Shelton Jackson Lee did not always know that he wanted to be a director. However, growing up in Brooklyn, NY, Lee was a keen observer. He was fascinated with the people in his community. His mother, a teacher, was also a huge influence in Lee's life. She wanted her family to appreciate the arts, and would often take Lee and his siblings to plays and museums. In fact, she was the one who nicknamed Lee "Spike" because he was such a tough little baby. This nickname stuck with him, and now he is universally known in the film world as "Spike Lee." Even after Lee left for Morehouse College in Atlanta (class of '79), his mother was still a driving force in his life. In an interview with Esquire, Lee related how: "His mother, Jacquelyn, sent back the letters he wrote her from Morehouse, 'all in red ink, corrected. She was always on us.'"

During his sophomore year at college, his mother, who had been a rock in his childhood, died suddenly.

Lee's friends, wanting to distract him from his grief, started taking him to the movies.

Spike Lee had always been interested in social dynamics, particularly those relating to African-American communities. Movies showed him a new way to focus his ideas. He was also very critical of the roles that many African Americans had in film. They were often shown in a negative light, and portrayed as criminals. Spike Lee thought that someone should make movies that more accurately mirrored his own experiences, and his community. Before he graduated from Morehouse, Lee realized that he was the person to make these new films.

In 1985, Spike Lee made his first feature length movie, "She's Gotta Have It," in Brooklyn. It was filmed in just 12 days, and the settings were often public parks, or simple apartments. It cost just $175,000 to make, at a time when film production costs could soar well into the millions.

For example, the 1986 film "Top Gun" had a production budget of $15,000,000. According to People magazine, Spike Lee did not take this film to Hollywood investors, but rather, "Lee raised the money from family and friends, save $18,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts. He hired an unknown cast and crew on the promise of deferred payment."

With Lee's low budget and creative gaze, Brooklyn came to life with music and energy. The main character, an African-American woman, was successful, independent, and likable. This was a groundbreaking film for the way it showcased an African-American community in a positive light. The characters were people you would like to meet, and the settings were welcoming and hip.

The film was a hit, and made more than $7,000,000—a huge payoff for all of Lee's investors.

Over 35 movies later, Spike Lee is one of the most influential directors of all time. His production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, is a powerhouse of film, and television. His works range from serious historical films, such as the critically acclaimed "Malcolm X" and "4 Little Girls" (a documentary about a church bombing that killed four African-American girls), to action flicks, and comedies. In true entrepreneurial fashion, Spike Lee paved his own way as a director. With a little help from his friends and family, Spike Lee has become a major force in the film industry. Lee's films are not only wildly popular and entertaining, but they are a reminder that movies can be a vehicle for social change.