Check out what it took in getting the “Malcolm X” movie funded by Spike Lee. In the video below he discusses some of the challenges and what approach he took when the studios did not want to back him financially.
Spike Lee was between a rock and a hard place back in 1992 when he was in post production for the blockbuster film starring Denzel Washington. Basically as the story goes, he went $5 million over budget and the bond company allegedly wanted to shut down post production and take over. Not being one to give in or give up, Spike Lee reached out to well known prominent African American celebrities for financial support and they came to his aid. Some of those celebrities were:
- Bill Cosby
- Michael Jordan
- Magic Johnson
- Oprah Winfrey
Cosby and Winfrey both kept tight lipped about exactly how much money they gave, but simply mentioned “It was in line with what everyone else gave”. Spike Lee also stressed that the money was not a “loan” but a “gift”.
