Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1302091
L O C AT I O N M A N A G E R S G U I L D I N T E R N AT I O N A L | 7 T H A N N U A L L M G I A W A R D S 1 5 L ee can't be described in a single word… He's a visionary, a trailblazer, a provocateur and a true American original. He's made more than two dozen films across nearly every genre, and all of them have been completely different. But to me, the common thread across his career may be his impeccable timing—his ability to understand the cultural landscape of the moment and deliver a spot- on message … Jordan Peele, Time's 2019 100 Most Influential List Oscar-winning film director, producer, screenwriter and actor, Spike Lee is a genre unto himself—the conscience of Hollywood. Artistically daring and intellectually ambitious, he navigates a singular course both in and outside the studio system. As the Artistic Director of NYU's graduate film program, Lee mentors, incites, and shapes the next generation of filmmakers. The Spike Lee legacy of artistry and vision continually inspires us. His company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, produced more than 35 films since 1983. Lee's work explores race relations, colorism in the Black community, the role of media in contemporary life, urban crime and poverty, and other political issues. Lee's films, Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, 4 Little Girls and She's Gotta Have It, were selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Accolades for his work include an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, two Emmy ® Awards, two Peabody Awards, and the Cannes Grand Prix. He has also received an Academy Honorary Award, an Honorary BAFTA Award, an Honorary César, and the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize, among many others. Complementing the important force of his films is the wealth of diverse talent he fosters. The industry is richer not only for the many actors like Samuel L. Jackson, Rosie Perez and Giancarlo Esposito, but for those like us who are behind the scenes—production designer Wynn Thomas, costume designer Ruth Carter, cinematographer Ernest Dickerson, producer/UPM Brent Owens, and our very own location manager, Tim Stacker/LMGI to name a few. Stacker comments, "The great Spike Lee is a visionary who always keeps it real. He loves location. If he didn't have to shoot on a stage, he never would. As an artist, he is bold and assured enough to know exactly what he wants—but confident enough to let the people he hires do their job. That confidence makes us all better." Filmmaker, educator, reformer, Spike Lee is a raconteur with a camera, skillfully weaving his visual narrative, never losing sight of the message, never shying from controversy, regardless of cultural taboos. Lee's finger is forever on the pulse of the moment. He is a rash, infectious, passionate auteur—a larger-than- life force of nature, embodying the essence of the LMGI Trailblazer Award. We are grateful to celebrate Spike Lee's truth in our recognition of upstarts, storytellers and scene stealers.