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The latest Spike Lee Joint is all about Uber drivers
Uber apparently has a lot of money to fight an ongoing public relations battle. The beleaguered ride-sharing company has enlisted... wait, what? Spike Lee has directed and produced five new short films (also called commercials) for Uber called, wait for it, Da Republic of Brooklyn.
Spike Lee’s ‘Pass Over’ brings the drama of live theater to Amazon Prime
Despite Spike Lee going over to Netflix to reimagine his classic film She's Gotta Have It as a series, the cinema auteur has deep ties with Amazon. He created its first original film, the musical Chi-Raq, and has another project debuting on the streaming provider later next month: Pass Over, a film-play hybrid.
Netflix renews Spike Lee’s ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ for a second season
Just over a month since the first season debuted in November, Netflix has renewed Spike Lee's show She's Gotta Have It for a second season. The show refreshes Lee's 1986 classic film of the same name that launched his success and updates its story for modern audiences.
Netflix and Spike Lee are making a 'She's Gotta Have it' series
Netflix has ordered 10 episodes of a series based on She's Gotta Have It, Spike Lee's 1986 independent film. Lee will direct each 30-minute show and serve as the executive produce with his wife and production partner, Tonya Lewis Lee. The movie, made in just 12 days for $175,000, was considered trailblazing for breaking cliche Hollywood representations of African-American culture. It also opened the door to black filmmakers like John Singleton, and put Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood on the map.
Amazon confirms Spike Lee's 'Chi-Raq' is its first original movie
After being rumored for months, Amazon just confirmed that it's producing Spike Lee's Chi-Raq as its first original film. It's even going to get a theatrical run, giving it a shot at Oscar consideration, reports The Wrap. The film, which stars plenty of big names Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Hudson and Wesley Snipes, centers on inner-city gang violence in Chicago (Iraq + Chicago, get it?). Lee's most recent film, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, was a low-budget affair crowdfunded by Kickstarter, so it's not a huge surprise to see him explore new production models with Amazon. Chi-Raq's subject matter seems much more compelling than Lee's Oldboy remake, so we're hoping it's closer to his earlier films like Do the Right Thing. "I'm honored to be part of the film that will launch Amazon Studios and to tell a story that is so important," Lee said in a statement. "Please don't be fooled by the title of Chi-Raq, this new Spike Lee joint will be something very special."
Expand NY 2013 wrap-up
Did you end up missing out on the sheer abundance of technology that was Expand New York 2013? Don't fret: we've rounded up everything from our expo. Whether you're interested in the Insert Coin competitors, our hands-on time with new products or discussions with big names like LeVar Burton and Spike Lee, you'll find all the articles and media you need. Check out the full range of stories after the break -- it's the next best thing to having been there in person. [Image credit: Jenna Bascom, Flickr]
Sony's Phil Molyneux talks 4K strategy, with Spike Lee as exhibit 'A'
Sony's consumer electronics COO Phil Molyneux has a story to tell about his company's deep plunge into 4K, so who better to help than veteran auteur Spike Lee? The filmmaker's foray into crowdfunded cinema production is well-known, and it turns out that he's using the company's 4K CineAlta PMW-F55 digital cinema cameras on the project, entitled Da Sweet Blood of Jesus. The pair spoke at our Expand event in New York, where Molyneux said he had to drag 50 people together from across Sony's divisions to make 4K content distribution happen. Meanwhile, Lee, a moderate technophobe, detailed his first crowdfunding experience and how Kickstarter told him that there would be a "backlash." Sony's level of commitment to 4K with its production and consumer cameras, projectors, players and TVs begged the inevitable question: What about Ultra HD content? Surprisingly, Phil acknowledged the silo-like nature of the sprawling electronics giant, saying that it often "hasn't worked well together for the greater benefit of the consumer experience." Because of that, he said he brought about a group of people from the company's various divisions together to figure out how to create a 4K consumer distribution network, first announced at CES this year. Having brashly committed to launching the service by the end of the summer, the team managed to get it up just before Labor Day with 70 films (all produced, unsurprisingly, by Sony Entertainment), a feat he described in retrospect as "tremendous."
Live from Expand: Sony President Phil Molyneux with special guest Spike Lee
Sony President Phil Molyneux joins us to discuss the company's role in the ever-expanding world of consumer electronics, with a little help from none other than director Spike Lee. November 9, 2013 5:40:00 PM EST Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from New York City right here!
Caption contest: Spike Lee asks Obama to smile for the camera
Just because it can doesn't mean you should... Joe Flatley: "Just a minute, Girl 6 is streaming on Netflix." Richard Lawler: "Give me 20 D Energizers." Terrence: "The only question is: kaleidescope or twirl?" Brian: "I'm not getting any bars. Am I holding this right?" Zach Honig: "Hey Richard Branson, I found your doppelganger!" Michael Gorman: "I'm not sure what's more awkward -- photography with a tablet or the beret / turtleneck fashion combo" Chris Trout: "I was hoping to get Rosie Perez, but I suppose you'll do." Don: "It's still your move in Words With Friends, Mr. President." Tim: "Okay Barack, you distract him while I sneak up and..." Myriam: "Sorry, Mr. President... I just can't stop playing Angry Birds!"
Spike Lee movie criticizes game violence
Spike Lee used video games in his latest thriller, Inside Man, not for previsualization but as a way of critiquing gangsta glamor and the apathy towards violence. We all know the best way to criticize violence right? All together now:Make something even more violent!In an article on the film's machinima* at BackStage.com, it's revealed that "in the case of Inside Man's game, which uses Rock Star Games' Grand Theft Auto as a point of reference, Lee insisted on storyboarding a custom-made scene rather than building off of an existing game. He wanted to depict a scenario that was even more grotesquely violent than any game already on the market."Lee is hoping that the scene -- which involves putting a hand grenade in a character's mouth -- doesn't get duplicated in a future game not because he's afraid of getting cut out, rather, because he's upset by the level of violence in games. Lee explains, "I just hope people understand that is an absolute statement about my horror at how violent these games that young kids play are, and also the infatuation with violence and gangsta rap among the black community. It's not a real game, but it's not that far-fetched from the games that are being sold."Alright, Spike, we know you mean well. Regardless of whether or not we think ascribing blame for inner-city violence on the level of violence in video games is responsible, you're crazy if you think this little vignette is more grotesque than "any game already on the market!" Did you ever play Eternal Champions? *Since this scene was not created using a game engine, the article's use of the term "machinima" is inaccurate. This is simply computer animation designed to resemble video games, as opposed to video games being manipulated to emulate traditional film-making techniques.[Via Game Politics]
