Yvonna Russell: Delicious Diva Sasha Allen
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: lazarre w on 11/07/2010 11:59AM
I think that both guys are too intelligent to let this kind of stupidity to divide them, because they are two different filmmakers. Right now we need more blacks in the business. If they are ignorant to let others Pushed them to a polemic, that will be ther own terrible mistake. I hop not
Spike Lee
Tyler Pery,rhyme together
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By: sacoraw on 11/07/2010 3:23PM
Why would Spike Lee be angry about Tyler Perry's accomplishments? They are both two strong black men who have open eyes of the young and old, women and men. They both have made valid points about the struggles of black american families and both in my book are great film makers because they have visions and dreams that made them both successful. Congratulations to both of them!
Spike Lee, you are not forgotten but you are not the only film maker out there. You should be honoring this man and becoming a part of the new.
Tyler Perry, we love you as a filmaker, actor, and most of all a "God-fearing man" Thank you for giving him the glory and always giving him thanks!
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By: watli on 11/08/2010 1:25AM
I believe both are talented, and both have also created stereotypical characters. Lets not forget Nola on She's gotta have It. She was screwing 3 dudes...not exactly painting black women in a positive light. Or Girl 6, the movie about a sex line operator. Spike gets on Tyler Perry, but he needs to think back on some of his own earlier works.
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By: Mensa on 11/08/2010 11:31AM
@NATHAN, justifyed & watli
You are all so right!
The moment Lee went public with his negative opinion about another brotha, no less, doing now in the new millenium what he was doing twenty or thirty years ago, I lost respect for him and his hypocritical viewpoints on blacks sticking together, portrayed overwhelmingly in his past films. Green doesn't become you, Mr. Lee.
Get busy in the studio or shut up and allow the new blood to continue to entertain us.
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By: ron rogers on 11/10/2010 10:04AM
they both are giants. look at what they have done collectively to employ black talent, and that's just scratching the surface when compared to the industry as a whole. we are fortunate that are able to continue. now it is easier for tyler to greenlight not because he owns a major part of the of the process, but because he is more profitable. to achieve that he has the audience to go to the theater and buy tickets. spike does not have as many ticket buyers. but it does not have anything to do with the artworks itself. its economics. and in economics both spike and tyler need to understand the unity of opposites instead of manufacturing the crabs in the basket and shut up. Make movies and stop trying to be spokespersons for our race. just make the good movies that you both make, and help us out along the way.
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By: Pott54 on 11/10/2010 3:06PM
We shouldn't support Tyler Perry because he's BLACK--NO, we should support him for trying to build an INDUSTRY that will PUT a lot of US to work in an industry that systematically locks US out.
Two talented and passionate brothers BUT who died and made Spike Lee the GOD of black cinema? DON'T GET ME WRONG---I love them both. But Tyler Perry (as well as Lee Daniels) has the right to produce the kinds of movies as HE sees fit and put them out there for the people to CHOOSE or NOT CHOOSE to go and see.
This man worked DAMN HARD for years writing/producing plays geared towards African-Americans by INVESTING his OWN MONEY. He LITERALLY created his own demographic from SCRATCH. He also has given countless numbers of African-Americans a chance to work in an industry that pretty much IGNORES their talents--from actors to behind the scene jobs such as camera persons, grips, costume design, etc., you name it. HE TOOK ON HOLLYWOOD.
Why can't Spike Lee and others be happy Tyler's FORMULA for tapping into the African-America dispora HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE OUT RIGHT SUCCESSFUL--his movies are sometimes comedic, thought-provoking, and just out right entertaining. Do I like everything he does? NO--but that doesn't MAKE ME RIGHT.
Instead of HATING, maybe Spike should meet with Tyler Perry and have a "meeting of the minds." HE MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING.
...and to you macho black men complaining about Tyler Perry putting on women's clothing to play "Madea"------SHUT UP! It's been done for CENTURIES (go read some Greek history)--Tyler Perry didn't start it. Get over yourselves.
QUIT HATING--ALL OF YOU.
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By: Sophia on 11/12/2010 4:42PM
I love 'em both! To compare the two is impossible because they both have different styles of work. The only similarity is they appeal to and portray Black Americans in todays society. I love how Perry keeps the spiritual aspect of everyday Black living into his movies and I love how Lee unflinchingly tells the story of modern Blacks.
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By: JAZ on 11/15/2010 10:44AM
In my opinion Spike's comment of Tyler Perry may be a bit "strong" but relevelant to a point. Mr. Perry is the current force of Black movie makers in Hollywood. He is responsible for providing work for a lot of actors who otherwise would not.
He has produced some revelant films such as The Diary of Mad Black Women and now, For Colored Girls... But the Grandma character and the TV shows clearly are a step backwards for our people. Like the previous commentor indicated, it displays the type of Buck Wheat humor of how other races clearly see us, as buffoons.
There is room for laughter, but there is more of a need for us to begin to lift ourselves up again intellectually. Those that get angry of Spike's critisim of Perry or normally those with lower IQ's. The truth hurts.
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