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"Can I be candid? I don't like all of Tyler Perry's films. Yes, I did work with Tyler for 'Daddy's Little Girls' because it portrayed a positive image of a black father. I am happy for Tyler's success...we need Tyler Perry ... by going to support his movies, we need to show economic strength. But we are also responsible for elevating film. I'm not with buffoonish characters like Madea or Big Momma."
-- Actor Idris Elba weighinng in on Tyler Perry's success in Hollywood and bufoonish imagery. (Vibe)
Tale Of The Titans: Spike Lee & Tyler Perry
Despite being what some believe to be polar opposites, both Spike Lee and Tyller Perry have more than a few things in common. BlackVoices.com explores how both filmmakers 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 unapologetically making the types of films they are passionate about.
Here's the Tale of Two Titans.
Tale Of The Titans: Spike Lee & Tyler Perry
Both Don't Use Their Birth Names:
Neither Spike Lee nor Tyler Perry go by their real names, professionally. Perry was born Emmitt Perry Jr., while Lee was born Shelton Jackson Lee.
Tale Of The Titans: Spike Lee & Tyler Perry
Both Have Connections To Atlanta :
In the early 1990s, Perry moved to Atlanta. He took his life savings and financed his first stage play 'I Know I've Been Changed,' which spawned his theater career. Perry, who still resides in Atlanta, has since opened up his Tyler Perry Studios complex there and several of his films are set in Atlanta. Lee, on the other hand, was born in Hotlanta and returned in the 1970s to attend the prestigious black male institution, Morehouse College, an experience which served as the inspiration for his cult classic 'School Daze.'
Tale Of The Titans: Spike Lee & Tyler Perry
Both Had Alter Egos That Blew Up:
Both filmmakers also have created alter egos which have become their own celebrities. Perry's Madea has become the star of several of his plays and movies, while Lee's New York Knicks fanatic character Mars Blackmon Tyler from 'She's Gotta Have It' has spawned his own Air Jordan sneaker line and a popular ad campaign with Nike.
Tale Of The Titans: Spike Lee & Tyler Perry
Both Criticized For Stereotypes In Their Movies:
There's no getting over the public's on-again, off-again disdain with stereotypical images in the work of both Perry and Lee. For years, many movie-goers and critics have found fault with Perry cross-dressing as no-nonsense Southern women Mabel 'Madea' Simmons – a character he says is based off his favorite aunt. Some, including, Lee also criticize the overall characters and storylines of his films labeling them coonery and buffoonery. Meanwhile Lee has been criticized for portraying promiscuous women in films like 'She Gotta Have It' and 'Girl 6 and for highlighting Brooklyn, New York's dodgy race relations and hood dynamics.
Tale Of The Titans: Spike Lee & Tyler Perry
Both Shed Light On Black Family Stories:
Though Hollywood has traditionally had difficulty shedding light on how most black families live, it has been an on-going mission for Spike Lee to document what he saw growing up in his beloved neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York – a focal point of 'Do the Right Thing' and 'Crooklyn.' Perry has explored the black Southern experience in nearly all of his films – which is a nod to his humble upbringings in Louisiana. Three-time Emmy Award winner Alfre Woodward starred in Lee's 'Crooklyn' and Perry's 'The Family That Preys.'
Tale Of The Titans: Spike Lee & Tyler Perry
Hollywood Legends Who Have Starred in Their Movies:
It has always been important for both directors to pay homage to some of the actors who they grew up admiring. For Perry, he cast old school greats like Cicely Tyson in his debut 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman' and Lou Gossett Jr. who appeared in 'Why Did I Get Married Too?' And, Lee enlisted real-life acting couple Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee in 'Do The Right Thing,' and Alfre Woodard in 'Crooklyn.'
Tale Of The Titans: Spike Lee & Tyler Perry
Both Launched Careers of Promising Upstarts:
Providing the material to help launch an actor's career and having the public take notice of that newcomer is never an easy fete for a filmmaker. Both Lee and Perry can be credited with jumpstarting the acting careers of several of today's big names. Perry helped to start the careers of Lance Gross, who appeared in his movie 'Meet the Browns' and is cast on his TBS sitcom 'Tyler Perry's House of Payne,' and Grammy Award-winning soul singer Jill Scott, who made her big screen debut in the 'Why Did I Get Married' franchise. As for Lee, he gave Halle Berry and Queen Latifah a forum to show their acting skills in 'Jungle Fever,' Laurence Fishburne a chance in 'School Daze,' Dania Ramirez a shot in '25th Hour' and 'She Hate Me' and picked Mekhi Phifer out in an open casting call of thousands for his talented acting debut in 'Clockers.'
Tale Of The Titans: Spike Lee & Tyler Perry
Both Have Acclaimed Actors They Always Look Out For:
Like many Hollywood directors, Perry and Lee have grown fond of certain actors who they have chosen to work with film after film. For Perry, it's been funny woman and firecracker actress Tasha Smith, who after first starring in a bit role in 'Daddy's Little Girls,' went on to become the breakout star in 'Why Did I Get Married?' and its sequel 'Why Did I Get Married, Too?' Though, Lee is also known for working with Denzel Washington in many films over the years, he's worked with Giancarlo Esposito in four movies including 'School Daze,' 'Do The Right Thing,' 'Mo Betta Blues,' and 'Malcolm X.'
Tale Of The Titans: Spike Lee & Tyler Perry
Both Have Notable Cable TV Ventures:
Making movies has traditionally been the focus for Perry and Lee, but after building their names, the opportunity presented itself for notable television ventures for both men. Lee has collaborated over the years with premium cable network HBO on documentaries like '4 Little Girls,' 'When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts,' and 'If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise.' Perry made television history by signing a $200 million deal to create, produce and direct 100-episodes of 'Tyler Perry's House of Payne' with TBS in 2006 and has since launched the equally successful 'Meet the Browns.'
Comments: (107)
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By: cole on 2/26/2011 5:29PM
I'm glad someone had the nerve to say this. When Spike Lee said this, people accused him of being jealous. If the only movie that someone sees about an African American, is a Tyler Perry movie or Martins' recent movie, then we are not showing a positive side of Black people.
If you come from another country and you don't know anything about African Americans, those movies would do a disservice. And the thing is, when you say that, you get hundreds of fans of Tyler or Martin who wouldn't know a good movie if it slapped them in the face, they get angry.
All they say is "God Bless you Tyler, keep doing what you're doing." As though that's the answer for those kinds of movies. Black men dressed as women is not God's doing...it's the actors and writers doing.
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By: Hector on 2/27/2011 4:19AM
If you want to find more positive images of blacks, then stop looking to find that in the movies and direct some of that energy in your own homes and neigborhoods. Stop committing so much crime when you are only 12% percent of the population. Stay in school and enforce the importance of education at home. The men need to take care of their families and while your at it don't allow your kids to wear there pants hanging down exposing there butts like fools.
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By: El on 2/27/2011 12:32PM
Hey HECTOR
Before you come on Black Voices and add your comment, be aware that this is Black Voices.
The issues of Stereotypes in Black movies is a concern to some in the Black community, you notice I said BLACK. If we don't question what you or what your kind do, Don't make no reference to the Black community.
As far as crime, just make sure you don't use that mental behavior in the presence of Blacks and you WILL stay healthy. GET MY DRIFT.
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By: Li Wright on 2/27/2011 2:05PM
Spike has been calling Tyler's number for a while and he gets criticized. Maybe if more actors do it, then Tyler will get the message. No more Medea!
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By: M. Alexander on 2/28/2011 7:23AM
Thanks Idris Elba for speaking the truth ! Black actors, director,s writers, etc have a responsibility when deciding what story to tell and how to portray us on screen ! Being an actor or writer or producer, you should not allow the stereo-typical images that Hollyweird has labeled us to continue on !
You only help to perpetuate the myth that some people have about us !
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By: girlking on 2/28/2011 12:17PM
Hector,
I believe we're both in the same boat - Latinos and African-Americans. The Latino community is experiencing the same problems with crime, drugs, baby-daddies, etc. So don't throw stones when you're living in the same glass house. The Latinos continue to have the highest drop-out rate. So when you say stress the importance of an education encourage the Latino community to do the same.
I don't know why some of people think African-Americans don't care about our families and communities like the rest of society. Guess what, we do and just because you choose to focus on the grain in our eye without looking at the huge rock in yourself doesn't mean that we don't care.
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By: Ruba on 2/28/2011 4:50PM
If someone wants to think you are nothing, then I don't care what you do, they are going to think you are nothing. Personally I like Madea and I don't care what other might think about me. Hector made a good point, regardless of where it is coming from, the truth is the truth.
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By: Shirley on 2/28/2011 5:55PM
Amen, I like TP too, but enough already with the big, fat, stereotyped, Black woman, pop psychologist, only interested in other people's problems, while oblivious to her own.
Enough already, why not do some props for Black women like Mae Jamison )astronaut), Michele Obama, FLOTUS, or Harriett Tubman, or Cathay Williams buffalo soldier)
Black Women are people too
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By: Bregitta Quinn on 2/28/2011 11:40PM
Why dont you black men step up and do somthing better. It is an equal oportunity business.Dont knock the next man for what he is doing.
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By: Ted on 3/01/2011 12:07AM
Every movie made is not supposed to be an epic film. Some are just entertainment and if in the entertainment you can pick something positive out of it, all the better. To say if a Tyler Perry movie was the only one you saw depicting Blacks you would feel this way or that is too simplistic. If the only movie you saw depicting whites was a Jerry Lewis movie what would be your thoughts... that the are all buffoons. Why would anyone let one of anything determine how they view a group. Tyler has put people to work and all his movies have not been Madea movies. Just the ones haters choose to remember. We are way to serious, why can't we laugh. Do we only want to see the Huxtables in us, as though that would be a truer depiction of Black life in America. No just like Madea it is one slice. Let's be real someone identifies with the character or it wouldn't keep making money and letting otherwise seldom working Blacks in the industry feed families.
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