Auteur Study- Spike Lee

An Auteur is a director with a definitive style, this could be based on recurrent themes or genres depicted in their films.

Examples of worldwide auteurs include;

David Lynch, American film director. 

"One of the key themes that they noted was the usage of dreams and dreamlike imagery within his works, something they related to the "surrealist ethos" of relying "on the subconscious to provide visual drive."

-wikipedia.com

Abbas Kiarostami, Persian film director.

Internationally acclaimed Iranian film director, screenwriter, photographer and film producer. An active filmmaker since 1970, Kiarostami has been involved in over forty films, including short films and documentaries.

"The concepts of change and continuity, in addition to the themes of life and death, play a major role in Kiarostami's works."

-wikipedia.com

Spike Lee

 Our auteur study is on the critically acclaimed American auteur Spike Lee.

- Shelton Jackson also known as "Spike Lee" 

- Born March 20, 1957

- An American film director, producer, writer, and actor.

- His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983.

Spike Lee's movies have examined race relations, the role of media in contemporary life, urban crime and poverty, and other political issues.

His films are mainly based around African-Americans and how they are portrayed in the media, "I've been blessed with the opportunity to express the views of black people who otherwise don't have access to power and the media. I have to take advantage of that while I'm still blankable.

Films, awards & nominations

- Lee has won an Emmy Award and was nominated for two Academy Awards.- Lee's film Do the Right Thing was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1989.

- Spike Lee's documentary 4 Little Girls was nominated for the Best Feature Documentary Academy Award in 1997.

Themes and Style

- Many of Lee's films are set in Brooklyn. Lee often appears in his films, from cameos (Clockers) to leading roles (Do the Right Thing).

- His films are referred to in their credits as "A Spike Lee Joint," 
- Spike Lee's signature films sequence is a "floating" effect, when a character seems to glide in the air like a ghost instead of walking, which is achieved by filming the actor on a camera dolly, framed so that his or her feet are not seen. This appears in many of his films, the most recognisable is Denzel Washington as the focus of this shot in Mo' Better Blues, Macolm X, and Inside Man.
- Lee incorporates baseball-related motifs in his movies. Examples include the New York Mets in Mo' Better Blues and Jungle Fever,

More about Spike Lee- Lee's latest project is a sequel to his four part documentary beginning with 'When the leeves broke', Spike has an avid interest in politics society and equality as these are recurring themes in these films. He controversially responded to a CNN anchor's question to whether the government intentionally ignored the plight of black Americans during the disaster, Lee replied, "It's not too far-fetched. I don't put anything past the United States government. I don't find it too far-fetched that they tried to displace all the black people out of New Orleans."

In conclusion, Spike Lee is an inspirational auteur as his various films and documentaries project his perceptions of the effect of media on our society and seek to raise awareness of the inequality many races still face and supposedly advanced countries such as the USA. Our group is interested in his iconic filming styles and would like to incorporate the "floating" camera movement into our coursework sequence. Despite being critically acclaimed, Spike does not take his talent for granted as he once said 'Making films has got to be one of the hardest endeavours known to human kind. Straight up and down film work is hard shit'.