Spike Lee Uses Governors Awards Speech To Criticise Hollywood

“All of us right here stand in solidarity and help with France and the French individuals”, she stated, noting that nation’s lengthy historical past of movie making and its love of cinema.

Lee urged Hollywood executives to take a closer look at the people around them. Isaacs, he said, was “trying to do something that needs to be done”.

Everybody in here probably voted for Obama, but when I go to offices, I see no black folks except for the brother man at the security [gate] who checks my name off the list as I go into the studio.

Lee is quoted as saying that the sports industry is more diverse than Hollywood film-making and that it was easier for a black person to become the president of the USA than to become head of a network or studio.

As for the other aspects of the Governor Awards. the show itself though untelevised was lots of fun.

Debbie Reynolds and Gena Rowlands were also celebrated at the event. When the Governors Awards were launched in 2009, the event was low-key and familial, with informal toasts mixing with onstage speeches.

Now, every major film is represented by actors, directors, producers, cinematographers and more; the room is so crowded with Oscar hopefuls that you have to wonder if there are any voters in the room for them to schmooze.

In a brief audio acceptance, Debbie told the audience, “I’m thrilled beyond words, shocked, and you couldn’t be more amazed that a little girl from Burbank even came near this sort of accolade”.

Other famous faces at the starry dinner included Johnny Depp and wife Amber Heard, Daniel Craig and wife Rachel Weisz, Will Smith, Ice Cube, Mark Ruffalo, Quentin Tarantino, Saoirse Ronan and Michael Caine.

“Spike Lee has put more African-Americans to work in this business than anyone else”, Washington said in his introduction.

Reynolds was recognised for her decades-long commitment to various charities, including the mental health organisation she founded, the Thalians. “She’s been fearless in her advocacy”, Fonda said.

Rowlands, 85, paid tribute to her late husband, writer/director John Cassavetes, who died in 1989. The award was presented by Meryl Streep! “First Oscar in the family!” he pointed out. “All I can say is it’s about damn time”.

Filmmaker Spike Lee, 58, spoke out on Hollywood’s lack of diversity as he received an Honorary Oscar at the 7th Annual Oscar Governor Awards Saturday, November 14.

“There’s no such thing as an overnight success”, said Lee, adding that he “had to be ten times better than [his] white classmates” in order to excel – a lesson he said he shares with his own students at NYU film school where he is a tenured professor.