Spike Jonze Detained in Yemen, Bribes His Way Free

Spike Jonze filmed his new Arcade Fire video earlier this year on location in some relatively safe Austin, Texas suburbs, but now the director/skateboarder is traveling with his cameras to a few territories that are, well, a bit more hostile. While searching for al-Qaeda in the Republic of Yemen with Vice founder Shane Smith for a new documentary series called The Vice Guide to Everything (“60 Minutes meets Jackass”), the Where the Wild Things Are director and Smith were detained by authorities, reports Page Six.

Fortunately, Jonze and “the crew peppered themselves with $100 bills in case of an arrest,” managing to both avoid imprisonment and get their footage returned for an $8,000 political bribe.

Pretty wild. Apropos of nothing, I’m feeling compelled to watch his classic Beastie Boys “Sabotage” video after hearing this story…