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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spike Lee on Oscar speech: ‘Gonna try to keep positive’

Jocelyn Noveck !!!EDS--PASTE CREDIT TEXT HERE

Spike Lee says he hasn’t had time yet to plan what he’ll say when he gets his honorary Oscar next month – he’s busy trying to finish up his new movie, “Chiraq,” for a year-end release. But he promises he’s “gonna try to keep positive.”

Still, that hardly means Lee – at times a quite vocal critic of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – thinks that all is perfect in Hollywood in terms of diversity.

“This is my belief,” the filmmaker said in a recent interview. “Until people of color get into those positions that I call the gatekeepers, that’s where true fundamental progress will be made. Because right now … we are not in the room where those decisions are being made, what gets made and what doesn’t. I mean I’m still waiting for somebody to tell me, is there a person of color at a Hollywood studio, at a cable television network who has a green light vote? I don’t know one, and I want somebody to prove me ill-informed.”

At 58, Lee is one of the youngest figures to receive an honorary Oscar, which is tantamount to a lifetime achievement award (it’ll be presented at the Governors Awards on Nov. 14). For his many fans, an Oscar of any kind is well overdue, coming a full quarter-century after his much-lauded “Do the Right Thing,” which figures on many best-film lists, earned him only a screenplay nomination in 1990 (plus a supporting actor nod for Danny Aiello). Lee hasn’t been shy in his criticism of the academy over the years, but says its president, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, is moving things in the right direction.

Steve-O gets 30 days for SeaWorld stunt

“Jackass” star Steve-O has been sentenced to 30 days in jail after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges filed after he staged a protest against SeaWorld atop a crane in Hollywood last month.

Los Angeles City Attorney’s spokesman Frank Mateljan said Steve-O, whose real name is Stephen Glover, pleaded no contest Wednesday to trespassing and illegal use of fireworks. Mateljan said he was also sentenced three years of probation and ordered to reimburse the city nearly $14,000 for its emergency response.

Glover was charged with creating a false emergency, vandalism and several fireworks violations after his Aug. 9 protest high above a construction site drew a large police and fire response.

The 41-year-old is known for his outlandish stunts in the “Jackass” TV show and movies.

The birthday bunch

Civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson is 74. Comedian Chevy Chase is 72.ActressSigourney Weaver is 66. Actor-screenwriter Matt Damon is 45. Actor Nick Cannon is 35. Singer-songwriter-producer Bruno Mars is 30. .