FDR's Controversial Dinner With Booker T. Washington
Though several black film directors look to him as a mentor in Hollywood, Spike Lee hasn't been too pleased with Tinsletown's most successful black filmmaker of the day, Tyler Perry.
Lee has been very vocal about his frustration with the images of black America shown in some of Perry's films, saying, "We shouldn't think that Tyler Perry is going to make the same film that I am going to make...but at the same time, for me, the imaging is troubling and harkens back to 'Amos n' Andy.'"
In response to the criticism, Perry told a '60 Minutes' reporter that Lee's comments "pissed him off" and were "insulting" because he creates all of his characters as "bait to get people talking about God, love, family and faith."
Despite them appearing to be polar opposites, both filmmaking icons have more than just a few things in common.
BlackVoices.com explores how both acclaimed directors have proved themselves to be viable commodities – helping to break the careers of new talent, while transforming and resurrecting the careers of other legendary actors -- all the while becoming their own men and unapologetically making the types of films they are passionate about.
But there's more.
Check out a tale of the titans.
Comments: (58)
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By: Folsom George on 11/06/2010 2:20AM
"Lee has been very vocal about his frustration with the images of black America shown in some of Perry's films, saying, "We shouldn't think that Tyler Perry is going to make the same film that I am going to make.."
He's right. Tyler makes movies that people want to see.
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By: JACQUELIN on 11/06/2010 4:36PM
TYLER AND SPIKE R 2 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS WITH MULTIBLE TALENTS THEY HAVE DIFFERENT VISIONS AND THEY EXPRESS THEM WELL /THERE SHOULDN'T B A CONTROVERSEY. SPIKE SHOULD B HAPPY 4 TYLER AND TYLER SHOULDN'T GIVE A DAMN AS HE IS TRULY TALENTED BEYOND WORDS.
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By: Magpie on 11/06/2010 4:37PM
Spike just needs to make room for new blood. He's letting his ego override his professionalism.
Black folks don't have to agree with each other; we simply shouldn't act like crabs in a basket, pulling each other down to get ahead. They are both significant at what they do, regardless of how much more popular one may be. Neither reinvented the wheel--they merely added the black perspective to it.
I'm happy that WE can tell our stories now. Hollywood moguls are still very racist and still stereotype us every chance they get. It is important WE control how we are rendered in the media, not some bigot out to subjugate and exploit us.
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By: Justifyed on 11/07/2010 1:47AM
@ Folsom George......AMEN!!!
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By: ADMR on 11/07/2010 9:20PM
Art Imitates Life - Tyler Perry Has Been Abused ( his admittance ) & Is a Homosexual, therefore His Films reflect Dysfunction.
I prefer to See Wholesome, Traditional, Upscale Images HOWEVER
That's Not The Majority Of Black America - Give Us a decent Script - Will Produce.
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By: Margaret on 11/06/2010 4:10AM
Who is really listening to Spike Lee? What have he done lately that people has went to the movies to see? Some of the movies he made never made an impact on anyone, he should sit down somewhere and keep his mouth close, it making him sound like an idiot. I love Tyler plays and movies and right now he could buy and sell Spike Lee.
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By: gemz on 11/06/2010 11:41AM
lol...I totally agree with your statement. Spike Lee is no longer relevant in the film industry. I thought he had learned his lesson when Clint Eastwood told him off.
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By: Tonette on 11/06/2010 8:21PM
Spike Lee has crossed every color line, bless your heart that you need this type of reminder of how silly and down on our lives we are through Tyler Perry.
Keep laughing, and money does not represent success always, when you identify, and laugh that is how the world laughs at you everyday.
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By: Igby on 11/06/2010 4:18PM
I give them both credit, because they both have their work cut out for them.
Black artists have always had an uphill climb, especially in Hollywood where the white male perspective has dominated for the last 100 + years of film making. Give Tyler and Spike equal support, because they are trying to continue where Gordon Parks, Melvin Van Peebles, Kasi Lemmons, and other blacks broke ground. I hope for more works from the living aforementioned directors, from the Hughes Brothers, John Singleton and Lee Daniels in the near future.
Tyler is improving as he ventures away from comedy and delves further into serious content. He also helped produce "Precious" and I hope he continues to do so.
Spike Lee has been working on socially significant documentary--"When the Levees Broke" and "If God Is Willing and the Creek Don't Rise" were excellent works on HBO that everyone should see. I think these, along with his historic work (The Miracle at St. Anna), are his most recent achievements. He's got a big ego, but he backs it up with damned good film making.
We need to recognize our positive achievers and support their endeavors because they strive to portray the black community in a realistic way to the rest of the world. They also call attention to neglected issues and problems in our community, serving a purpose in which we are all vested.
No one begrudges a white director for having confidence and creativity, you know.
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By: wb7ptr on 11/06/2010 4:17PM
I disagree .. Spike can still make people think. I'm a big Spike Lee fan and always will be. I personally appreciate what he did to publicize what happened in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and the update he did recently. He's really a gifted film maker and I had the chance to personally thank him for making the film recently. Went to a book signing he was at and when it came my turn to get an autograph (which is what the event was for), I just reached out my hand, thanked him and let the next person in line meet him to get an autograph. His work is still very relevant.
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