Spike Lee Discusses "Levees"

Since then, Lee has left an indelible mark on American cinema. He has made audiences laugh, cry and most importantly think with such diverse movies as the Oscar nominated “Do The Right Thing” (1989) followed by, “Mo' Better Blues” (1990), “Jungle Fever” (1991), “Malcolm X” (1992), “Get on the Bus” (1996), “4 Little Girls” (1997) and “He Got Game” (1998) among many others.

Now, Lee has continued his provocative and socio-political filmmaking with the new, riveting HBO documentary “When the Levees Broke.” The film, which debuts on HBO August 21 and August 22 at 6 p.m. PST (encore presentation on August 29 at 5 p.m. PST), is an intimate portrait of New Orleans and the devastating blow the city suffered when Hurricane Katrina struck on Aug. 29, 2005.

The four-part series of “When the Levees Broke” reveals startling information about the events leading up to Hurricane Katrina. It also features interviews with many of the survivors who lost friends and family, as well as noted celebrities and politicians. “When the Levees Broke” does not sugarcoat the issues. It gives an unapologetic view that the American government shamelessly turned its back on this city and region and particularly on African Americans.

During a recent interview at the Four Seasons Hotel, Lee sat down with journalists to discuss what inspired the noted director/producer to make “When the Levees Broke,” which coincides with the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Lee, dressed in a navy sports coat with an emblem of his beloved New York Yankees baseball team on the chest pocket, blue and white shirt and slacks, spoke with candor and even humor about the documentary.

QUESTION: What was your relationship to New Orleans before making this documentary?

SPIKE LEE: Well, I have a lot of friends there. Terrence Blanchard, Branford and Wynton Marsalis and Wendell Pierce.

Q: At what point did you decide that you wanted to make a documentary and put your team together?

SL: Right away. When I was looking at what everyone else was watching on television.

Q: Were you using your own funds or did you call people to back you up?

SL: No, it was HBO. I called HBO and they said 'OK.'

Q: Was it difficult for you to make “When the Levees Broke” knowing that there hasn’t been any real closure to the Hurricane Katrina situation even after one year?

SL: Yes, that was difficult because the story changed every day. The guy who runs the Corps of Engineers retired or quit. Everyday something was happening. So we had to make adjustments.

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