Lee, known director of films such as the Oscar-winning BlacKkKlansman, says he has “too much work to reminisce on the past.” In receiving the honor from the British Film Institute, he joins Martin Scorsese and Tilda Swinton on the list.
The British Film Institute has awarded Spike Lee with its highest honor, a fellowship.
Throughout his career, the director’s films Malcolm X, Do The Right Thing, and the Oscar-winning BlacKkKlansman has sparked debate and spurred improvement.
Now, this honor honors his four decades in the industry, in which the director, has not undergone a sufficient transformation.
Lee stated, “I’ve witnessed a great deal more diversity in this industry, both in front of and behind the camera.”
Thus, more stories that were not given a chance in the past are now being shared.
“However, this does not mean that the struggle is done; you know, it’s still not the way it should be, but it’s a lot better than when I began in 1986 with She’s Gotta Have It.”
Lee has a straightforward response when asked about the secret to his success and longevity in the industry.
“The only secret to success in everything is hard effort, sweat, and a passion for what you’re doing.”
Lee is an ‘auteur’
Unquestionably, Lee’s efforts have paid off; he is famous for a body of work that explores the African American experience and tackles sensitive topics, and he has helped launch the careers of actors such as Denzel Washington, Laurence Fishburne, and Samuel L. Jackson.
The director was the clear pick for the BFI’s most prestigious award.
Ben Roberts, the organization’s chief executive, remarked, “He is an artist.”
Do The Right Thing was the first Spike Lee film I saw when I was 14 years old, and it was something I had never seen before in terms of his filmmaking style, what he was talking about, the energy, and the emotion in his films.
“And he has maintained this across such a wide variety of narratives over the past three decades.”
Everything seems just a haze.
Some may consider this fellowship as a career achievement award. But Lee believes that now is not the time for him to focus on his accomplishments.
About his career, he stated, “It’s all a haze, to be honest.”
“Over the past four decades, I’ve been extremely lucky to move from project to project. And I neither have the time nor the want to reflect.
“So, when that day comes, hopefully not too soon, I’ll have time to ponder, but I’ve got too much work to think about the past right now.”
Lee joins Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker, Tilda Swinton, Sir Steve McQueen, Orson Welles, and Sir Ridley Scott on the roster of recipients.
