“Tyler Perry is the first African-American to own a film studio.”

What? Really?!

See, I’m not sure when I heard it but someone said it last night. I happen to flip past and caught the last segment of CNN’s Black In American part 2 and I heard it.

My first thought was really? Is that even true? What about Oscar Micheaux, the “father of us all”?

Then I checked CNN’s website and read this:

“Tyler Perry is known today as the first African-American to own a major film and TV studio.” [empasis added]

OK. That phrasing makes more sense.

Listen, this isn’t a who-was-first-history-lesson in Black Cinema. If you’re curious you can start here or maybe even here. And I guess I should add this also isn’t about Tyler Perry’s aesthetic triumphs or failures either nor his treatment of his television writers. Sorry. For right now I’m looking at other things… try Google for those debates.


No, this post is about:

Tyler Perry Studios opened on October 4, 2008 across 30 acres in southwest Atlanta, Georgia. The studio occupies two former airline-affiliated buildings and includes 200,000 square feet of sets and office space.

At a time when I’ve already talked about the economic woes within independent American film finance/production… I’m floored to even think there’s a STUDIO out there producing content with a Black man at the helm (and he also owns all of the content he produces).

Simply, it makes me feel proud.

Hopeful even. And also conflicted but see my earlier words about Google and searching those other debates.

Finally, not only does TP produce and own his own content but he’s decided to create another company called 34th Street Films.

“Tyler Perry Studios has formed 34th Street Films to produce projects under the Tyler Perry brand while focusing on projects written and directed by outside talent.”

34th Street Films has already picked up its first release, a joint effort with Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo production company. The film, directed by Lee Daniels is a 2009 Sundance Film Festival Audience award and Grand Jury Prize for best drama winner called “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire”.

Here’s a blurb on the film from Cinematical:

The premise of Push: Based on a Novel by Sapphire is so unsettling and bleak that no one would blame you if you didn’t want to see it: It’s the story of an obese 16-year-old illiterate Harlem girl who’s pregnant (for the second time) by her own father, lives with her monstrously abusive mother, and has almost given up on life. But if you do see it, you’ll find that it’s compelling and artistic, punctuated with warm humor and masterful performances, and ultimately triumphant and hopeful.

This is not TP territory. I’m excited to see the film and more excited to know TP and Oprah are presenting it. This looks like challenging, honest, revealing cinema about people you and I know or probably pass everyday.

I’m even tempted to go so far as to say this is a door opening hopefully it won’t be too narrow or fast closing. Even some of our long, long established producer-actor-writer-director-hiphop-film-moguls aren’t “focusing on projects written and directed by outside talent” and trust me those of us trying to earn our way in wish they would.

Check out the trailer for “Precious” below and tell me what you think about what TP is doing.