Spike Lee's Advice to Aspiring Filmmakers

Learn more about Simon & Schuster authors at videos.simonand... Go to class with Professor Spike Lee as he reveals a secret for aspiring filmmakers and writers.

[@brettmichele1289]

This just served as another final reminder. Finishing my screenplays/novels now.

[@jpsned]

For all those who dissed this clip, it's not as dumb as it sounds. Many, many aspiring filmmakers get paralyzed by how to start. They have ambition and grandiose ideas, but they forget that you have to start with the simple grunt work of sitting down and writing. It's not magic, obviously. But it's also something that many creative people lose track of. The only difference between one of those people and Spike Lee is that Spike Lee chose to sit down and write.

[@akmediascope]

imagine having SPike Lee as an instructor-- I love NYU. I personally do not believe you can be a filmmaker without a good writer on your team.

[@dailysling]

Directing is about creating the vision from your mind with the actors and production available. The vision is first created by the writer and then (hopefully successfully) interpreted by the director. Spike knows that developing your vision starts with writing for most directors. He also knows that the logistics of production also dictate writing your own story helpful when starting out. After all, you can write with your production values in mind. You also would have the clearest vision

[@Blackhippielove]

Thanks for the help Spike

[@DirectorRanjeet]

this advice is so true. i write and direct, doing both has opened up doors for me. thanks Spike.

[@thehotbox7474]

Im an aspiring writer with a complete idea and pilot for a show that ive been sitting on for 2 yrs.. Wanna team up or give any advice???

[@Ocean_Jack]

Spike is a master fillmmaker and teacher. I have learned so much from him.

[@Mauichaka]

We got Spike's book signed by him to ! love Spike Lee !

[@NyFilmmaker32]

Its wonderful to see people like Spike advise other people out there . Thanks, Spike!

[@Zh0rik]

Is he trying to sleep?

[@VENUS.SE7EN]

Thanks Spike! ♥

[@grhysman]

i tell ya a good way to help your writing is to dictate ya story and go back over it ...bad oratory shines thru to leave you with goodness.understanding and writing a good plot goes hand in hand with visual techniques that you have acquired thru experience and experimentation the combination of both equates to a bloody good film if one can keep to the vision that one started with

[@spidvid]

Very true, before you learn to direct, learn how to write! Or team up with a talented screenwriter, but work on a script of your own too. Become a double threat in the film industry!

[@30mmRebel]

I'll keep that in mind

[@spd13062]

Spike is an American original. A Spike Lee Joint.

[@callmebigpapa]

All i gotta say is Summer of Sam is his GoodFellas, a stunning film

[@dailysling]

@awesomefunn (cont.) of your own story. Start thinking of a simple movie you could create with what you have. Stephen Spielberg made a home movie set up into a film studio and made his own ww2 movies as a kid with ww2 relics he had which were fairly common to have at the time. A Producer wants someone with command of vision of a story because without that the movie would suck. Writing it to paper is the least expensive way to demonstrate you can wield your vision.

[@jblanche747474]

Thanks for the info and enjoyed it.

[@darrylkimble4560]

Spike, I have a great series idea that could actually be used for a while with different subjects but all related and need your opinion because it is very challenging and we know how you like a challenge. ahoy can I present it to you and provide a more in depth discussion of those ideas.

[@30mmRebel]

I have to do more research on script formatting and how to write far as format. Or do I just write stories ? I am looking forward to a storytelling class I have coming up soon.

[@StarWoors]

Simple. Direct. And true.

[@tenseyy]

what is the soundtrack called??

[@thesimplisticseth]

best advice from spike :)

[@congalala6777]

@dasnico13 "you don't have to be a great writer to be a great filmmaker". you missed the point to what Mr. Lee was saying. He said if you write while making films it will make you that much better of a filmmaker. Allowing you to stand out. If you do both you have a better chance of having a film produced. Writing is essential in Filmmaking, unless your film have no audio or dialogue. Even if filmmaking is a visual medium, visuals still tell stories and stories are written first then put to film.

[@ErikThureson]

Nicely done! Keep up the good work!

[@MikelGCinema]

Those are some killer glasses...

[@kidrayfilms]

I absolutely agree Ms.Brittany Jones.. Most of my short films I'm working on have a mixture of people .. I just prefer many races in my movies :)

[@SamuelDaram]

Spike is right.

[@Antoinethecool]

David check syd"s screen writing class

[@lostsoul2184]

Imagine having to sit through his class

[@DopamineAndRazzmataz]

@Becca74525 You do know that the director of a film is normally not responsible for the the entire product, right?

[@MommamiaTV215]

I wish I was going to NYU shit.

[@Becca74525]

wow..thanks spike lee, of course i had no idea that it took writing skills to write a screenplay!! how stupid of me.. thank you so much for giving us your revered expertise

[@angourie444]

WHAT A JOK

[@foghornfilms]

Mainly because first time directors often are not given a chance so they have to prove their salt and that is done by writing a script for such a film.

[@AntonSlizzardhands]

One of the best directors in Hollywood.

[@Mannypacquia0]

@NuGhost cool

[@TeamELEMENT115]

NYU is epic

[@Garyruizjr]

I wonder what he'll think about Quentin Tarantino's next film Django Unchained! xD

[@darrylkimble4560]

You won’t be disappointed even if you do t use it.

[@kidrayfilms]

I'm a big fan of Spike . But I just wish he was more open minded .. Especially to all colors .. Not just one .. Just saying ..

[@beyondcinema]

exactly, this is great advice. I just wrote and directed my first film, check out the trailer on my channel

[@Pataganja]

Just found this comment from 8 years ago and see u just put out a short film a couple months ago. Congrats on sticking with it and your new film! Wish you the best

[@dasnico13]

i do not agree with this. Filmmaking is a visual medium, directors should create the story visually in their minds and ofcourse write it down. but it doesnt mean you have to be a great writer to be a great filmmaker.

[@itierney]

He forgot to say "Film using nothing but the chip on your shoulder."

[@zerog2270]

Spike lee advice to young film makers " Just wear a black face and make a movie and extort oscars, if they dont give it to you warn them of dire consequences" works everytime

[@jjs_arkade]

🤔

[@killertoad]

He is SO stoned

[@TurtleTooter]

black filmmaking? damn it, why cant film fanatics, critics, filmmakers who appreciate it all just get along, and love the art and judge these artists however we each want to instead of bringing..freaking..color in the picture. hes american, who gives a shit, hes american like millions of other in the country who are of different races.

[@Kamandi1971]

he;s always throwing NYU out likes its a big thing Tarantino ,Nolan ,Kevin Smith Paul WS Anderson and many others are self tought never went to film school that bothers me about him

[@SlunkFilms]

I suppose five people don't want to start writing.

[@bransonlights]

Spike Lee shoots out of the gate before it's time on many issues. One would think he would have developed enough personal skills to refrain but apparently he has not. At this point I don't even care to listen to his opinion because he just goes on and on and it somehow always smacks of racism.

[@carlsagan2299]

Penguin.

[@InYoFaceFilmworks]

ummmmm.............

[@DawnOfTheDead991]

Spike Lee's Advice to Aspiring Filmmakers: Play the race card!

[@Becca74525]

have been researching your films and just have to say, good job for sticking to the racial genre, i'm sure it's made you billions

[@TurtleTooter]

you do realize thats why people go to teach, right? lol.

[@sdprz7893]

TurtleTooter because they can’t do

[@lamontana300]

Spike Lee,after he displayed such a negative attitude of indifference and intollerance towards Quentin Tarantino's movie Django I as many blacks were outraged !! He's a director but slamed Tarantino's creativity as racist,of which,the majority of interviewed blacks didn't agree with.So,it appears Spike is envious of Tarantino's success,therefore,Spike talking of aspirations is truly a crock coming from him !!

[@TheGoodBadBringers]

spike looks stoned

[@Pataganja]

So ... the advice is .. “be a good writer”

[@TurtleTooter]

not nearly as much lol.

[@ConstantineRobbins]

dO'Nt dO iT sEX CaN WaiT

[@JeffysPlayhouse]

first.

[@caseygtr]

Don't make a movie like Red Hook Summer.

[@masteriansun]

his advice , play the race card for all its worth

[@brittanyjones1119]

Interesting...we could say the same about white directors.

[@Jthrillz728]

So Spike is envious of a racist like Tarantino's films where he blatantly directly and indirectly display african ppl as jokes and derogatory figures in every one of his films excluding Kill Bill Vol 1

[@Pat9201]

this guy is just another one who complains about the lack of diversity in films even though his films lack it too.

[@jayhelm9632]

Where pride ends, spike begins- racist

[@egospecto1815]

Spike is not a teacher of film art, he never learned, he has no talent, and is the biggest fool in Hollywood but can't see it through his narcissism, a mad joke, Spike is not helping anyone.