Chrysler LLC Honors Spike Lee with the Sixth Annual Behind the Lens Award CNN’s Soledad O’Brien to Host · Spike Lee is one of today’s most prolific and respected artists who helped launch the careers of stars including Halle Berry, Samuel L. Jackson, John Turturro, Wesley Snipes and Denzel Washington · Behind the Lens Award recognizes the extraordinary achievements of individuals working behind the camera in film and television · Lee joins previous recipients Quincy Jones, John Singleton, Melvin Van Peebles, Gordon Parks and Reuben Cannon (Auburn Hills, Michigan) — Spike Lee, one of the most influential figures in contemporary cinema, has been named the Chrysler LLC 2008 Behind the Lens honoree. Lee, a director, producer, screenwriter, author and educator, is to be recognized for his outstanding achievements in film and television at the sixth annual award ceremony. Hosted by CNNs anchor Soledad O’Brien, the private invitation-only event will be held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles on March 26, 2008. “We are very excited to have Spike Lee as the Behind the Lens Honoree for 2008,” said Frank Fountain, Chrysler Senior Vice President – External Affairs and Public Policy (Auburn Hills). “Spike Lee is synonymous with thoughtful and provocative filmmaking and activism in Hollywood which has inspired a generation of filmmakers, uplifted actors and expanded the field to include many more African Americans in key roles behind the lens. He fully embodies the spirit …
After seeing Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film ‘Ponyo,’ I just had to see it again. While I still love the myriad twists and turns of ‘Spirited Away,’ ‘Ponyo’ is probably one of the most innocent stories I’ve seen put to animation in a long time. There’s no pop-culture slang or fart jokes. It’s just a simple story of a little fish girl who falls in love with a little boy and wishes to be human just like him. I knew that I wanted to do a music video asap. And of course, since there are some similarities to “The Little Mermaid,” that was my first stop. Of all the songs, the longing in Ariel’s voice during the reprise of ‘Part of your World’ seemed to be the best for my purposes. However, while I love that rendition, it felt a bit too big for such a small film. While checking the music for the Broadway production of ‘Mermaid,’ I found my answer. The simple piano piece, accompanied by Sierra Boggess as Ariel’s voice, allowed me to create the whirlwind video you see before you. The piano melody gives it a simplicity that reminded me very much of Jo Hisaishi’s scores for Miyazaki’s many films. The structure of the video is simple enough, and I’m hoping most will get it. I love the opening, as it seems almost like Ponyo has kind of been sneaking peeks at Sosuke, only this time he sees her, and like any girl who is scared of being seen by her ‘secret crush,’ quickly rushes away. And of course, I knew the big crescendo at the end had to have that magnificent punch that years ago sent …