From KCRW Santa Monica and KCRW.com, it's The Treatment.

Welcome to the treatment.

For the over 20 years I've been doing this show, I've known Spike Lee for more than that since she's got to have it in

1986. That's way back and way back.

That's way back when you first got started. Finally, I got to get you sit down here. Of course,

your latest film is Black Klansman. I can't thank you enough for doing this, so good to see you.

Thank. Always good to see you, Elvis. Here's what I've got to ask you. You don't do until maybe like the last 15 years or so, a lot of screenplays that have been written by other people.

What is it when you see a screenplay that comes to you from somebody else?

What do you look for in that?

Well, I've never had an attitude that I can only direct stuff that I write. So if I read something

that's a great story that I feel I could add to it as a director and sometimes a writer,

then I'm not hesitant. I have no hesitancy at all.

And what was it you saw in Black Clansman, you think this was something you should do?

Well, it was not what I saw because Jordan Peel called me up out of the blue because they've

been developing this project already.

And I think one of the greatest pitches in the history of studio, six words.

Black men infiltrates Clu Klux Klan.

So it was really Jordan's pitch.

As simple as that. Simple as that. Because i never heard of ronstorth or his story yeah i hadn't heard about it either until i heard about this project and then um i ran to

your producers at can a couple nights before the film played and you got a chance to go back to can

after not being there for a while. What was that like?

Oh, I mean, I love Cannes.

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