Tyler Perry: 'All African American Cast Are On The Verge Of Becoming Extinct'

Known as one of the most successful black filmmakers in Hollywood, Tyler Perry foresees a major shift in films starring an all African American cast. Perry recently penned an open letter on his site stemming from George Lucas' recent statement on the lack of support that he received during the making of 'Red Tails,' stating that films starring an all black cast are on the verge of being extinct.

"Ask any executive at a Hollywood Studio why, and most of them will tell you one of two things. The first thing they'll say is that DVD sales have become very soft, so it's hard for a movie with an all black cast to break-even," he explained. "Secondly they'll say, most movies are now dependent on foreign sales to be successful and most 'black' movies don't sell well in foreign markets. So what that means is you will begin to see less and less films that star an all black cast. Isn't that sad in a 2012 America? Somewhere along the way we still haven't realized that we are more alike then not.

To the New Orleans native's advantage he has managed to navigate through conventional industry standards to produce and direct top-grossing box office films. In fact, Perry credits Lucas for his willingness to fund and produce a film based on the Tuskegee Airmen.

"George decided to take a huge risk by entirely funding the movie and releasing it himself," he added. "What a guy! For him to believe so strongly in this story is amazing. I think we should pull together and get behind this movie. I really do! Not just African Americans, but all of us. I have seen the movie and screened it here in Atlanta. I loved it and I think you will too."

Read Tyler Perry's personal message in its entirety below.

The problem with all-star African American Casts...

Unfortunately, movies starring an all African American cast are on the verge of becoming extinct. THAT'S RIGHT, EXTINCT! Ask any executive at a Hollywood Studio why, and most of them will tell you one of two things. The first thing they'll say is that DVD sales have become very soft, so it's hard for a movie with an all black cast to break-even. Secondly they'll say, most movies are now dependent on foreign sales to be successful and most "black" movies don't sell well in foreign markets. So what that means is you will begin to see less and less films that star an all black cast. Isn't that sad in a 2012 America? Somewhere along the way we still haven't realized that we are more alike then not.

I must tell you that I have been very fortunate to work with a studio that sees the value in my type of storytelling and filmmaking. As well as having you, an audience of all races of people, who have stood by me arm and arm. It has helped me navigate through some pretty rough waters.

I thought that as black people in Hollywood, this is just our reality, but I quickly realized that this is not racism. What made me realize this is I had a conversation with Mr. Star Wars himself, George Lucas, and he was telling me that he was having the same problem with Red Tails. I was blown away! Red Tails is an important story about, not just black history, but American history about the Tuskegee Airmen. It has an all-star African American cast, including Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard, which opens this Friday. He went on to say that he brought the movie idea of Red Tails to several studios and no one wanted to make this film... AND THIS IS GEORGE LUCAS! Not to be deterred, he put up his own money, shot the movie then took it back to those same studios, and they wanted nothing to do with it. One of them even refused to see the film, citing the above mentioned problems. So George decided to take a huge risk by entirely funding the movie and releasing it himself. What a guy! For him to believe so strongly in this story is amazing. I think we should pull together and get behind this movie. I really do! Not just African Americans, but all of us. I have seen the movie and screened it here in Atlanta. I loved it and I think you will too. The Tuskegee Airmen, who were at the screening, were so happy that somebody is telling a small part of their story.

It opens this Friday. Please take your kids, you will enjoy it and so will they. There is a lot of action and adventure and also a great history lesson to be learned.

George, I just want to say, thank you for having the courage to do this.

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Comments

[chasity]

10:05 PM on 01/12/2013

you all are racist fers

[AndreaD xo]

11:46 PM on 12/31/2012

Interesting I think movies need diverse talented actors to succeed in the foreign and america market since we are all together we need to see more movies represent each other.

[john irenicus]

04:46 AM on 02/03/2012

all clack cast movies not doing well is racist now? but an all white cast movie is racist? how about a few blacks and a few whites in a movie, is that racist too? really??? Let's think of some great movies with an all black cast shall we? ... .... ... ... ... ... maybe make a movie that is great then worry about color /end

[ManicRaider]

10:50 AM on 02/17/2012

Did you not read the part where he said it wasn't about racism?

[Shannan B]

07:08 PM on 01/28/2012

Tyler,, you are the one who searched out Kim Kardashian to reach your "younger" viewers(your words).. When there were so many young African American Ladies you could have cast. So..Practice what you preach brotha..

[Larry West]

10:31 AM on 01/27/2012

....so the guy who brought back Mammy for the 21st Century is upset about not having that many all-black casts?

Tyler Perry hates black People.

[RusStyles]

12:15 PM on 01/27/2012

Yeah, you're right. He really hates black people. That's why he employs hundreds of black actors, technicians, administrators, designers, etc...Oh, and donates thousands to black colleges and various other black organizations. All those black getting paid must really feel hated! Thanks for bringing such enlightening insight! Excellent post...

[Larry West]

07:42 PM on 01/27/2012

Yeah, he does.

The guy has made millions using negative black stereotypes like his Mammy and catering to the lowest common denominator. Meanwhile, he balances that with charity.

So for a guy to help set back black people on a whole... yeah, Tyler Perry Hates Black People.

[Tony4331]

01:12 AM on 01/24/2012

TONY

January 24th, 2012
1:00 am

I think we all as people not only black people but all cultures are sending a message to greater Hollywood that black films do sell really well in the box office as well as DVD and VOD. This will be a big eye opener for Hollywood take notes Hollywood and wise up stop looking at the color of the cast and look at the quality and the storyline of the movie. Now maybe all the major film companies in Hollywood like Lion Gates, Warner brothers,Sony, Universal, Dreamworks will now finally begin to fund black films in stead of trying to hold your feet on our neck to keep us down. No disrespect but black films generate the same green DOLLARS just like the white films do. it’s time to grow up Hollywood this is 2012 not 1960 PEACE AND LOVE

[Yoretha]

09:13 PM on 01/23/2012

Well guess who's "comin' ta dinnah."

[states37]

01:50 PM on 01/23/2012

Hard to believe that African American films don't have any sales overseas but corny love romance comedies do have great sales overseas? So there is a market for crap only if it has all white people in it? Doesn't make sense............

[SOHOROCKS66]

09:38 AM on 01/27/2012

states37, the blame for supposed lack of oversea interest in African American feature films can be directly attributed to the white corporate execs who head and manage the affairs of the major mass media/entertainment institutions here in America. Historically, white mass media and Hollywood have chosen to export to negative images of African Americans to oversea markets and in that way white supremacy is established and maintained. It is not common knowledge but during the late 60s and early 70s Hollywood was saved from bankruptcy by the proliferation of largely low budget blaxploitation films that were distributed domestically and internationally and foreign populations gained a twisted conceptualization of African Americans just as did when rap and hip hop and later gangsta rap was exported overseas and became the means by which foreign masses gained even more negative ideas about African Americans. So, if Hollywood wanted to export more recent African American feature films they could easily do so.

[car37ter]

01:23 PM on 01/23/2012

Tyler is correct. However, we can always fight back by NOT viewing foreign films, and refusing to "pay-to-watch" or purchase DVDs about those foreign movies. And, we could also help the cause by not attending ANY of Hollywoods' movies that won't promote African-American love interests. Over the years, I and my friends have noticed that Hollywood will promote African-American men, but will not give those men an African-American love interest (they will either be white, Asian, or Latino). Black women have all but disappeared from the screen. If it wasn't for Tyler Perry, Bishop Jakes, and Steve Harvey (who is debuting soon), black women wouldn't be on film at all! When was the last time we've seen Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Jamie Foxx--any of these leading black men with a black woman as their love interest? Think hard!

[Suzanne Mae Wright]

12:33 PM on 01/23/2012

Tyler Perry is right! I can't wait to see this film about the Airmen, to learn a bit more about this very important part of world history and get the chance to stand-up and be counted as someone who believes in an honest telling of history. The fact that Lucas went out and found a stellar cast and told a great story well, doesn't surprise me. It should shame the industry that this film isn't getting the support it deserves, yea for people like TP and GL. Mr. Perry is a phenomenal filmmaker/storyteller as well-please keep making your films gentlemen.

[scraff]

10:24 AM on 01/23/2012

Wow, so how would most of you react if someone came out with the statement: "we should be making films with all whites in, and no blacks"? Sound like there are a lot of racists out there. A film should be watched for its story, not for only if it has the right amount of a certain colour....

[Kmaster]

02:19 PM on 01/23/2012

Considering that most every movie made stars white people, I totally disagree with you. Black Americans have contributed so much to this country and we want to be represented in film and media just like whites. No offense, sometimes you get tired of seeing white people in every film, commercial, show etc. We want to something with just us!

[lent318]

07:08 PM on 01/23/2012

You are so right. Kudos to Mr. Lucas for taking such a giant leap. We should support more of his films and less (if any) of those who didn't support him.

[mochaview]

01:01 AM on 01/23/2012

We need to make our own films like back in the old days when we had to do what was called race movies during segregation. Of course White actors were ordered to study those films such as Joan Crawford studying Nina Mae McKinney. All that confidence and moxie was a direct imitation of Nina. I enjoy a great story, but it's time for us to stop using White folks acceptance as the benchmark.
After loonnggg days of working with some and experiencing racism where it was unnecessary, I enjoy sitting in a theater, with my people who love to respond to a play or a movie (like the characters can hear you) because sometimes the audience is more of a riot than the picture show. When done right, these stories are like sugar for the soul.
We are complex people but too many films aren't really reflecting this. We have so many stories that are already written (like Bebe Moore Campbell's books) or another intense one called "In Her Presence: A Husband's Dirty Secret by Nancy Weaver" or "Straight, No Chaser" and so on. There is story after story that would fill up Lifetime and Lifetime for Real Women for ages.
I'm interested in seeing us get hold of the money from the films made,etc. I'm tired of the feeling that we always need to be mainstream to be considered valid. Enough of all that.

[SOHOROCKS66]

10:31 AM on 01/23/2012

Mochaview, I am intrigued by your contention that "white actors such as joan crawford were ordered to study Nina Mae McKinney". I'd like to research that subject so can you provide me applicable references? Thanks in advance.

[mochaview]

07:51 AM on 01/27/2012

Just by the name you choose as your moniker "SOHOROCK" makes me wonder if you even know how much Blacks struggled right there in downtown Manhattan long before there was even a Harlem.
I learned about Nina Mae McKinney on the original Black Voices before Huffingtonpost bought AOL and did this There were quite a few people then who knew about her. As usual, the most important stories about America are the ones that go unheard like the ones about the slaves who lived in what's now called Soho/Noho, etc. Here's a link from the Slavery In NY exhibit from the NY Historical society: http://www.slaveryinnewyork.org/PDFs/Life_Stories.pdf
Do your research on Black Hollywood, there are books out there.
It's common for Whites to coopt any and everything they see others do. Same went for acting in those days just like famous composers going to see Black performers with pencil and paper to take notes, or hiring Black singers for White entertainers to immitate (one of the latest is Britney Spears; incidentally that artist used to be on the old Blackvoices too!) right along with Rock and every variation of it and even the Banjo.
Here's a link to info about Nina Mae McKinney:
http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/ninamaemckinney/NinaMaeMcKinneyBioandTribute.html

[cree1997]

10:26 PM on 01/22/2012

I guess I must be very different, I go to see movies based on the story OR if it is a favorite actor. I do not miss Will Smith movies cause he has a knack for picking good scripts, usually do not miss Whoopie movies, again she USUALLY picks good scripts. Eddie in the beginning picked good ones then I guess he just got greedy cause his last few movies bit the big one. Two favorite movies Awakenings and The Color Purple both for the same reason, the acting in both was some of the best acting I have ever seen in recent years, and both make me cry lol

[unsyndicated]

09:03 AM on 01/22/2012

Yes, I agree with some of the comments that the only films Hollywood and a significant number of the African American community will support has to do with drug addicts and abuse (the film Precious) Black folks with drama the baby mama drama, my man ain't no good, find me a good man, blah blah blah (Tyler perry films), Half naked Black women, slap stick comedy, Black people in subservient roles (The Help). Where was he support for The Great Debaters and Miracle at St. Anna? Any film that shows positive achievements of African Americans or show African Americans as multi-dimensional characters is rejected! Tyler Perry is WRONG when he says it isn't racism just because George Lucas experienced difficulty! That just goes to show that even if you're White trying to do a Black production--you still won't get support to do a BLACK film.

[TjayeInLA]

02:54 AM on 01/22/2012

Red Tails wasn't an all black cast. It was only a black male cast. Black women were not relevant to this story, so we were excluded and apparently replaced by the women the director felt were important in recounting this proud part of our history. This would be why the "all black cast" is soon to be extinct. We don't make great movies with each other, so why should they?