Spike Lee and Denzel Washington have joined forces on four films over the span of 30 years (Mo’ Better Blues, Malcolm X, He Got Game, and Inside Man), creating a timeless cinematic legacy. Their most recent endeavor, Highest 2 Lowest, represents their fifth collaboration, highlighting their distinctive artistic chemistry.

In a conversation with Mashable’s executive producer Mark Stetson, Spike Lee reflects on a moment from filming Highest 2 Lowest when Denzel Washington’s portrayal motivated him to alter the ending song. Washington’s character, David King, a record executive, reawakens his love for music while listening to a new songwriter:

“In that final scene with Denzel Washington, you see him come alive, reconnecting with his muse… That was captured live. In the editing suite, I noticed Denzel’s expression and thought, ‘G**damn it, I got it!’ His response? He’s pondering the orchestration. The song begins with just piano and Aiyana[-Lee Anderson] singing. Then, as we witness Denzel’s feelings, the instrumentation comes in. That was inspired by Denzel’s reaction to her singing… I called Howard [Drossin], the composer, and said, ‘We need orchestration for this.’ This concept emerged in post-production because during shooting, we only had a piano. That was the brilliance of Denzel Washington.”

Highest 2 Lowest is currently available for streaming on Apple TV+.

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