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Mo' Better Blues
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== Production == [[Spike Lee]] wrote the film while working on ''[[Do the Right Thing]]'' (1989). It took him fifteen days to complete the first draft. The nickname "Bleek" for the protagonist was derived from Lee's father, [[Bill Lee (musician)|Bill Lee]], who composed the film's music score. Initially contemplating the use of real musicians, Lee opted mostly for actors, with [[Jeff "Tain" Watts]] being an exception, playing drums in the actual [[Branford Marsalis Quartet]]. [[Giancarlo Esposito]], who portrayed "Left Hand Lacey," was a real-life pianist. [[Branford Marsalis]], making a cameo, was originally cast as saxophonist "Shadow Henderson," but Lee chose a professional actor, [[Wesley Snipes]], for the role. Both [[Denzel Washington]] and Snipes underwent musical training with Marsalis and trumpeter [[Terence Blanchard]] to authentically handle their instruments in musical scenes. Lee also intentionally excluded drugs from the film to challenge stereotypical views of jazz musicians. The film's original title, ''Love Supreme'', inspired by saxophonist [[John Coltrane]]'s 1965 album "[[A Love Supreme]]," was changed after his widow, Alice Coltrane, withdrew permission because of the film's explicit content. The title was temporarily changed to ''Variations on the Mo' Better Blues'' until at least May 1990, when it was ultimately shortened. Principal photography spanned from September 25, 1989, to December 1, 1989, with a total cost of $10 million. Actor-comedian [[Robin Harris (comedian)|Robin Harris]], who played Butterbean Jones in the film and previously worked with Lee on ''[[Do the Right Thing]]'', died on March 18, 1990, almost six months before the film's release.<ref name="AFI">{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58622-MO-BETTER-BLUES|title=''Mo{{'}} Better Blues''|website=[[American Film Institute]]|access-date=January 16, 2024}}</ref>
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