Introduction
Tyler Perry, a black Atlanta filmmaker, and producer, has significantly contributed to the growth of the film industry in the city. The filmmaker has a 330-acre studio from which he has made many films and series for the Atlanta industry. Tyler Perry has employed hundreds of people, including producers, actors, actresses, and technical workers. Through his role as a director and producer, he has influenced diversity and inclusion, represented black people’s culture, and supported the growth of people of color in the film industry. With more than 22 theatrical plays, 13 films, and seven television series, Tyler Perry largely contributes to the general film revenue of Atlanta. His method of black representation has been heavily criticized, with critics stating that the filmmaker stains the reputation of black people. However, although he is criticized, Tyler Perry contributes to the growth of the film industry in Atlanta through revenue generation, diversity and inclusion, and black representation.
Overview
Tyler Perry was born to a humble background with a physically abusive father. He was still struggling when he learned from Oprah Winfrey that keeping a personal journal about life experiences could be Cathartic. Tyler Perry started writing a personal journal which evolved into his first play, I Know I Have Changed (Casey). He then saved money to produce it in 1992, but it did not earn him good returns (Casey). Tyler Perry restaged the play; this time, it sold out for eight days. The filmmaker produced his second play, Thou Art Loosed!, and received a breakthrough in the film industry (Casey). Tyler Perry always starred in his plays but reached character success when he assumed the role of a black woman. The filmmaker has created at least 52 theatrical plays, movies, and seven television shows (Casey). Tyler Perry’s content has been adequately accepted based on the American audience.
Tyler Perry hit the headlines in 2019 when he acquired a 330-acre studio in Atlanta. For approximately $907 million, Tyler Perry turned a former army base into a mega studio (Bitette). Before buying this land, the director purchased his first studio in 2007 but later sold it to buy the current in Atlanta (Casey). According to Bitette, Tyler Perry’s studio is among the biggest studios in America and the first to be built by a single individual. The producer revealed that he created the studio in a poor neighborhood so the black kids could see and be motivated to rise to the top. Recent news indicates that Tyler Perry and T.D. Jakes have jointly acquired an additional 37.5 acres adjacent to the main Atlanta studio (Bitette). Tyler Perry is expected to expand his studio to be the best in America.
Revenue Generation
Tyler Perry contributes to the growth of the film industry in Atlanta by generating film revenues. According to Ellis, Tyler Perry studios generates at least $101 million annually and has contributed $907 million of revenues to the city since its foundation. Having the largest studio in Atlanta, the filmmaker is the largest contributor to general industry film growth. Indeed, out of the $4.4 billion film revenues in 2018, Atlanta city boss said Tyler Perry was the biggest contributor of all the filming firms (Braxton). The black filmmaker owns his work by writing, producing, and directing his films and series, thus retaining all the filming credits.
Tyler Perry’s method of owning all the production credits has significantly influenced filmmakers of color to be more ambitious. The film director has employed 173 permanent employees and hundreds of interim actors and actresses (Braxton). Atlanta financial report shows that Tyler Perry studios generate approximately $256,250 per employee every year (Braxton). Therefore, the director contributes to the industry as an employer and impacts his employees to boost the industry’s growth. Tyler Perry triggers more film industry growth through his role as a director and producer of his movies and series.
Diversity and Inclusion
Breaking the Hollywood Culture
Tyler Perry has broken the Hollywood culture by practicing diversity and inclusion in his studios. Hollywood is known for a segregated culture where films and series are designed with a single race and people of specific high socioeconomic status (Braxton). Tyler Perry has revised this culture by including a more diverse culture for his long-term and short-term employees. History shows that Hollywood filmmaking has continually favored the white ethnicity over all other minorities (Braxton). Tyler Perry revised this practice by including minorities and majorities in his films. Indeed, he has shown inclusion by making people of color, including African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Latinos, the majority of his productions (Braxton). Therefore, he contributes to the film industry by empowering people of color.
Developing Representative Culture
By including these cultures in the film industry, Tyler Perry does not only create a job for them but also represents them. For a long time, people of color have felt underrepresented in the film industry (Ellis). The practice of underrepresentation is also exercised in real life, where people of color’s needs are not considered (Ellis). However, by representing these categories of people in the television space, society is also influenced to include them in real-life experiences. The Atlanta producer is said to have opened doors for black creatives. According to Ellis, Tyler Perry’s studio has made it possible to enter the film industry and showcase talent. Following the diversity and inclusion practices of the director, he recognizes small and big talents and is ready to empower both.
Empowering Creatives
Tyler Perry has empowered renowned and upcoming talents through his producer and director roles. The filmmakers leave doors open for worthy creatives from people of color. These doors would never be opened in Hollywood, mainly outside the Atlanta industry (Ellis). Tyler Perry has included famous talents such as Oprah Winfrey and Viola Davis in his work, thus showing support for black talents. He has also empowered creatives to become famous talents. For example, Crystal Hayslett was a costume designer for Tyler Perry studios, but Tyler Perry empowered her to be a top talent. Indeed, the filmmaker recently gave her a major role in her character-centered ‘Zatima.’ Tyler Perry also hired Areu from being a security guard for Warner Bros and made him a producer and later the president of his studios. Indeed, Tyler Perry has opened many doors for creative talents more than any other Atlanta director (Ellis). Tyler Perry’s diversity and inclusion are not only based on racial aspects but also on class and life experiences.
Expansive Coverage
Tyler Perry practices inclusion by covering concepts of temperate climate, the booming black middle-class, and affordable quality of life in his films. The producer showcases the experiences of middle-class people through how and where they live (Ellis). Unlike Hollywood producers who showcase the experiences of people of high socioeconomic status, Tyler Perry covers the most-relatable life experiences in Atlanta (Izrael). He illustrates the struggles of middle-class people of color living in mid-rainfall climates. The filmmaker sheds light on the relatable experiences of working towards an affordable quality of life (Izrael). By displaying these life experiences, Tyler Perry has revolutionized Atlanta’s film industry. Furthermore, the studio owner has largely shown pride in the black stereotypes and misconceptions.
Black Realities
Tyler Perry uses black stereotypes and misunderstandings to showcase black culture. For many years, black producers have avoided confirming black practices for fear of critics. Tyler Perry has outgrowth the fear by showing black people practices as they are in real-life situations (Braxton). He tells stories about the positive and negative black culture, how they are misunderstood and why they are stereotyped. The producer also showcases black injustices and the need to protect people of color (Izrael). In illustrating common stereotypes, he explains and confirms the reality of these situations. For example, in If Loving You is Wrong, Tyler Perry shows how whites and blacks commit equal crimes, yet blacks are more crucified (If Loving You is Wrong). In The Haves and Haves Not, he shows how whites are likelier to commit felony crimes and go Scott-free (The Haves and Haves Not). By explaining these life experiences, Tyler Perry helps community people understand the life of people of color. He also influences other filmmakers to showcase diverse cultures, thus growing a diverse and inclusive industry.
Criticism
Although Tyler Perry has succeeded in the Atlanta film industry, he has equally been criticized. Most critics attack his black representation method, saying that it stains their reputations. Spike Lee says that Tyler Perry’s style of black representation is “coonery and buffoonery” (We Post Stuff). The writer and producer say that Tyler Perry’s style shows the black stereotypes, yet the blacks have significantly evolved. Spike Lee finds the filmmaker’s style ridiculously amusing, especially now that America has had a black president. In a television interview, Lee feels that Tyler Perry could do better by representing the positive side of African Americans while protecting the negative sides (We Post Stuff). Indeed, the author also blames Tyler Perry’s audience for favoring coonery films while ignoring those that praise the black community.
Other critics have defended Tyler Perry’s style against Spike Lee’s attacks. Positive critics have stated that the studio owner’s style of black representation is what the blacks want. Indeed, Tyler Perry’s movies and series do not pretend to be heavily message-oriented or high-art (Izrael). Tyler Perry and Spike Lee tell the same stories, but Perry has a different audience. Tyler Perry speaks to middle- and low-class audiences who want their daily struggles covered on television. That way, they feel represented and are the automatic audience of the renowned producer (Izrael). The writer says the battle of tastes and preferences should be left to the audience. So far, blacks love Tyler Perry’s stories and continue to grow in audience population.
Conclusion
Tyler Perry has contributed to the growth of the film industry in Atlanta through revenue generation, influencing diversity and inclusion, and black empowerment and representation. The famous filmmaker has attained magnificent success in creating employment and contributing to film growth. He impacts through differentiated perspectives of inclusion and representation. The author has empowered more talents than most filmmakers in the Atlanta industry. He has shown the pride of people of color and equally received criticism. However, Tyler Perry’s audience grows after every story aired, and so does his impact on the general industry.
Works Cited
Bitette, Nicole. “How Tyler Perry Turned An Army Base Into a Major Studio.” Paramount. Web.
Braxton, Greg. “Tyler Perry Studios, the House ‘Madea’ Built, Becomes a Landmark for Black Hollywood.” Los Angeles Times. Web.
Casey, Nora S. “Tyler Perry.” Britannica. Web.
Ellis, Nicquel T. “‘ Hollywood of the South:’ After a Decade, Industry Leaders Succeed in Making Atlanta a Hub for Filmmakers of Color.” USA Today. Web.
If Loving You Is Wrong. Directed by Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey Network, 2014.
Izrael, Jimi. “Tyler Perry Vs. Spike Lee: A Debate Over Class And ‘Coonery.’” NPR. Web.
The Haves and Haves Not. Directed by Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey Network, 2013.
“Spike Lee on Tyler Perry’s Movies Shows! It’s Coonery Buffoonery.” YouTube, uploaded by We Post Stuff. Web.