Interview: Spike Lee and Jordan Peele
The co-writer and director of BlacKkKlansman in conversation with one of the movie’s producers.
The co-writer and director of BlacKkKlansman in conversation with one of the movie’s producers.
A Hollywood Reporter conversation between two prominent filmmakers: Spike Lee (She’s Gotta Have It, School Daze, Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, Inside Man, Old Boy) and Jordan Peele (Keanu, Get Out, Us). The pair discuss the movie BlacKkKlansman:
LEE: Let’s talk about why we’re here. Tell me the first time you were made aware of Ron Stallworth.
PEELE: I received the script from Sean McKittrick at QC Entertainment.
LEE: Had Get Out come out or were you shooting?
PEELE: Get Out had probably just come out, and I immediately recognized, I think, what you recognized and what other people recognized: How have people not heard this story?
LEE: That’s what I asked you, the day you pitched it to me, “Is this the Dave Chappelle skit?”
PEELE: Just in terms of the marketing of it: the attractiveness, the magnetism, the absurdity, the comedy. Sean, who I’d done Get Out with, was like, “Hey, do you want to direct this?” And I was like, “Look, I’m working on something else.” They said, “Do you want to produce?” I said, “Yes, I do.” So, let’s talk about who directs it. We made a list — you were at the top of the list, obviously.
LEE: Is that list still around?
PEELE: I’m sure it is. I’m sure you could guess the list right now.
LEE: We don’t want to blow up nobody’s spot. All I wanted to say is, don’t throw it away; That’s a piece of history right there. Are you starting to keep your stuff? You should.
PEELE: It’s hard, but you’re right.
LEE: You should get it started. I save my stuff. You don’t want people selling your shit on eBay.
PEELE: My mother says that.
LEE: When are moms wrong?
PEELE: Moms are usually right. I think you would have been first on my list for many movies, but [BlacKkKlansman] in particular, it has a mix of genre elements. It’s funny, it’s suspenseful, it’s meaningful, it’s interesting. What you’ve proven with your work is that you’re able to encapsulate all of those vibes into your pictures, and it creates a texture that is unique to you and it is special.
The script to which Spike Lee and Jordan Peele refer which brought the Ron Stallworth story to their attention was written by Charlie Wachtel and David Rabinowitz. You may read my interview with them here.
For the rest of the Hollywood Reporter article with Lee and Peele, go here.
For 100s more interviews with screenwriters and filmmakers, go here.