SJM_Interview_Lee_Daniels_0721_layout 7 / 26 / 21 10 : 35 AM Page 4 Action & Reaction PHILLY - BORN FILMMAKER LEE DANIELS TELLS POWERFUL AND PROVOCATIVE STORIES THAT PLUMB THE DEPTHS OF HUMAN EMOTION . by Debra Wallace What do you mean by “ offensive ” ? hen Lee Daniels arrived in Hollywood to work on Prince’s 1984 film Purple I did one movie for my church members at Rain , he had $ 7 in his pocket . What he lacked in funds , though , he made up St . Thomas Episcopal Church in West Philly . for with a “ no - nonsense attitude , ” a deep desire to pursue his filmmaking W After my movie The Paperboy , my mother dreams and the grit of his native Philadelphia . said I had done a movie about a pedophile He says the mental fortitude he gained in Philly gave him the confidence to write , with The Woodsman and Precious is about direct and produce thought - provoking films , some of which have earned Oscars . He at - incest , and she said the people at the church tributes his success to following his desire to “ live my life the way I want to live it . ” ere concerned . She asked , “ Can’t you just w Some of his most notable ( and controversial ) works include the films Monster’s Ball , make movies like Tyler Perry ? ” … I go , “ Ma , TheWoodsman and Precious , as well as the FOX TV series Empire and Star . He is causing a I’m just telling a story about life experience . ” stir once again with The United States vs . Billie Holiday , a new film about the famed jazz The closest I came to that was [ Lee Daniels ’ ] legend and her many battles with addiction , fame and heartbreak . The Butler , and that really quieted Miss Jones Where others see controversy in his work , Daniels sees something else : “ I wanted to be up from the church good for a good while . I able to make people feel an array of emotions that show them the complexity of the don’t know how she feels about [ The United human condition . ” States vs . ] Billie Holiday , my latest movie . Daniels recently received the Lumière Award from the Philadelphia Film Society , given to locally tied industry professionals who have furthered filmmaking as a vital art form . Why did you want to make your Billie Previous winners include Adam McKay , M . Night Shyamalan and Bruce Willis . Holiday film at the present time ? We spoke with Daniels about the role Philadelphia played in his life , the importance of My grandfather was the manager of the Lo - truth in filmmaking and why he insists on following his own path . cust [ Street ] Theatre in West Philly , and I went there to see Lady Sings the Blues . It in my early 20s . I’d never seen anything like What do your changed my life . I know it’s the reason why it before in my life . The following weekend I Philadelphia roots I’m directing right now . I understood Lady took my Aunt Maddie and my mom back mean to you ? Sings the Blues to the same theater to see the movie . At the , It’s the sort of place but I did not know what the Q & A end of it , my aunt literally slapped the hell you love because it song “ Strange Fruit ” meant . I was appalled out of me and asked , “ Why would you take gives you the grit to work through things that I didn’t know “ Strange Fruit , ” and I was me to some crap like this ? ” that are hard and difficult . We can get angry when I thought about how many I think that the reaction I got from her through them . Look at the people who have other stories there are about Black leaders was something that I enjoyed . Not neces - come out of Philadelphia ; my acting peers that we know nothing about . It’s ironic that sarily the slapping , but just the reaction , that and other artists — I tell you , it’s in the water . this story about this civil rights leader that she could react so viscerally to something . There is something in the water here . didn’t know she was a civil rights leader is the story that is full circle for me with Lady Why is this important to you ? You said you want to live your life Sings the Blues . I think that oftentimes through my films , the way you want to live it . Is that what gives you the guts to make bold What does it mean for you to receive too , I’m healing personally from things that decisions in your TV shows and movies ? the Lumière Award ? I’ve gone through in my life . So , I’m actually It’s interesting , there’s always these deep It is an honor . I get a little emotional when I licking my wounds in front of everyone , AP conversations about my work , and I can’t think about getting this . You wonder whether and that's therapeutic for me . Everything I hel / quite figure that out . I’m just sort of living you really deserved it , or did I trick them in do soothes me and makes me a better Escper - in the moment and I’m telling truth at the all of these movies to make them think that son . I’m not the same person now Ronthan moment the way that I’m worthy of something like y when I first got into this business . Often - this ? I’m not I see it . I don’t know b ph times , as offensive as [ some of my films ] doing it for the awards ; I am doing it because why that sometimes offends people . ogra sometimes are , they have been helpful to it is in my heart and it’s in my soul . I think as I saw the John Waters movie Pink Phot ? me in becoming a better man . artists that’s what we’re all trying to do . Flamingos down on South Street when I was SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 18 issue 4 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 59