SL_Spotlight_Lee_Daniels_0421_Spotlight 4 / 28 / 21 10 : 08 AM Page 1 What do your What do you mean by s Philadelphia “ offensive ” ? S P O T L I G H T I did one movie for my church roots mean Q & A members at St . Thomas Epis - to you ? copal Church in West Philly . After It’s the sort of place you love my movie The because it gives you the grit to Paperboy , my work through things that are hard mother said I had done a movie and difficult . We can get through about a pedophile with The them . Look at the people who Woodsman and Precious is have come out of Philadelphia ; my about incest , and she said the acting peers and other artists — I people at the church were con - tell you , it’s in the water . There is cerned . She asked , “ Can’t you something in the water here . just make movies like Tyler Perry ? ” … I go , “ Ma , I’m just telling a story about life experi - You said you want to live your ence . ” The closest I came to that life the way you want to live it . Is was [ Lee Daniels ’ ] The Butler , that what gives you the guts to and that really quieted Miss make bold decisions in your TV Jones up from the church good shows and movies ? for a good while . I don’t know It’s interesting , there’s always these how she feels about [ The United deep conversations about my States vs . ] Billie Holiday , my work , and I can’t quite figure that latest movie . out . I’m just sort of living in the moment and I’m telling truth at Action & the moment the way that I see it . I Why did you want to make don’t know why that sometimes your Billie Holiday film at the offends people . present time ? I saw the John Waters movie My grandfather was the manager Reaction Pink Flamingos down on South of the Locust [ Street ] Theatre in Street when I was in my early 20s . West Philly , and I went there to Philly - born filmmaker Lee Daniels I’d never seen anything like it see Lady Sings the Blues . It before in my life . The following changed my life . I know it’s the tells powerful and provocative weekend I took my Aunt Maddie reason why I’m directing right stories that plumb the depths of and my mom back to the same now . I understood Lady Sings the BY DEBRA WALLACE human emotion . theater to see the movie . At the Blues , but I did not know what end of it , my aunt literally slapped the song “ Strange Fruit ” meant . I the hell out of me and asked , was appalled that I didn’t know When Lee Daniels arrived in Hollywood to work on “ Why would you take me to “ Strange Fruit , ” and I was angry Prince’s 1984 film Purple Rain , he had $ 7 in his pocket . some crap like this ? ” when I thought about how many What he lacked in funds , though , he made up for with a “ no - I think that the reaction I got other stories there are about black nonsense attitude , ” a deep desire to pursue his filmmaking dreams , from her was something that I leaders that we know nothing and the grit of his native Philadelphia . enjoyed . Not necessarily the slap - about . It’s ironic that this story He says the mental fortitude he gained in Philly gave him the ping , but just the reaction , that about this civil rights leader that confidence to write , direct , and produce thought - provoking films , she didn’t know she was a civil rights could react so viscerally to some of which have earned Oscars . He attributes his success to leader is the story that is full circle something . following his desire to “ live my life the way I want to live it . ” for me with Lady Sings the Blues . Some of his most notable ( and controversial ) works include Why is this important to you ? the films Monster’s Ball , The Woodsman , and Precious , as well as I think that oftentimes through my What does it mean for you to the FOX TV series Empire and Star . He is causing a stir once again films , too , I’m healing personally receive the Lumière Award ? with The United States vs . Billie Holiday , a new film about the from things that I’ve gone through It is an honor . I get a little emo - famed jazz legend and her many battles with addiction , fame , in my life . So , I’m actually licking tional when I think about getting and heartbreak . my wounds in front of everyone , this . You wonder whether you Where others see controversy in his work , Daniels sees something and that’s therapeutic for me . really deserved it , or did I trick else : “ I wanted to be able to make people feel an array of emotions AP Everything I do soothes me and them in all of these movies to that show them the complexity of the human condition . ” hel / makes me a better person . I’m not make them think that I’m Daniels recently received the Lumière Award from the Philadelphia Esc the same person now than when I worthy of something like this ? Film Society , given to locally tied industry professionals who have on first got into this business . Often - I’m not doing it for the awards ; I furthered filmmaking as a vital art form . Previous winners include R by times , as offensive as [ some of his am doing it because it is in my Adam McKay , M . Night Shyamalan , and Bruce Willis . aph films ] sometimes are , they have heart and it’s in my soul . I think We spoke with Daniels about the role Philadelphia played in his togr been helpful to me in becoming a as artists that’s what we’re all life , the importance of truth in filmmaking , and why he insists on ho ? better man . trying to do . following his own path . P SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM APRIL 2021 88 |