The image of Denzel Washington holding the M1 Carbine and peering out the curtains is a direct visual recreation of an iconic photo that appeared in LIFE magazine.
Director Spike Lee removed all mention of Louis Farrakhan from the film after receiving specific, direct threats from him.
Initially, Spike Lee requested $33 million for this film (or $72 million in 2023 dollars), a reasonable sum considering its size and scope, but much more than his previous budgets. Because Lee's five previous films combined had grossed less than $100 million domestically, Warner Bros. offered $20 million for a two-hour fifteen-minute film, plus $8 million from Largo Entertainment for the foreign rights. When the film went $5 million over budget, Lee kicked in most of his salary, but the financiers shut down post-production. Lee went public with his battles, and raised funds from celebrity friends, including Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan and Bill Cosby, to regain control of the project. After a positive screening of a rough cut, Warner Bros. kicked in more funds.
Terence Blanchard: The trumpeter in the "Billie Holiday Quintet". Blanchard composed the music for this film, and he frequently collaborates with Spike Lee.
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