Say Hello to the Bad Guy

Photo: Mazur/Getty

Sunday evening on 60 Minutes there was a segment about Tyler Perry by Byron Pitts.  What ensued over the next 24-48hrs was quite interesting to say the least.  I engaged in a thread on a friend's facebook page about said piece.  Here are some excerpts of my responses.

"....TP makes a point when he says that there is an audience he speaks to and gives them a msg in a way that they can understand. "art" is subjective. for instance, everyone doesn't like bjork but i think she's amazing... he talks about drug abuse, spousal abuse, relationships, family, etc. all of the characters are not buffoons. there is room enough for everyone. if he wasn't actually actively trying to bring a msg to the table i would agree totally but the fact is that he is."

"he attacks, as aforementioned, abuse of all kinds to show his audience they can win. a lot of the ppl who patronize his works do feel like they can see themselves in them. "why did i get married?" was a departure from madea. even though one of the characters was one of those over the top kinds she still had a bit of an arc.
speaking of him directing a movie that you couldn't tell was directed by a black director: don't you think spike lee "suffered" from that stigma until oh i don't know 2002 when he released "25th hour"? then came "inside man" in 2006. he had his 1st major break out in 1980 with "she's gotta have it". so that's over 20 yrs of knowing that you're watching a movie about "black" issues by a black director. the challenge is to dig deeper. there is a reason behind every artists "theme" in their chosen medium. tyler's is that he suffered major abuse and watched his mother go through it, as well. he has an audience, albeit which does not include many of us on this thread, that support him wholeheartedly. he doesn't promote prostitution, nor any type of demoralization of women, so likening him to say, Gucci Mane, is a bit extreme to me.
re people who support gucci mane and the like: there is supply and demand. if ppl keep buying it, it keeps getting pumped out. "real" artist sometimes don't like to liken themselves to attracting financial gain b/c they think that success somehow makes them less "real". THAT is the problem. gucci mane won't be around forever b/c his content is lacking. but "indie" artists have to put themselves on, too."

"tyler made his movies using his own money precisely b/c he didn't want anyone to be able to dictate how his ish was made. he used the $$ from all of his plays to fund them and kept putting money back into himself to further himself. that's how he built his studio in the a. what is incredibly strange and hi-larious to me is that as a filmmaker myself, i am actually defending someone who i don't align myself with artistically. his hustle, though, 100%. lionsgate is for distribution and only recently as investors. please believe that this man is doing things his own way. he had another director do his 1st movie and that didn't work out so well because he wanted it his way and this i know 1st hand. partnering w/lionsgate puts more $$ in his pocket while allowing him to write his own ticket. he only got to that point b/c he showed a following on his own. he put himself on. just as spike lee did. but i think it's a bit early to say that someone can't grow. after spike's 1st 6 films would someone say they could see him directing the likes of edward norton in a film as his lead? probably not. but he did."

 

What I find incredibly interesting is that it seems as if people are looking to Tyler Perry as some type of savior.  "Why isn't he representing black people like this?"  "Why aren't his plays focusing on that?"  "He's selling out."  Next you'll hear someone say: "Tyler Perry doesn't care about black people."  Geeez come on people.  Tyler Perry, nor Spike Lee, Oprah, Will Smith, etc are here to save the black race.  These are real people.  Artists on all mediums are real people.  Guess what, real people are flawed.  Surprise!  I read an excellent post by another blogger but one problem I had was that she stated that Tyler Perry talks about how he's grown up with abuse but the fact remains that he grew up with both parents.  What?!  You've got to be kidding me.  Growing up with an abusive parent is worse than growing up with a stable single parent.  Artists usually use their chosen medium as a place to show the world as they saw it, see it or want to see it.  I am not of Tyler Perry's demographic, his films do not speak to me on a level deep or surface.  His grind, however, does.  Before I turned off my cable, I caught a couple of episodes of "House of Payne".  Definitely not my cup of tea.  I'm partial to shows like "Girlfriends", "The Game" (when they were on) and "Private Practice", if we're discussing mainstream tv.  

"Bottom line is his pieces effect people.  I might not be you but look at the box office numbers." -Shak

Sideline critics crack me up.  Tyler Perry erected his own studio in Atlanta and employs so many people and shows through actual proof of his existence that you can make your dreams come true.  But dude, you still can't win!  Time out for the competitive mindset.  There is more than enough out here for everyone to do and be more without having to down someone else without offering a solution.  Sideline critics always want to say what's wrong with what you're doing but have never tried it themselves.  Instead of talking about what's wrong with what he's putting out let's address why so many people need to get their information in that manner.  Why do people need "a spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down?"  Most times people seek out entertainment to escape their daily lives.  I think that's one of many reasons.  To treat the problem and not the symptom is key.  Bring on the creative mindset.  Do you volunteer in your community?  Do you seek to expose those less fortunate than you are currently to things/places/people more than they're used to experiencing?  If not, you're truly no better than the person you're slamming.  I'll bet that when you spend your time being a part of the solution you'll have less time to focus on what you deem to be such an ergregious error in judgement and start to see the light that we all possess.  And maybe that person who is doing something differently than you would have chosen can inspire you, too.

100.

Bright

If You're Even Thinking About It...Don't

Over the last couple of days there's been this recurring concept of "Don't Give Up".  I believe that everything is meant and in stating that, that message was meant for me and for me to share.  I've seen this message in different forms like Jay-Z on "On to the Next One", "can't be scared to fail in the search for perfection".  Regardless of how one may feel about his artistry, Tyler Perry's life story, is something to revere.  He put everything he had into making his vision come to life and no one showed up to the play.  He lost it all, was homeless AND persevered.  It may seem like it's easier to stop, to turn your back on what you dream of, to turn over and hit the snooze.  The consequence?  An emptiness will creep in and cover your heart and turn it against you, like the Alchemist said to the shepherd boy.  Here's the thing, there are a host of obstacles that you will encounter at any moment on any day.  Sometimes I fear those obstacles...fearing that they'll break me, finally.  I have to constantly remember my own courage, because nothing can come that is insurmountable.  My track record stands and I have to occasionally look back at my stats; I always persist no matter what.  I cannot base my worst days against someone else's nor my best.  I've overcome depression so, I "remember to remember" (tm Russell Simmons) that the mere fact that I don't want to die everyday means the world to me, for real.  Financial difficulties come and they go, relationships evaporate and a new one comes around the corner, people may pass away but you'll always have the experiences.  Life is constantly changing, accepting that reminds me to be in the present and in preparation for the future.  I know that I'm making it sound like it's a dire situation and that's because it is.  You are the only one who has your gift and you are the only one who can stop you from sharing that with the world.  Don't. Give. Up.  

p.s. I promise not to either. 

100.

Bright

I'm Inspired By: Tyler Perry

Here's my response to CNN's article on Tyler Perry.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/07/23/bia.tyler.perry/index.html

The lesson here is simple:

Those who create and retain ownership (Think Cash Money & George Lucas) are those who win. Therefore, struggle if we must, but by all means keep our content. It’s like u said Bright, we gotta keep the right to our MASTERS.

I love how he says the critics are missing the point about his messages. I’m sure the majority of middle to upper class Black America turns their noses when they hear about Perry’s success. But shouldn’t a film maker be able to create whatever his little heart desires? I mean damn, why is that Black film makers always have this pressure to create master pieces that break earth-shattering boundaries? Give me a break, a film should be enjoyable, and looking at his box-office receipts…his audience tends to think so.

But I really love this dude because he’s a maverick. He’s a modern day Mary Poppins giving his audience doses of inspiration hidden behind comedy and common stereotypes found in the black community. I hate to say it but when you look at the Great Debaters (dope movie btw), and you look at the box office numbers; the proof is in the pudding. In large, Black folks did not go out to see that movie. Why? Well some may argue the Debater’s theme about integrating blacks into higher academia might be a bit overbearing. But it’s an important message right? So what does a black film maker who wants to convey an important message do? This is where other brilliant artists like Kanye West succeed and many others fail. In large people go to the movies to laugh, to be moved to tears and to escape life’s REAL PROBLEMS. It’s the art of sugar coating the medicine that allows some artists to disguise their hidden agenda of giving us the “Message” without us ever noticing it. Remember these lyrics, “They say you can rap about anything except for Jesus. That means guns, sex, lies, video tapes. But if I talk about God my record won't get played Huh?” LOL, Only Ye can stick it to the radio heads and make them play a song mentioning God. It’s not that great messages can’t prevail in today’s society; it’s simply that they can’t be explicit in nature. Hasn’t it always been that way? The message is always in the details, look closely and you’ll find them there. Whoever thinks Star Wars is about space ships and battles in other star systems is WRONG.

But for today, I’m smiling because an ordinary dude with big dreams becomes the first owner of a black film studio, not a USC Film Grad or a major Hollywood producer. Just proves our point even further. It’s not skill, it’s not genius that guarantees success in this lifetime; but rather sheer determination and the BELIEF that one can do it. T-Perry, I see you boy!

Shak

100.

May the force be with yall.

I'm Inspired By: Jay Z

Check out the link for Jay-Z'S 6 Points to living a successful life:

http://www.bestlifeonline.com/cms/publish/wealth/Jay-Z-Personal-Success.php

Jay said, “Whether you have zero money or a million dollars, it doesn’t change who you are. Keep yourself inspired.” I know a lot of people that look up to a person for all the wrong reasons…mainly money, chicks/dudes and their lifestyle even if that person is a complete LOSER. I look up to Jay because of his raw talent but more important than that I admire his tenacity. He won’t let you forget about it either, not for one second. He lets everyone know about his story…we all know it, from Marcy to Worldwide Baller. Storytelling has sooo much power in it. I think everyone should know their own story that defines who they are as a person: CEO’s, marketers, policeman, teachers…because it’s what connects you to other people. If your life has a boring story, I suggest living a more compelling life.

Sometimes we don’t want people to know how much we’ve been through to get to where we are, but that type of brutal honesty is SO RARE and it’s what sets a part your Jay’s, Kanye’s, Janelle Monet’s. They don’t give a damn about what people think…look at that dude T. Perry. Regardless of what people think of his movies, his personal story is undeniable and so are his pockets, HELLO! And then there’s that dude Obama…I wonder if people believed in him when he was on his campaign race to become a State Rep and lost…only to become Senator and then Pres. Everyone believes when you have the proof (once he became Senator) but would everyone on this thread believe in a young, hungry Obama, if he was just a dude with a story and passion for changing this country? Hmmm…

Unfortunately, 99% of people don’t believe you, until you’ve become what you say you are. You can be in the studio day and night, like Pharrell, more amazing then Pharrell and the world will say, “You need more People, I don’t believe you”. Lol And that’s such a tragedy because no one becomes anything without first believing in themselves. Damn, I think that’s Jay’s 1st point.