Director Spike Lee Shares 3 Cinematic Storytelling Tips

Spike Lee first captivated our cultural consciousness in 1986 with his debut film, She’s Gotta Have It, a story about a sexually empowered woman in Brooklyn and her three lovers, told in black and white. Over his long and varied career, Spike has often drawn from the well of his own life, which encompass everything from historically Black colleges and universities, colorism in the Black community, culture clashes in Brooklyn, love, and jazz, interracial relationships, and addiction. Spike Lee continues to make movies—and make moves: In 2010, the Library of Congress selected Malcolm X for preservation in the National Film Registry, and his most recent film is 2020’s Da 5 Bloods.

From the first draft to the final draft of a great film script, a screenwriter should always make sure they are telling an engaging story. For some guidelines on how to write a screenplay and improve your visual storytelling like successful director Spike Lee, check out some of his screenwriting tips below:

1. 1. Develop your voice. As a writer-director, it’s important to have your own voice. This means having a distinct approach, whether it’s via a favorite camera angle, lighting, or the city or culture your stories explore. Voice is what gives your work and screenwriting a personal style.
2. 2. Tell unique stories. There’s no better way to find unique stories than to mine your own life for material. Many of Spike’s earliest films were inspired by his personal experience. School Daze was reminiscent of his college days at Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta, both HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). In Do the Right Thing, Spike recalled a time in New York City when race relations were at a fever pitch, particularly between African Americans and Italian Americans. He knew versions of those characters growing up in Brooklyn—how they spoke, their mannerisms—and recognized the growing cultural tension. The result was a powerful story that not only resonates, but is sadly reflected in real life to this day. Stories which originate from your own life will often be the ones about which you’re most passionate and know intimately. Let this passion carry you through the tough but rewarding task of taking your film from conception through to completion.
3. 3. Trust your instincts. When writing a screenplay, don’t be afraid to break the rules. For example, when Spike writes, he doesn’t think about his work fitting into a three-act structure. Some may consider this blasphemy, but Spike believes it’s important to question the norm. It also takes courage to create characters whose thoughts and opinions may be wildly different from your own—unsavory even. But if you can write two characters who are at odds and yet they are both somehow right, you’ve hit the drama jackpot.

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