On Monday night (June 29) at the Directors Guild of America theater in midtown Manhattan, Spike Lee, Samuel L. Jackson and other stars from "Do the Right Thing" gathered to celebrate the seminal film's 20th anniversary. But on the red carpet, just days after the death of Michael Jackson, the pop singer was on the minds of almost everyone with whom MTV News spoke.

"I'm just going to concentrate on the positivity and joy he brought to my life," said Lee, who starred in, wrote and directed the film.

In 1996, Lee and Jackson headed down to Brazil to shoot the music video for "They Don't Care About Us," a controversial single off his album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. Lee told MTV News that working with the singer over the course of two weeks was "one of the highlights of my film career."

Samuel L. Jackson, who played a local radio DJ in "Do the Right Thing," also had the opportunity to meet the King of Pop on several occasions. "The most time I spent with him was a few days before 9/11 when he had those concerts here in New York," he said. "I introduced Whitney Houston and Usher, and then I sat next to him in the audience with Liz Taylor, so we talked a bit that night. He was always low-key, very shy, very complimentary. He always said something nice to put you at ease."

In "Right Thing," Ruby Dee played the part of the neighborhood's acknowledged maternal figure, Mother Sister, and Dee and her late husband, the actor and political activist Ossie Davis, often crossed paths with MJ. "When I heard the news, it made me burst out crying and I didn't know why," she said. "When I heard the talk about him being such a hard worker and so meticulous and a perfectionist, I felt inspired to get on with my life. He had something to tell us: Get on with your life because you never know when it's going to be over."

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.