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How did the
project come to you?
Spike Lee: Well, Tonya Lewis
Lee. And we’re married. (Lol) Asked if I
would direct one of the episodes. The
experience was so enjoyable that I
believed in the project. I asked them if
they could juggle the schedule so that I
could finish it and do the 6 th and
final episode so…that was very gracious
in doing that. So, it was like bookends.
I did the first and final episodes for
the mini series of Miracles Boys.
Why the idea to
add several directors as oppose to one
director?
Tonya Lewis Lee: That was a
choice that we had made as exec
producers. We were very excited because
the material is so strong. And we
thought we had the opportunity to do
something unique where we could hire and
produce something with film directors.
And almost have the mini series be
almost a mini film.
Did you work
within the formats of Television?
Spike Lee: Well, it’s
different. We didn’t see it as a
challenge. We just thought that we’d
still approach this as a cinematic view
point then just television. That’s the
way we approached it.
Did the
directors sit down together or we’re
they allowed to do their own thing?
Tonya Lewis Lee: We wanted
the show to have a consistency and each
show feel like it was apart of
something. But at the same time, we did
expect that each director would put his
or her imprint on their particular shot.
How was the
talent chosen?
Tonya Lewis Lee: There was a
pilot a few years ago. And they cast
Julio, Pooch and Shawn. Then when it
came time to fulfill the whole series we
went on a casting call. We canvassed NYC
and LA, and we ended up casting the same
three boys that we had.
Was the
supporting cast mainly from NY?
Tonya Lewis Lee: Pretty much.
Yeah.
Was it
important to air the mini series during
Black History Month?
Tonya Lewis Lee: We did not
know it was going to be aired black
history month when we went into the
project. To me it’s not about Black
History Month. It could have aired in
March or at anytime. To me it’s not
important that it aired Black History
Month.
How did you
like the book before you did this
project?
Spike Lee: No. I had not read
the book I had not even heard of
Jacquelyn Woodson. So, when I read the
book. I went back and read all her
books. She’s a prolific writer and I
really don’t know why I had heard too
much of it.
How did you go
about being on the N Channel as oppose
to Showtime or HBO?
Spike Lee: We really wanted
to do something that was developed for
teens. The N is really one of the ones
that are doing that. And developing just
for that age group. We knew that this
was not an easy project to sell. And we
knew that they were one of the ones
taking a chance on good quality material
that may not fit the rest of regular
television.
Spike. Did you
find it refreshing to be targeting that
audience?
Spike Lee: It’s a very
important audience. A very important
audience that’s still impressionable.
It’s an alternative than the usual
that’s on television.
With the recent
passing of Ossie Davis, do you have a
fond memory you could share?
Spike Lee: Ossie was a dear
friend of mine. And Ruby Dee still is. I
was fortunate to work with Ruby and
Ossie twice, together, on Do the
Right Thing and Jungle Fever.
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