Filmic Context: Print -- Online
Harden, Blaine. "‘Son of Sam' Weeps, as Others Rage, at Movie." New York Times 20 June 1999, late ed., sec. 1: 1.Attempting to capture Berkowitz's reaction to Summer of Sam, journalist Blaine Harden conducted an in-person interview with the convicted murderer at the Sullivan Correctional Facility. In this lengthy article, Berkowitz expresses his anguish over the film's creation as well as his consternation that the Walt Disney Company backed it. Harden then grants equal time to the families of Berkowitz's victims. All voice their anger and pain at both Spike Lee and the Walt Disney Company. Throughout the article, Harden incorporates a large amount of historical background (some details of which I have not found elsewhere). In sum, this article encapsulates the outrage Lee provoked when he committed to such a sensitive project . . . and incidentally provides a generous "recap" of that scorching summer. Highly recommended!
Klausner, Lawrence. Son of Sam: Based on the Authorized Transcription of the Tapes, Official Documents and Diaries of David Berkowitz. New York: McGraw, 1981.
Certainly one can enjoy Summer of Sam with limited knowledge of the history that shaped the film. Nonetheless, even a cursory perusal of Klausner's book endows the viewer with a keener, more enlightened perspective. As Lee excludes most information pertaining to both Berkowitz and his victims, this text assists the viewer in understanding each on-screen shooting in its historical context. Instead of random acts of on-screen violence, each shooting can be viewed as a precise recreation: same model and make of car, same number of rounds fired, ect. Moreover, after paging through Klausner's text, Berkowitz's on-screen victims seem less like blood-splatters and more like real people. Most importantly, Klausner's book contributes definition to Lee's portrayal of Berkowitz. His on-screen torment by Samuel Carr's Labrador, his eerily poetic letters, his uneventful arrest . . . all are substantially annotated in the text. In sum, Klausner's research makes the perfect companion for the viewer who desires an "inside" perspective on Lee's film.
Pizzello, Steven. "Spike Lee's Seventies Flashback." American Cinematographer June 1999: 50-2.
Pizzello's interview with Spike Lee provides valuable insight into both the creative and technical aspects of Summer of Sam. A life-long resident of N.Y.C., Lee discusses the manner in which his personal experience of the summer of 1977 influenced the film. Everything from polyester shirts to punk rock music is addressed. Regarding cinematography, Lee gives a perfunctory description of his use of multiple cameras, cranes, and dollies. Though brief, this interview permits a short (but guarded) journey into Lee's mind.
Interview: Son of Sam Spiked! (Filmmaker Spike Lee) (Interview)
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m1285/7_29/55084053/p1/article.jhtml?term=For all of those who allot the internet precious little credence, I present Oren Moverman's interview with Spike Lee. A phenomenal piece, Moverman pulls more candid, casual responses from Lee than all other interviewers combined. In this lengthy piece, Lee: 1.) discusses the media's role in the "Son of Sam" hysterics, 2.) exalts the wildly free years of that decade, 3.) addresses the families of Berkowitz's victims, and 4.) comments on the sex-scenes which nearly earned "Summer of Sam" a NC-17 rating (Lee is dismayed that the MPAA was not concerned with the film's graphic violence, but took offense at the film's sexual content.) For those seeking more information on the film's origin and inspiration, this is a "can't miss" article. A truly exemplary interview!
The Spike Lee Interview
http://www.efilmcritic.com/hbs.cgi?feature=141While Billy Baxter's interview tends to stray, it does make a hardy attempt to focus on Summer of Sam. Included in the article, Lee: 1.) addresses the controversy surrounding his film, 2.) discusses his personal experience of that fateful summer, and 3.) justifies his basing a film on a serial killer. Although there are no earth-shattering epiphanies, this interview certainly merits a peek.
Copyright (c) 2001 Erica Dymond, Graduate Student at Lehigh University.
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