CAPTION CONTEST: What Were JT And Obama Looking At?
Kelly Rowland Set To Join U.S. 'X Factor'?
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)
Add a comment
By: Mimi on 11/06/2010 4:41PM
SPIKE IS JEALOUS OF TYLER PERRY. HE DID AN INTERVIEW WITH SOMEONE AND HE STARTING TALKING ABOUT THE KIND OF MOVIES TYLER MAKES AND THEN HE MENTIONED THE FACT THAT TYLER HAS HIS OWN JET.
WHEN SPIKE MENTIONED THE JET, HE ONLY CONFIRMED THE FACT THAT HE IS JEALOUS OF TYLER PERRY.
SO SAD.
THIS REMINDS ME OF ANGELA BASSETT BEING JEALOUS OF HALLE BERRY WHEN SHE WON THE OSCAR FOR MONSTERS BALL. ANGELA COMPLAINED HOW SHE WAS OFFERED THE ROLE BUT TURNED IT DOWN. I THOUGHT SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE SAID THAT; SHE MUST BE JEALOUS OF HALLE.
BUT WHEN I SAW ANGELA WEARING THE SAME SHORT PIXY HAIR CUT THAT HALLE WAS WEARING; I KNEW THEN THAT ANGELA WAS JEALOUS OF HALLE BERRY JUST LIKE SPIKE IS JEALOUS OF TYLER PERRY.
PEOPLE WHO ARE JEALOUS DON'T REALIZE THAT ALTHOUGH THEY RANT AND RAGE ABOUT THE PERSON THEY ARE JEALOUS OF BY TRYING TO PICK OUT THEIR FLAWS. THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO MESS UP AND LET IT SLIP OUT THEIR REAL REASON FOR BEING UP SET WITH THAT PERSON.
IN THE ANGELA BASSETT VS. HALLE BERRY SITUATION OF COURSE IT WAS HALLE'S BEAUTY THAT ANGELA WAS UPSET ABOUT. IF IT WERE NOT, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO REASON FOR ANGELA TO COPY THE EXACT HAIR STYLE THAT HALLE WAS WEARING AT THE TIME. HALLE HAD THAT SHORT PIXIE MESSED UP LOOKING STYLE THAT MANY PEOPLE CAN NOT WEAR; BUT HALLE OF COURSE WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OFF AND THEN ANGELA WORE THE SAME HAIR STYLE DURING THE SAME TIME HALLE WAS WEARING IT.
SPIKE LET IT SLIP IN HIS RANT ABOUT TYLER PERRY THAT TYLER HAD A JET. THAT'S SPIKE'S REAL PROBLEM...HE IS JEALOUS OF TYLER PERRY FOR THE SUCCESS OF HIS MOVIES AS WELL AS HAVING A JET AND HIS OWN MOVIE STUDIO.
Report This
By: barbarascy385 on 11/06/2010 12:12PM
Spike Lee made himself look like a jealous rival when he said some of the things he said. The fact is that Perry and Lee make very different films and there is room for both in the market. No two people see, or do things the same way. If Spike had wanted to offer his opinion it would have been better done privately and in a more professional manner. Instead he sounds like a whiney, envious little boy and not a professional film director with something positive to contribute.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: onekid4us on 11/06/2010 12:45PM
Wow Spkie, relax dude! Are all white directors making the same films? And quite frankly, I am not a avid Tyler supporter either, but man, lay off the negativity. Tyler's work is what is being desired at this time. It's called SEASONS, read upon it in the Bible. To everything, there is a time and season! You have had your time Spike, and who's to say that time if over, but man, stop with the hate and the bashing of your fellow brother director. John Singleton, the Hudlin(sp) brothers are all formidable directors, IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. I actually like the work of those mentioned, but I don't recall such an outward bashing of each other, amongst them. We are a diverse group of people, just as diverse as our beautiful skin tones and complexions. There's room for us all, what their shouldn't be room for, is totally, unnecessary, public, criticisms of someone else's work, simply because it's not something you would produce.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: westfall on 11/06/2010 1:04PM
They are both all right. Spike Lee did a wonderful job with Miracle at St. Anna which no one really cared about. Too bad because the brother was trying to tell some of our other stories. Tyler keeps us in the revolving door that we are used to. I think TP is being disingenuous in saying that he is trying to get out the message of God, love, family and faith. He is trying to sell movie tickets. He is getting rich lulling us into a coma of familiarity. But hey, whatever works.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Koco on 11/25/2010 1:27PM
I think Spike Lee is just JEALOUS! Cuz for the most Tyler's movie has targeted African American wn while some of Spike's movies have disrespected African American women regarding their imagery and role they have in society. Personally, I cannot stand Spike. He used women to launch his career and to date hasn't, in my view, produced a movie worthy.
The funny things is he has two daughters and I know full well not many of his films he can show them without a guilty conscious. And who in their right mind would put their own sister in a "sex" scene? Are you gonna let your daughters watch that Spike? How you gonna explain "that" to them? At least with Perry's films, an entire family can sit together and watch it. Can you say that about Spike? Ah....nope! So he is just envious that Perry has passed him in success. He has his own studio with many upon potential projects in the making. And on top of all that, the women loves him. At least I do. But! I'm just sayin.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: psalm11 on 11/06/2010 2:17PM
I would like to see them work TOGETHER. I am sure that they can learn from each other. Since they both claim to want to give the public a positive view of the black experience, why not take the best of their talents and pool them together to come up with something authentic, entertaining and wonderful to present to the public? White film directors work together all the time!!!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: sharkchops on 11/06/2010 10:02PM
I actually doubt they would learn anything from each other. They're styles are polar opposites. And their audiences are very different. I could already see them arguing over casting and direction, even if one produced while the other directed. Lee would never cast pop stars in lead roles or allow his actors to overtly act like villains or victims. And unlike Lee, Perry would be too afraid to make his audiences think too much. His film lack the depth and subtly that Lee likes to play with.
Report This
By: Ty on 11/06/2010 2:35PM
Spike Lee was the director of his time; its time to pass the torch and not allow envy to over shadow your pass works; It's clearly Tyler Perry's time. Step aside and let Tyler's message shine forth. Please, Mr. Lee no more negative comments it not a good look. Respect
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: hotshot on 11/06/2010 3:12PM
Thankfully their brickering is not like the rap industry where thugism rules and fools act like hoodrats protecting territory which at times comes to gun play because some of them don't understand the work place of "competition" and without competition rap will cease to exist. For so long spike lee was the only kid on the block and now his ego is taking a beating because he has been push out of his numbero uno spot and now is acting like a spoil child, one day tyler perry will be eased out also! While saying this i'm not forgetting the other top talented black directors which has ecliped spike in that department, In this era spike lee will go down as the numer one black director which got people like perry and others to follow in his foot steps and that nobody can take away!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Corinne on 11/07/2010 10:43AM
I live in the neighborhood where Spike Lee use to live. Over the years I have enjoy the movies that he has made. I think Spike forgot that he made simular movies. She's got to have it, school days,etc. ect. His movies showed life as a black american. Spike do not be hating on a brother, it is call the spice of life.Tyler Perry continue to do you, I look foward to your next movie, play. When you do I will be right their with my money in my hand. So I can escape for a little while.
Reply to this Comment | Report This