The Social Planning and Events Film Committee will leave its mark today by bringing Spike Lee to campus as the first-ever SPEC Film keynote speaker.
The Emmy award-winning filmmaker will speak at Irvine Auditorium tonight at 7:30 p.m. at an event entitled "The World Through My Lens: A Conversation on Film Making with Spike Lee." Audience members can expect a moderated discussion between Lee and English Professor Salamishah Tillet, followed by a question-and-answer session.
Lee will also visit the Penn Bookstore at 5 p.m. to sign copies of his newly released DVD, Miracle at St. Anna.
Lee is famous for making films that deal with African American social and political issues. His latest film is about four African American soldiers trapped behind enemy lines during World War II.
Even though Lee's movies focus on African American issues, SPEC Film director and College junior Allison Seelig said she is looking forward to a large and diverse audience in Irvine tonight, especially because the event has more of an artistic and less of a business emphasis, unlike many Penn guest lectures.
Wharton junior Gontran Bagard also said he feels that Lee reaches out to a wider audience than just the African American community.
"I think that anyone is able to identify with some character in his movies," he wrote in an e-mail. "Spike Lee is able to create situations in which everyone can be moved and thrilled."
Seelig said many tickets have already been sold and the rest will be on sale at the door.
SPEC Film also hosted a free screening of Miracle at St. Anna last night at The Bridge Theater.
Director of Business Services Barbara Lea-Kruger wrote in an e-mail that a large turnout is also expected at the signing and that the Bookstore has ordered over 200 DVDs for the event.
Although most people know Lee for movies like Inside Man and Malcolm X, Bagard said he hopes the events at Penn today will motivate students to watch his lesser-known "masterpieces."
