Happy Birthday: Lee Daniels

Lee Daniels

Born: December 24, 1959 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

We know who the characters are, because they’re already written. It’s about getting to know you and to really become friends, so we can make magic. That only comes from knowing each other. By the time I’m ready to yell “action,” we know each other so well. We just go for it.

[on the editing process] You know what happens? …The miracles happen through the accidents. I’ll give you an example: I made a mistake at Cannes and shouldn’t have said this, but this guy was irritating me. He was making such a big deal about Zac Efron in his underwear [in The Paperboy (2012)] and I was, like, fuck’. I had every character based on somebody I know. When the guy asked why I have Zac in his underwear, I said, “Because I’m a gay and I like it.” I just thought the question was so stupid. Then I realized I shouldn’t have said that, since that isn’t the truth. The truth is, as a kid, my mother used to always say, “Why are you always in your underwear? Why are you always walking around in your underwear?” She slapped my head and told me to put some clothes on. Of course, I didn’t look like Zac Efron, but that part of movie was on the screen, except without the Efron body.

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire dir. Lee Daniels Stars: Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe Mo’Nique

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