Fresh off receiving the President’s Award at the NAACP Image Awards, famed Director Spike Lee has two new projects going on. Da Sweet Blood of Jesus , the film he made via crowdfunding resources is in theaters on Friday, February 13th. He is also slated to coach the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game during NBA All-Star Weekend at Madison Square Garden, also this weekend.
His movie, which looks intriguing, stars a host of newcomers including Elvis Nolasco, Felicia Pearson, Zaarah Abrahams and Steven Hauck. (Pearson, better known by her nickname, “Snoop” played the character of that name on The Wire.)
“They are not vampires,’ Lee says. These are people addicted to blood. People have many addictions – drugs, power, money, alcohol,” says Lee. But that does make them sound like vampires, especially since once bitten, they also become bloodthirsty.
“I wrote the script,” says Lee. “They are not vampires. They are addicted to blood.”
O.K., Spike.
“This is the movie that I raised the money via Kickstarter and I want to thank everybody who contributed,” Lee says. “Thank you, thank you very, very much.”
In his NAACP acceptance speech, Lee acknowledge the contributions of his grandmother, who saved her Social Security checks and put his mother and him through college, his mother who graduated from Spelman College, his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee and his daughter, Satchel Lee, now a film student at NYU, Spike’s alma mater.
He’s grateful to all of them for their contributions to his life and career.
Lee is coaching the Celebrity All-Star Game, and hosting a party and he promises New York will be on fire this weekend. As for his beloved Knicks, where he’s been a season ticket holder since Patrick Ewing’s rookie year.
“I still believe in Phil Jackson and I think we’re going to get the #1 pick in the draft, Okafor, and we’ll be back to glory,” Lee says.
Click the link above to hear the entire interview!
