learn. And Learn a little bit of everything e.g. acting, directing, cinematography, lighting n sound and etc. Put in the work/put the work in

[@CharcoalCinema]

PRESENT DAY ..................My light still flickered . The struggled nearly consumed me . I still had my mind .

[@icecoldarizona8208]

Do kiarostami please!

[@matttenn8025]

Can we take a trip in writing annanimation movie. I need an amime script

[@anuvachaudhuri4204]

In the next 'Director's Chair', make on Gus Van Sant plzzzzz......

[@crillcreatesclassicchaos3554]

Now wanna see a Brian De Palma, Oliver Stone and Alan Pakula video

[@CharcoalCinema]

Rich then and there as a 7 year old , I knew I wanted play basketball for the MAC.

[@shenogood]

“Pick my spots” - !!!!!!

[@StudioBinder]

👌

[@CharcoalCinema]

I forgot that life would be frigid cold at times .

[@saedkhazae]

Thank you for your great video. It was very interesting and useful. Please also visit Asghar Farhadi, Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Yorgos Lanthimos cinemas. Don't forget to upload English subtitles! Thank ❤

[@StudioBinder]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[@CharcoalCinema]

Back to the Future .......🚀

[@CharcoalCinema]

Nina and Lena were sisters . They didn't go to school with me . Their mom was a professor and so they attended school in the college town .We'd just chill under the street lights and talk .

[@themalvaezshow5640]

Morehouse Man Spike Lee