Spike Lee Reveals Michael Jackson's Influential Advice That Changed His Career

Spike Lee, the renowned filmmaker and creative genius, recently shared an invaluable piece of advice he received from none other than the legendary Michael Jackson. This advice played a significant role in shaping Lee's illustrious and diverse career, which has seamlessly blended independent feature films, mainstream commercial success, and collaborations with iconic artists.

Lee had the honor of receiving the inaugural Creative Maker of the Year award at the Cannes Lions Festival, where he took the stage to reflect on his journey. He effortlessly navigated the world of independent cinema while also helming ad campaigns for major brands like Nike, including the groundbreaking Air Jordan spots, and a highly successful jeans campaign for Levi's.

During his speech, Lee described his body of work, which encompasses commercials, feature films, and documentaries, emphasizing that he prefers to refer to his collaborations with artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Miles Davis, and Public Enemy as "short films" rather than "music videos." It was Jackson who originally advised Lee to avoid the term "music video" when describing his creative portfolio.

In an intriguing turn of events, Lee found himself reprising his character of Mars Blackmon for Nike's 50th anniversary, despite having previously vowed never to do so. When asked about his change of heart, Lee humorously shared how his friend Barry Brown reminded him of his previous declaration. Lee responded, "Well, you gotta be careful about using the word 'never.' This opportunity came. They called me up – 'Nike wants to celebrate their 50th anniversary.' It was a great honor they wanted to bring back Mars Blackmon for it. There was no way I could turn it down."

The resulting commercial, titled 'Seen It All' and released in May, reunites Lee with his beloved character as he engages in a chess game with Zimmie in a Brooklyn park. While Lee reminisces about past sports heroes and monumental moments of the last 50 years, Zimmie perplexes him with references to present-day icons.

Lee also took a moment to reminisce about his ground-breaking collaboration with Nike and the rising basketball star, Michael Jordan, back in 1988. Following the success of his film 'She's Gotta Have It,' Lee received a call from Nike, expressing their admiration for the film and proposing a commercial. They offered Lee the opportunity to direct the commercial while reprising his role as Mars Blackmon alongside Michael Jordan. At the time, Jordan had not seen a film or fully understood what it entailed. Despite having other renowned directors at their disposal, Nike chose Lee, and the collaboration proved to be a game-changer for both the brand and Lee's career.

Reflecting on the profound impact those commercials had on the world, Lee expressed gratitude for the unexpected blessing that unfolded through his partnership with Nike and Brand Jordan. The success of his film 'Do the Right Thing' also led to an incredible opportunity with Levi's. Given complete creative freedom, Lee decided to film an ad campaign in which he participated in the age-old tradition of running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, wearing Levi's jeans and a T-shirt. Looking back, Lee humorously confessed, "I was crazy back then! We were young and foolish." The risk paid off, with the ad's immense success allowing Levi's to fund the entire campaign solely through the sales of their 'Button Your Fly' T-shirts.

While Lee had not initially planned to direct commercials, he acknowledged their lucrative nature and the joy they bring him. He emphasized that the collaborations with companies and agencies that believe in his vision have been immensely rewarding, with them reaching out to him rather than the other way around. Lee expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate and create beautiful and impactful work when everyone involved is on the same page. He concluded by emphasizing that directing commercials has been a blessing, allowing him to merge creativity, enjoyment, and financial success.

Spike Lee's career serves as a testament to the power of following one's artistic instincts and embracing diverse opportunities. From the invaluable advice he received from Michael Jackson to his groundbreaking collaborations with major brands like Nike and Levi's, Lee has shown an uncanny ability to balance his artistic integrity with commercial success.

As the audience at the Cannes Lions Festival applauded Spike Lee's achievements and celebrated his Creative Maker of the Year award, it became evident that his enduring influence extends far beyond the world of filmmaking. He has inspired countless artists and creatives to push boundaries, take risks, and embrace the beauty of collaboration.