By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com
Chrysler hosted its 6th Annual 'Behind The Lens' Awards honoring Spike Lee on March 26 in
I was invited by Bazan Public Relations to attend the swank affair that celebrates the accomplishments of pioneers in cinematography.
Past recipients of the award include Ruben Cannon,
This year, a who's who of talent gathered in ballroom of the posh Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel to celebrate Lee.
CNN's Soledad O'Brien hosted the affair, and there were presentations by Laurence "Don't Call Me Larry" Fishburne, Chuck D, Rosie Perez, Roger Guenveur Smith, Chiwetel Ejiofor, costume designer Ruth Carter, Hill Harper, John Singleton, casting director Robi Reed, Delroy Lindo and director Ernest Dickerson. Denzel Washington sent a funny congratulatory message via video from the set of a movie he's shooting.
Savion Glover performed an amazing tap dance routine as video of his performance in Lee's 'Bamboozled' was shown on a monitor.
Jazz great Terence Blanchard, who has scored the music for most of Lee's films, performed the theme song from the honoree's HBO documentary, 'When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.' 
Vocal stylist Patti Austin delivered a captivating rendition of Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come,' accompanied by Blanchard.
Chrysler's W. Frank Fountain, Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Public Policy, spoke and then made a $25,000 donation on behalf of Chrysler to the Morehouse Journalism and Sports Program that Lee started at his alma mater.
The Emmy Award-winning, and Academy Award-nominated director and producer of films such as 'Inside Man,' 'School Daze,' 'Malcolm X,' 'Jungle Fever,' 'Do The Right Thing' and 'Mo' Better Blues' took the stage and candidly reflected on his career and the current challenges to get films made in Hollywood.
"So 'Inside Man' was my most commercial film ever. Worldwide, including DVD sales, over $200 million. So when you're told all of the time that you haven't had a film over $100 million – which used to be considered a blockbuster, now its more – once you reach that, and 'Inside Man' only cost $49 million, it's a huge hit. Usually Denzel gets $20 million a film alone. So you get him, Jodie Foster and Clive Owen at $49 million, you're getting a bargain. So that success put me at a delusional state where I thought, oh I'm in there now," the 51-year-old filmmaker said.
Lee, who is currently the artistic director of the NYC Tisch Graduate Program in film, the school from which he received his MFA in filmmaking, said he was befuddled when studios bulked at giving him the financing he needed for several projects he was passionate about bringing to fruition.
"So far, I'm zero-for-three on the black biopics. I couldn't get the money for Joe Louis and Jackie Robinson. I couldn't get the money for James Brown," he shared, before adding: "I wanted to do a movie on the
'Miracle at St. Anna' was financed by Roberto Cicutto and Luigi Musini, two Italian businessmen who own a film distribution company in .
"They always asked me, 'Spike, when are we going to work together?' So when I needed the money for this film, I took my ass on the plane to and told them let's do it now," said Lee.
The movie stars Derek Luke, Laz Alonso, Michael Ealy and Omar Benson Miller and a preview of the film was shown to the audience following Lee's speech.
Among the other notables on hand for Chrysler's 'Behind The Lens' salute to Lee included the cast of 'Miracle at St. Anna,' Damon Wayans, Snoop Dogg, Rosario Dawson, Henry Simmons, Elise Neal, Lamman Rucker, KiKi Shepard, Rick Fox, Debbie Mazar, Gary Dourdan, director Kasi Lemmons, Vondie Curtis Hall, Paula Jai Parker, Keith David, Kadeem Hardison, Vanessa Williams, Obba Babatundé, Wendell Peirce, Telma Hopkins, Jimmy-Jean Louis, Andre Royo, Willie Mac, film producer Stephanie Allain, Billie Woodruff, Wesley Jonathan, Denyce Lawton and director Jeff Byrd. 
Some of Tinsletown's most prominent tastemakers and movers and shakers were also in attendance for the soiree. Way too many to name!
Chrysler's 'Behind the Lens' Award was established in 2002 by Chrysler to recognize and celebrate the achievements of individuals who work behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. Since its inception, the annual star-studded awards event has featured approximately 400 invited guests to share in the recognition and the accomplishments of the honoree. Award recipients are chosen by a selection committee comprised of entertainment industry professionals and Chrysler representatives.
Special thanks to public relations powerhouse Linda Jones of The Mass Appeal for being my personal photographer for the evening.
Thanks also to Evelyn Santana of Bazan PR and film publicist Cassandra Butcher for making everything work smoothly!
1. The biggest part of this story is the fact that he gives back by teaching at NYU. How many professionals do you know of at that level that sacrifice their time and energy to raise up the next generation.
Jarobie Anderson at 9:07PM on Mar 30th 2008