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Our World with Black Enterprise Kicks off Season Three with Spike Lee
NEW YORK-(Business Wire)-September 26, 2008 - Our World with Black Enterprise kicks off its highly anticipated third season this weekend with acclaimed director Spike Lee. Host Ed Gordon and the noted filmmaker discuss his new World War II epic, Miracle at St. Anna; his struggle to make The James Brown Story; and his unwavering support of Sen. Barack Obama for president.
On Miracle at St. Anna being his career peak:
Everything I’ve done was preparation to get me where I needed to be for Miracle at St. Anna. So it took 23 years. We’re talking about American patriots, heroic acts. I wanted to do a World War II story [then] I read James McBride’s novel. It takes a whole lot more greatness to be a patriot at a time when you’re still being lynched and at a time when you’re still being denied first-class citizenship. That’s when I called James up and said I would like to do this.
On his struggles within the filmmaking industry:
Unless you’re Spielberg, Lucas, James Cameron, Clint Eastwood—you’re still fighting and struggling to get your film made. Especially if you’re doing films that aren’t based on superhero comic books, old TV shows made into movies, or sequels. So this is really the climate working within the Hollywood studio today. It’s rough.
On his efforts to make a James Brown biopic:
I was told that this film would not sell oversees. This is the man who changed the sound [of music] and the most sampled artist ever. This is a problem with the gatekeepers; they complain about how hard it is to get a hit but don’t really trust the intelligence of the audience. And I don’t know how you can say that only black people in America want to see a film about James Brown.
On the black community’s expectations of Barack Obama:
He’s not Jesus. I don’t think there’s going to be a president that’s ever going to come into office and have this much mess—eight years of mess—to clean up. Black people have got to relax. Don’t expect that because brotherman is in there the first thing he has to do is start addressing every little thing that deals with us. Give the brotherman some time—chill. I mean, he’s not just going to be the president of the United States of Negroes; it’s not like that. [He’s going to be president] of the United States of America—everybody. I think [blacks are] going to have more expectations of him than anybody.
On the possibility of a McCain presidency:
I can’t talk about it because it’s not going to happen. I’m not thinking that way. November fifth—all over the world it’s going to be a better day.
Our World with Black Enterprise will air its exclusive interview with Spike Lee and the cast of Miracle at St. Anna nationally in most major markets across the country, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta this weekend Check your local listings and visit www.blackenterprise.com/ourworld for additional time and station information.
About Our World with Black Enterprise
Our World with Black Enterprise is a weekly, half hour television series that spotlights the contemporary African American experience. Hosted by Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist Ed Gordon, the nationally syndicated program features news, entertainment, roundtable discussions, and special interest stories about African Americans from all walks of life. It debuted in September 2006. Visit www.blackenterprise.com/ourworld for show times, stations, and video clips.
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