Hey Madam Prezident,
"I think many of you know that this is a very difficult time of year for me, so what I try to do is make sure that I’m working during this time. All I wanted to do was shoot a great film and try to keep my mind off the holiday grief that I have been experiencing for the past two years. I could not have imagined I’d be getting all these emails about Kim Kardashian. I HAVE SEEN THEM!! YOU HAVE BEEN HEARD!! …LOL. Now, may I say something? Can a brother get a word in?….LOL. Y’all gave me a new movie title, Tyler Perry’s “Diary of a Mad Black Woman Cause You Hired Kim Kardashian, Don’t Make Me Take Off My Earrings and Boycott Yo A**.”…LOL. Some of my ladies are upset. Ok, all jokes aside, can I have my say? Will you at least here me out?
I was in a Mexican restaurant and the cutest little old woman stopped me and said, “I want to talk to you about KAR-DAT- CHA-NEM.” I said, “Ma’am?” She said, “What is wrong with you putting her in the lead role of your movie?” By the time I explained to her that she was not in the lead role and why I thought she should be in “The Marriage Counselor”, she said, “Oh, I see your point and I can’t wait to see the movie.” So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to share with you what I said to her then maybe you’ll see why I wanted her in the film.
This movie is about a young lady named Judith (Jurnee Smolett), who grew up in the countryside of Virginia in a trailer park. She was raised in the church by her mother Sarah (Ella Joyce). Judith married her childhood sweetheart Brice (Lance Gross) and had the perfect life until she graduated college and went to work in the big city. After college, all she wanted to do was be a marriage counselor, but the only job she could find was working for a matchmaker named Janice (Vanessa Williams). Janice has several employees that work for her, including a woman named Ava (Kim Kardashian). Ava is constantly trying to influence Judith on everything from her shoes to her hair. Judith meets a man at work named Harley (Robbie Jones). Harley challenges everything in her life from her marriage to her husband to her faith. Meanwhile, Brice (Lance Gross), Judith’s husband works at a pharmacy owned by Mrs. Waco (Renee Taylor). Brice has just hired a coworker named Melinda (Brandy), who has some major demons that she is running from. In the end, the choices that both of these young women have made come crashing down on them and their lives will never be the same. I wish I could tell you more, but I don’t want to ruin it for you.
After I finished writing this movie, I sat back and re-read it. Half way through my read, the gravity of what I had written hit me. I knew that this message was not only for my age group, but for all audiences, especially the youth. ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH!! YOUNG FOLKS NEED TO SEE THIS!!! And not just the young people that follow me, but the young people that are following other young people, as well. I wanted a younger cast, that’s why I put Jurnee in the lead and invited Lance Gross, Robbie Jones and Brandy. About two months ago, long before I even heard about Kim’s marriage or divorce, I was trying to finish up the casting. I said to one of my producers, “who else is out there that young people are looking up to?” One of my producers showed me pictures that his daughter had taken of several hundred kids lined up around the corner to get into a Kardashian store. They wanted to meet Kim. I thought, what better person! She literally has millions of young people following her. I thought and still do think, that it would be very responsible of her to be a part of this film. To have the young people that look up to her, see her in a film that is about, what happens in life when you make the wrong choices. Whether you’re aware of it or not, to be honest with you I wasn’t, millions of young people adore her and are following her every move. If one of those young people see this film and find the strength to live a better life and not go through what these characters went through in this movie, then we have all done what I feel I’m being led to do here. I hope you understand. I really do!
And lastly, because I believe that my films speak from the inside out, why wouldn’t Kim Kardashian be invited into a film about Faith, Forgiveness and the healing power of God? What is wrong with that??"
Tyler
I was in a Mexican restaurant and the cutest little old woman stopped me and said, “I want to talk to you about KAR-DAT- CHA-NEM.” I said, “Ma’am?” She said, “What is wrong with you putting her in the lead role of your movie?” By the time I explained to her that she was not in the lead role and why I thought she should be in “The Marriage Counselor”, she said, “Oh, I see your point and I can’t wait to see the movie.” So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to share with you what I said to her then maybe you’ll see why I wanted her in the film.
This movie is about a young lady named Judith (Jurnee Smolett), who grew up in the countryside of Virginia in a trailer park. She was raised in the church by her mother Sarah (Ella Joyce). Judith married her childhood sweetheart Brice (Lance Gross) and had the perfect life until she graduated college and went to work in the big city. After college, all she wanted to do was be a marriage counselor, but the only job she could find was working for a matchmaker named Janice (Vanessa Williams). Janice has several employees that work for her, including a woman named Ava (Kim Kardashian). Ava is constantly trying to influence Judith on everything from her shoes to her hair. Judith meets a man at work named Harley (Robbie Jones). Harley challenges everything in her life from her marriage to her husband to her faith. Meanwhile, Brice (Lance Gross), Judith’s husband works at a pharmacy owned by Mrs. Waco (Renee Taylor). Brice has just hired a coworker named Melinda (Brandy), who has some major demons that she is running from. In the end, the choices that both of these young women have made come crashing down on them and their lives will never be the same. I wish I could tell you more, but I don’t want to ruin it for you.
After I finished writing this movie, I sat back and re-read it. Half way through my read, the gravity of what I had written hit me. I knew that this message was not only for my age group, but for all audiences, especially the youth. ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH!! YOUNG FOLKS NEED TO SEE THIS!!! And not just the young people that follow me, but the young people that are following other young people, as well. I wanted a younger cast, that’s why I put Jurnee in the lead and invited Lance Gross, Robbie Jones and Brandy. About two months ago, long before I even heard about Kim’s marriage or divorce, I was trying to finish up the casting. I said to one of my producers, “who else is out there that young people are looking up to?” One of my producers showed me pictures that his daughter had taken of several hundred kids lined up around the corner to get into a Kardashian store. They wanted to meet Kim. I thought, what better person! She literally has millions of young people following her. I thought and still do think, that it would be very responsible of her to be a part of this film. To have the young people that look up to her, see her in a film that is about, what happens in life when you make the wrong choices. Whether you’re aware of it or not, to be honest with you I wasn’t, millions of young people adore her and are following her every move. If one of those young people see this film and find the strength to live a better life and not go through what these characters went through in this movie, then we have all done what I feel I’m being led to do here. I hope you understand. I really do!
And lastly, because I believe that my films speak from the inside out, why wouldn’t Kim Kardashian be invited into a film about Faith, Forgiveness and the healing power of God? What is wrong with that??"
Tyler
Sometimes we find it hard to see the end from the beginning. As individuals, we second guess everything! I see your ministry as being one that Spreads the gosple through cinema and stage. It is not just a gift for the church. It is a gift for all. Keep on working for the Master. I will see you in the movies!
ReplyDeleteYou my friend are a wonderful person and truly don't owe anyone an explanation. Frankly I'm not a big Kim K Fan but that certainly would not be the deciding factor as to whether or not I see a movie. I understand that you intent and the message that you are wanting to get out there is a powerful one and that YOUR HEART is true. I wish all the best. God Bless. Bret
ReplyDeleteMontana Fishburne is an American pornographic actress.[3] She entered the adult film industry in 2010 at the age of 19. She said Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton and Sasha Grey inspired her to go into porn. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana_Fishburne
ReplyDeleteSo what if "millions of young kids follow her". Follow her for what "positive" qualities? Maybe next, you'll feature a "drug lord" because of their popularity in socioeconomically deprived communities.
AS a Nearly 60 year old male . That reasoning makes as much sense as a six^ foot Male 'Imotating' the Brits , ( dressing in drag) and demonizing Black Males as A Gun toteing ,'GoD ; fearing ( godless in my opinion ), Save [the family& neighborhood) Granmother.So the appeal escapes me. Just like the millions of $s the sistahs have donated to Skylre Purgyy has escaped the Black Community, Laugh on SAD.
ReplyDeleteI had already looked into the matter saw that there were other black women cast in the film, Kim wasn't the lead role(didn't really matter), and some of the storyline of the above. So the hype was just that, hype.
ReplyDeleteCouple of points
1) Fact is Tyler has a track record of employing Black hollywood, on screen and off on a scale that no one else is doing. Even if Kim was lead, all of these are still. . .what's that employed or at least have gotten paid.
2)Regarding the dress thing. When Dustin Hoffman put on a dress it was great!,imaginative. When Adam Sandler & John Travolta no issues by the public. So why is it when Snipes, Rhymes, Lawrence, and Perry put on a dress for a character there are all these issues? Its ridiculous. There hasn't been a surge in cross-dressing men! Nor a surge in men walking around in Moo-moos and wigs with southern dialects! Its entertainment with a message, one of which is not how to cross-dress. Its like people pass up all the other positive role models in the films to zoom in on a perceived negative impact on the African American Community.
3)Even if Tyler's artistry was negative, which I don't believe it is, he unlike most of the critiques aren't creating anything to fill that void for those who may not enjoy a Perry movie, play, etc. For that most are worse than the person whom they critique, because the supposedly have the knowledge but keep it all to themselves. What a shame and a waste. Then there are those who have something to say, but the artistry in which it is presented doesn't connect with enough people to where they will pay for it.
Essentially, what Mr Perry really said is: Hey, I heard what yall said. However, I cast who I desire in my movies! The explanation is eloquent, sounds good and most black women will fall for it because let's face it, we are the group who put Tyler Perry on the map and we want to believe "its about us". Again, what i really heard from Mr Perry's explanation is: You N"" will not influence my choice in casting. You do not do it for Hollywood, and you will get no foot hold here either. However, what folks do not realize, is YOU CAN INFLUENCE HIS CAST CHOICES AND HIS PRODUCTION OF FILM AND FURTHER ASTRONONMICAL PROFITS BY "NOT GOING AND SPENDING YOUR DIME AT THESE FILMS"! SAVE YOUR PENNIES FOR YOUR GRANDCHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN. YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MADE TYLER A VERY VERY WEALTHY MAN!
ReplyDelete