Spike Lee storms Conte

Wiry and casually dressed in a Yankees branded baseball hat, Spike Lee did not resemble Boston College's typical guest lecturer, nor did his lecture fall into the parameters of a conventional speech. Last night in Conte Forum, he shared his sentiments on a diverse range of issues with a particularly excited gathering of students.

Lee addressed several topics pertinent to young adults, and spent his lecture discussing what led him to filmmaking. He advised students against pursuing careers without passion, and encouraged students toward political pro-activeness. He said that blacks need to liberate themselves from the stifling and stereotyped roles that fetter them in society.

Lee is a celebrity of not inconsequential status, and over 200 hundred students, including visitors from other universities such as Bentley and Boston University, were assembled in chairs and along the plaza stairs while awaiting his appearance. Lee's lecture was scheduled to commence at 6 p.m. in O'Neill Plaza. However, at approximately 6:22 p.m., it was announced that Lee would speak from Conte Forum, and students herded into the arena, where Lee was already waiting. "You guys had me outside … it wasn't doing it," Lee said.

He opened with references to the New England Patriots' "19 and 0" aspirations, to relate to his Bostonian audience. Anne Lyons, A&S '09, said, "Initially I was turned off by the need to bring in sports as a connection to students, but I appreciate the way he used that as a sort of graceful bridge." Lee then confessed his own failed dream to play for the New York Mets. "Genetics conspired against that event," he said. He also revealed his college status as a mediocre C-minus student. "I was totally unmotivated; I was just taking up space," Lee said.

One hot summer in New York, Lee said he decided to take advantage of a camera he had been gifted, and filmed the New York City blackout and various block parties at which he found himself present. He said, "I did not choose film; film chose me. From that moment on, I was a B-plus student." He began studying film, and eventually applied to the top three American film schools. He was accepted only to NYU, where he was classmates with Ang Lee, director of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

After winning a Student Academy Award, Lee said he expected success in Hollywood to follow at a considerably effortless pace. "I was waiting for the phone call, and I knew it would come, but this funny thing happened: The phone got turned off. That's what happens when you don't pay your bills." His poverty and his inexperience in professional filmmaking were discouraging issues, but Lee said eventually they helped him to reach an important epiphany.

He contemplated his recent failed film attempt, titled Messenger. It had never received the funding it was promised, and Lee said he concluded that this was because he succumbed to a temptation common among novice filmmakers: using too much action.

Lee encountered the same issues when attempting to fund the critically acclaimed film The Insider. "We had to go to Europe to get financing for this film," he said.

Kevin Lime, A&S '08, said that he listened gratefully to Lee because Lee possesses the merit to guide students based on his own life struggles. Lime said he appreciated Lee most "because of his experience as a college student and getting through real life and all of its difficulties."

Lee did not refrain from offering commentary on current and past government and political representatives. "This war is never going to end, especially with McCain leading it," he said. He discussed Colin Powell's past beguilement, saying bluntly, "We got bamboozled by the weapons of mass destruction." He suggested to students the possibilities engendered by a future with a black president. On the war, he said, "You're not even worried about the $8 trillion, you're worried your son or daughter isn't coming home."

Lee reminded students repeatedly that responsibility for the future - their own and the nation's - should not be forgotten. "We all want to have fun and party, but at some point, you've got to put the childish stuff away."

Lee spoke about the struggles of overcoming and living up to his dualistic heritage. He said, "I'm four generations removed from slavery, but also a third generation 'Morehouse Man.'" He emphasizes the importance, particularly for blacks, of challenging the cliched gangster facade haunting the community, while simultaneously refusing to accept the 'white equals intelligence' correlation suggested by stereotypes in society.

"What has happened that we equate acting ghetto with acting black?" he said.

Lee said he sees crack usage as perhaps the biggest obstacle to the prosperity of the black community today. He said, "Heroin doesn't do the things that crack does. Consequently, you have a whole generation of children of crackheads bringing themselves up."

Lee said he credits his persistence and his work ethic for much of his success, and urges students to both work diligently, and to work at something for which they have true passion. "Whatever you want to do, you have to bust your ass," he said. He also warned students not to choose careers based on monetary affluence. "Plenty of people with money are committing suicide," he said.