EXCLUSIVE: Spike Lee Remembers the One Mistake Michael Jackson Kept Correcting for Him

In an exclusive interview with Pinkvilla at the Red Sea Film Festival, Spike Lee shared a light-hearted memory of Michael Jackson, revealing how the King of Pop would repeatedly correct him on a particular mistake.

The famed filmmaker opened up about their unique dynamic while he was a professor at New York University, giving insight into their professional and personal relationship.

Spike Lee, a celebrated filmmaker and professor at NYU for over a decade, often shares his experiences with his students. In one of these classes, Lee showed his short films, recalling that Michael Jackson had made a specific correction of his.

Lee began explaining at the Red Sea International Film Festival how Jackson insisted on calling his projects “short films” rather than “music videos.” Lee recounted Jackson’s words: “Spike, I’m not going to tell you this anymore. We don’t make music videos; we make short films.

Lee shared that Jackson had a soft tone but wasn’t afraid to be serious when making his point. Imitating Jackson, Lee said: “He would talk like that, but if you didn’t, he would say, ‘Spike!’ » » Laughing, Lee admitted that there were times when he didn’t recognize Jackson’s voice when he called him. out.

Spike Lee and Michael Jackson’s relationship began as a fan, as the two were close in age. Lee noted that they both lived through important moments in history, like the civil rights movement, and were just young enough to avoid being drafted into the Vietnam War. For Lee, working with Jackson was a dream come true.

Reflecting on their collaboration, particularly on the short film They Don’t Care About Us in 1997, Lee remembers seeing a notepad with Jackson’s handwriting that read, “To be great, study the greats.” » This simple but powerful lesson left a lasting impression on him.

However, the advice that most shaped Lee’s life came from his parents. Speaking to Vanity Fair, Lee explained how his parents fully supported his dream of becoming a filmmaker, even if it seemed unconventional. “Parents kill more dreams than anyone,” Lee said, saying his family did not discourage him from pursuing his passion.

Instead, they stood with him saying, “We are with you, we support you. Their encouragement gave him the confidence to enter a field where black filmmakers were rare, ultimately helping him become one of the most influential directors in the industry.

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