European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 15, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Universal tones it Down Brooklyn starring from left Sharif Rashid Delroy Lindo Chris Knowings Alfre Woodard Zelda Harris Carlton Williams and Stemach Washington just opened at stateside Heaters this past Friday. Show up automatically a he said. A you can to take anything for granted. Everytimc., y you have to work every time out. You have to work work work  a. Quot v Bruce Feldman Universal a senior vice president of marketing and National publicity and promotion  respond to Leeds comments on the record. A we think Spike made a fabulous picture a he said. A we have a great marketing Campaign on this picture with a lot of advertising and publicity yet to come and we re confident the film will be popular and Well  a entertainment value is How Lee thinks Crook Lyn should be marketed. With Brooklyn he made a film that focuses on family fashion and neighbourhood rather than on race and politics. It also has a soundtrack crammed with classic songs from the time everything from the tears of a Clown to i can see clearly now. A you had the clothes which Are horrible looking the music. You might say this was the last decade where children were allowed to be children. You did no to have the proliferation of weapons and drugs. Crack Wasny to around. When crack came things went haywire a said Lee 37. A in the Early �?T70s, african americans were somewhat More optimistic. Right after the end of the civil rights movement there were a lot of things we had fought for and gained. It was the height of Black consciousness the afros and Ashikis. Those were very interesting  the film is co written by Lee and two siblings a sister Joie 31, and brother Cinque 27. Joie and Cinque first worked on the Story for Brooklyn with the idea of producing it themselves but when they showed it to their older brother he decided he wanted to make the film himself. For the Lees Brooklyn was More of a professional collaboration than a family reunion. At no time did All  work on the script together Spike prefers to write alone. Despite the similarities Between them and the screen family the Carmichaels the Lees said the film did no to make them think of their own childhoods. Both the Lees and the Carmichaels lived in Brooklyn during the 1970s and had relatives in the South both had five children four Brothers and a sister. The Lees father. Bill is a jazz musician who struggled while the kids were growing up. A i am certainly not denying there Are certain parallels one can draw Quot Joie Lee said a but this is fiction. I can to say i was conscious of our family while i was writing  by h1llel1tal1e the Assoc aled press there a a Spike Lee movie just out in . Heaters. Its called Brooklyn a bittersweet comedy set in Brooklyn in the 1970s, and there a nothing controversial about it. That a part of the problem. Brooklyn stars Alfre Woodard As a schoolteacher trying to hold together a family of five Strong willed children and a jaz2 musician husband who Isnit getting much work. As opposed to do the right thing or Malcolm a the movie Isnit Likely to inspire newspaper editorials or be debated on nightlife however Many people did no to see those films it almost certainly Wasny to because they did no to know about them. That Lee fears could happen with Brooklyn a it was always our intention that you cannot have the same buildup with this because you done to have the same Type of material but in a still worried we might be a Little too Low key Quot Lee said during a recent interview. Quot besides she s gotta have it which was my first movie this is the first time Ever when people Are walking up to me on the Street two weeks before the movies going to open and saying a so when is your next film coming out a Lee is doing some promotion for Brooklyn but admits his time is limited. The director already has started working on his next film clockers and he a looking Forward to his annual Cross country tour following the new York kicks through the Aba playoffs. As a child he once skipped a concert Given by his father to see a kicks championship game. But Lee also thinks the films distributor Universal pictures could have done More. He said television commercials should have been started earlier that the studio  have waited so Long to a get the word out  a sometimes people get Lazy and think All you have to say is a its a Spike Lee film a and you can keeps the by Dave Mcnary Ufi business writer. A. I he summer seasons first major release Maverick could also become the years first blockbuster a even though moviegoers have been generally shunning westerns a a a it a a a a a a Quot Warner Bros says sneak previews of the film starring me Gibson Jodie Foster and James Garner have received High ratings from audiences. Warner plans to open the film in 2,100 stateside Heaters on Friday. The studio began showing trailers for the movie at Christmas starting full scale promotion around . A a a v a a a a a. However Maverick is coming into a marketplace that has seen few hits so far this year and Many disappointments. Universal a Schindler s list tristan a a Philadelphia Warners Ace Ventura pet detective and Grumpy old men represent the Only movies so far to go past $60 million in Domestic ticket sales. The Box office has been particularly weak in april and Early May with one High profile Western 20th Century foxes Bat or a getting blasted by critics and taking in a lukewarm $9.4 million in its first 10 Days. Girls will have a hard Lime getting to $20 million. Universal a Spike Lee comedy Crook in and Mir Amax a Brandon Lee act Ioner the Crow could take in decent business after opening this past Friday. Maverick should have a fairly easy time attracting moviegoers when it Rolls out a week later. Gibson and Foster Are proven Box office draws a a of a of. X a a a vol cafes says its has yet to schedule Brooklyn on its circuit. Jodie Foster As Annabelle Bransford in mar the Page 22 sunday May 15. 1994