*At the Cannes Film Festival press conference for his latest film “Highest 2 Lowest,” on May 20, Spike Lee addressed the looming threat of President Donald Trump’s proposed 100% tariff on films produced outside the U.S.
As El Pais reports, Lee spoke about the policy’s potential fallout. “People are hurting [and] no one’s working. There’s this guy (Trump) who wants to put a tariff on every film that shoots [outside the U.S.]. I don’t know how that’s going to work,” Lee said. “I love to shoot [in New York]… it’s the vibe, it’s an energy. I’m very lucky that I’ve been able to shoot films that take place in New York.”
The uncertainty about the tariff’s mechanics has sparked outrage in Hollywood, with “Green Book” producer Charles Wessler warning TMZ that it would “gut the film industry,” stifling creativity, slashing budgets, and eliminating jobs. Wessler highlighted the necessity of filming in authentic global locations and also cautioned that retaliatory tariffs could cripple the global film economy.
The U.S. film industry is already reeling, with FilmLA reporting a 22.4% drop in Los Angeles shoot days in early 2025, one of the industry’s worst quarters. Amid these challenges, Lee reflected on the moral themes of “Highest 2 Lowest,” inspired by Akira Kurosawa. “There’s a quote on it: ‘All money ain’t good money,’” he noted, emphasizing the film’s exploration of ethical dilemmas and the consequences of choices.
When asked about social media’s impact on American values, Lee said, “Well, I don’t know how much we can talk about American values considering who the president is.”
He added, “My wife said, ‘Spike, be very careful what you say!’ But here’s the thing, I don’t think we can condemn social media. People [can] say the same thing about film or whatever. So I’m not going to demonize the form.”
As Hollywood grapples with economic and creative uncertainties, Lee’s remarks underscore the tension between policy, artistry, and societal values.
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