Tyler Perry
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A lot of people don’t care for Tyler Perry but since this is the R&G you have to admire what he built for himself. I personally have seen some of his movies and while some aren’t my cup of tea I surely don’t get as mad as some do over them. His personal life is none of my business and the level of scrutiny this cat receives is centered on some emotional response cats have with him. I just focus on the chips and as such when you think about how he built his empire and how he makes real moves to keep control of his wares he is definitely a Owner. You’ll find out when you build your empire those who don’t understand you will start rumors about you too. Here at the R&G we admire the Hustle without the Hate!
Around 1990, Perry moved to Atlanta, where two years later I Know I’ve Been Changed was first performed at a community theater, financed by the $12,000 life savings of the 22-year-old Perry. It included Christian themes of forgiveness, dignity and self-worth, while addressing issues such as child abuse and dysfunctional families. The musical initially received a “less than stellar” reception and was a financial failure. Perry persisted, and over the next six years he rewrote the musical repeatedly, though lackluster reviews continued. In 1998, at age 28, he succeeded in retooling of the play in Atlanta first at the House of Blues, then at the Fox Theatre. Perry continued to create new stage productions, touring with them on the so-called “chitlin’ circuit” (now also known as the “urban theater circuit”) and developing a large, devoted following among African-American audiences. In 2005, Forbes reported that he had sold “more than $100 million in tickets, $30 million in of his shows and an estimated $20 million in merchandise” and that “the 300 live shows he produces each year are attended by an average of 35,000 people a week.”
Perry received a $5.5 million budget to fund his first movie, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, which went on to gross $50.6 million domestically, while scoring a 16 percent approval rating at the film review web site, Rotten Tomatoes.On its opening weekend, February 24–26, 2006, Perry’s film version of Madea’s Family Reunion opened at number one at the box office with $30.3 million. The film eventually grossed $65 million. Perry and his co-stars promoted the film on The Oprah Winfrey Show. As with Diary, almost all of the Madeas’ earnings have been generated in the United States.
Perry’s films are co-produced and distributed by Lionsgate Entertainment; he retains full copyright ownership under the corporate name Very Perry Films, and places his name in front of all titles.
Now this was a copy and paste job but I think you get the big picture. Here’s a man who took a chance with 12k of his own money and blew the fvck up. While other people laughed, ridiculed and rated his wares as shit he just kept on building. While the rest of the Suckers who make money don’t retain ownership rights Tyler Perry keeps control of what he built. His TV shows and movies are produced, directed and written by Tyler Perry. There are no middleman to this cats hustles. Shit he even built his own studios in Atlanta so even that he has control over.
Again, when you strip away all the Hate that cats have for him you see the blueprint of a Titan. What I appreciate is that his shows and movies are catered to a Black Audience. For a lot of Suckers in this game they think there’s no money in making businesses that cater toward Black folks. He shatters that Sucker ass belief and is a great role model for all of us who strive to create a empire of our own. How many Black folks does this Brother employ? How many opportunities has he created for our race? The media has the average Sucker trying to find something wrong with him while the Hustler in us all should be copying what he does right!
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Any cat go from homeless in New Orleans to owning an entertainment empire is on point. Gotta respect that. He lost all the 12K..and still kept going and came up. My fave line this dude has said…”You will do anything to get money when you are broke.”. And he did. Now you really got me looking at his hustle different. I used to think this dude just dressing up in drag and trying to moralize. Looking at the numbers above…he’s got that real paper and power.
Well when you are about your chips you can’t have those sucker discussions. I don’t care if he’s in drag because whatever he is doing he found the winning formula. To me this cat has went through enough in life and shined up shit. He came from below nothing to making something for himself. So I have nothing but respect for the cat as he did what others didn’t.
Peace Freeman.
Yeah, this man is to be commended. I just see it as him possessing the “Hustler’s Eye”, i.e., him having the vision to see what he could build while others were laughing and ridiculing him. He basically found an untapped market and supplied that market with the product it demanded.
And while I’m not into the gossip, I’ve seen Spike Lee and Perry going back and forth, with Spike accusing Perry of “cooning”. I guess he couldn’t see the bigger picture.
Welcome Lazer – Exactly! Isn’t that what everyone who becomes rich does? They find a market and dominate it and become wealthy. So when you think of it in a Hustler’s way you have to respect what he does. All the hate he receives is fueled from jealousy primarily because you can’t stop or influence him from doing it his way.
Now as a Black man I’m sure he receives extra scrutiny as our people demand perfection in all facets of life. But, it’s hypocritical to jump on him when you back the so called leaders and just let them get away with immorality on a epic level. Like I said not all of his movies are to my liking but who am I but one person. Obviously he found the right product and I hope he keeps on going.
You’ll see when you get your money the King you depose will come back to tear you down. So Spike to me might have a valid OPINION but not enough to publicly shit on a man. So when a Black Man tells a White Man how bad another Black Man is you know something evil is afoot. So I just discount what Spike is saying because if he has a problem with TP he should go and talk to him man to man. Not on some White Media shit as that’s just a Sucker move.
I met Tyler Perry, I would play “I A’int Mad at Cha”.
I never met him and don’t intend on diverting from my mission to break bread with him. But, on my way to my empire it’s always interesting to see the problems of those who got it before me. Hey chose a route that comes with fame and since he can’t stack chips quietly then all the Haters start to wonder what he’s doing, how he’s doing and will he be doing something for them!
Man… I HATE TYLER PERRY MOVIES !!!
I watch them most days and often more than one on these days.
All these old women I check on love them so I get stuck watching them while I’m visiting.
But saying that I’m not a fan doesn’t mean that I’m hating on him – his product is just not for me.
Some complained that Spike was too militants for their tastes back in the day.
Not all products are for all people.
But Spike and his Jiggaboo’s/Wannabees scene in Schooledaze was also panned by the Black elites of his time.
My question for Freeman and other posters: do you feel you have a moral and social responsibility to positivly represent the image of African-Americans as you buld your empire?
i sometimes wonder whats more damaging the images depicted on madea and other shows or the money received from those type of shows?
these type of images will remain here long after we are gone
@UBJ – I agree a reasonable man would just say it’s not what I like to watch and leave it at that. But, what you see coming at TP is not that. It’s a judgement against what he produces. Now I don’t care for Madea but what difference is that from the Klumps or Big Mama? Madea is not a TV show but more of a play and a couple of movies.
I think we are overly critical as Cheech & Chong is a stupid movie that puts the Mexican homies in a bad light. People act like these movies are classic movies like it’s Roots or something.Motherfvckers need to lighten up and stop worrying about white folks think about them. These movies will fade away soon enough… I don’t think TP has made a movie more worse than Pootie Tang!
@Boardroom – This question only comes up when your chips come through fame, spotlight or getting put on. Whenever you get your money by entertaining folks then the public will see what you have built. To me morality comes in play all the time as personal discipline but when people will elevate you to role model status you have to be doubly mindful.
With that said besides the portrayal of Madea all of his movies are moral and Christian lesson oriented. Most of us know people or know of people like the ones in his shows. If I made a tv show called Compton and showed you the way I grew up would it be less real… or just a slice of my life on the West? Would people go against me and say that’s not the way all Black folks live? Would they say it’s detrimental and the imagery used is damaging? Sure, and that’s why I let TP tell his story of the way he came up with his folks and his lessons.
Money is made because the product connects to people. Cocaine makes a lot of money because people want to get high! Hamburgers make a lot of money because people want to eat cow meat! Cable makes a lot of money because people want to be entertained. Did TP really make a show that is derogatory or a show the masses of Black folks don’t like to admit is part of our culture?
If I made a TV show I bet you my shit won’t be the Cosby’s either?. So why can’t all of us let him be and say that’s just his interpretation of his life? These images will not be here long after we are gone. C’mon do you still watch What’s Happening? Sooner or Later we’ll stop worrying about what others think of us and concentrate on ourselves. Until that day comes into being we all act like we are worried about how these images will effect us when really we’re worried about what white folks think.
@RiseandGrind my issue with TP is only the Madea role. i liked every movie where the black man doesnt get protrayed negativily. i just hope someone black actually creates a distribution company.
Yeah, the Madea role pisses a lot of people off and I can see why. The whole idea of being a outrageous older Black woman who is near and dear to us all hits us at a core level. Personally I think he uses Madea as a entry point to tell his stories but again I get it.
Truth be told if we had more cats doing TV shows you could pick and choose what you wanted to watch. Just like white folks with Benny Hill or CSI they have a choice to engage in fvckery. Our group doesn’t have that much yet so we tag one with carrying the whole race image wise.
But, overall Madea is primarily watched by Black folks. So if you don’t like it you can just ignore it as everyone knows it’s a outrageous character and not real life.