Spike Lee's Gotta Have It: Inside Guerilla Filmmaking

by Spike Lee

Reveals the creative and production processes behind the low-budget independent film "She's Gotta Have It," which became a major critical and commercial success, and provides the entire shooting script of the film

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Media Tie In

368 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 1987

About the author

Shelton Jackson Lee, better known as Spike Lee, is an Emmy Award - winning, and Academy Award - nominated American film director, producer, writer, and actor noted for his films dealing with controversial social and political issues. He also teaches film at New York University and Columbia University. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983.

Reviews

[Anthony McGill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spike Lee's excellent journal of the making of his 1986 breakthrough movie 'She's Gotta Have It' * provides a fascinating overview of Spike's very personal style of filmmaking.
This comprehensive guide to the film is made up of three sections:
--- The INTERVIEW ....... Spike Lee interviewed by Nelson George.
--- The JOURNAL ........... Spike's more than 200 page journal written between October 1984 and April 1986, covering all aspects of the preparation and filming of the movie.
--- The SCRIPT .............. The complete Spike Lee screenplay.

Exceptional peek into independent film making from one of America's great and original talents. A charming look at romance set in Brooklyn revolving around a young, free spirited black woman and the three men and one woman who compete for her attention. If you love Spike's work, you gotta have this groovy book!
With lots of on-location, behind the scenes photos.
* Written, edited and directed by Lee who also played one of the leading roles.

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

My bible.

[Francisco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I have my problems with the film and the way Spike expresses himself at times, the book itself is a treasure. The entire process of production is detailed in this book, from the small ideas that poppped into Spike's head, to writing the script, scheduling the shooting, actually being able to shoot against all odds and then the shitstorm of finding the money to be able to show it. Maybe not a "must own" but definitely a "must read" for filmmakers. The world of independent filmmaking is hell and more so if you're a PoC.

[Paris Chanel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about much more than filmmaking. It’s about one’s consistent positive thinking, hard work, and steadfast hunger to see to it that their vision comes to life, regardless of the loads of hurdles that will (temporarily) stand in their way. No matter the setback, Spike never stopped speaking his vision into existence. It took me longer to finish this book than expected. I had to keep putting it down only because a number of his journal entries had me pumped to create more.

[Salty_Mountain · Rating 5 out of 5]

So thankful for this book as well as the rest of Spike's filmmaking journals. Writing one of my own as we speak and never would have thought to do it without having read this senior year of college and again a few years ago.

[Michael Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great support for anyone trying to make it in a creative field

[paulbjensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

86

Compiled from 3 sections; an interview before the film’s distributed theatrical release, diaries from the film’s production, and the screenplay itself.

The book charts the trials of an young independent filmmaker, more particularly one of the most prominent black American filmmakers to date.

While a bit disjointed at first, I found this to really get its footing once you get deep into the journals.

I truly had no idea how much of a struggle it was for Spike producing the film until reading this. Completing shoots with fractions of the intended budgets, scrambling for funding while struggling to keep the lights on..

It’s nothing short of inspiring and I’m certain any young filmmaker will find value in reading of Spike’s dedication and commitment to completing his first feature film.

[Andrew Hathaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read for people looking into the career of Spike Lee, as I currently am. The opening interview provides a great glimpse into where he was shortly after She's Gotta Have It premiered, and the inclusion of the script is another boon. But the real meat of the book comes from Lee included his, presumably, unaltered notes that he took throughout the entire production process of She's Gotta Have It.

Since I recently finished "That's My Story and I'm Sticking to It", this text provided a ground-level, very frank, depiction of some of the events that were glossed over for "That's My Story". They're all illuminating, from Lee trying very hard to write a strong female voice for the film yet rejecting most of the criticism, which he even says is valid, from various women's groups and film societies. It also provides a rough first-hand account for what it's like to be a young, unproven, minority filmmaker in an industry where both the capital and labor is already predisposed to support more "viable" options. His strength and, it must be said, bull-headedness is inspiring as he loses weight, dodges bills, and pursues every pocket and legislative hole available to him in order to get the film made.

A great read, and required for anyone thinking of making an independent film.

[Dankwa Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what I said when I read it. “I think I'm stopping at page 100. This book is a WEALTH of information. I got this copy from the library. Must BUY a
сору.”

I photocopied a lot of pages from the book and it was such great information about being an independent filmmaker and guerrilla filmmaking.

[Darin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, like the one Spike Lee put together for Do The Right Thing, includes his journal of the filmmaking process. Since this was Spike's first feature length film, the journal is an authentic testament to the difficulties that a young filmmaker usually faces.

[Jw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reads like a thriller. Better than the movie itself.

[J.L. III · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily an equal to Robert Rodriguez's Rebel Without A Crew and Soderbergh's book of Sex Lies and Videotape. If you have interest in these sorts of making-of journals, this one is essential.

[Paloma Etienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is how he had it!