As Spike Lee speaks up Tyler Perry sheds tears

I don’t know how I missed this long simmering war of words between Spike Lee and Tyler Perry. This is old news, but to me it is quite fresh as I could not help, but to laugh loud. Mr. Lee made my day. Those of you, who don’t know who Tyler Perry is just Google him, I am not going to explain who he is. And, if you don’t know who Spike Lee is I am not going to say anything else except, “That’s a shame.”  First of all, we at Cinematic Impact discuss the impact of cinema, and the effect of a film-maker’s work and a writer’s passion. We discuss how perfect a film is and at times like this article, we bring the spotlight on film-makers and their films that has no impact whatsoever on anything as well. Even on Scooby Doo. And this brings us to Mr. Tyler Perry.

I haven’t seen one film of Mr. Perry from beginning to end or end to its beginning, for first you can’t tell the difference between the opening scene and the final scene. It was about few months ago, I was changing channels and came across a film by Mr. Perry, and I don’t even know what the title was. All I remember is that there was a tall lady with white hair driving a car in dark with other characters sitting in the back. Jesus! – That’s what I said. I turned off the television. Leaned my back against the sofa and closed my eyes to think for a minute. This is what I was thinking: Are you kidding me, Tyler Perry? – What in the god’s green earth is Tyler Perry trying to prove here? Can someone answer that to me?

My intention is not to offend anyone here. I know Mr. Perry has a fan base and his films have its own audience. Yes, its own audience. Mr. Perry’s films have no impact and will never have any kind of positive impact on anyone and it is a fact. Let’s face it. – We have a veteran film-maker like Spike Lee, whose credit includes films like Malcolm X, Miracle at St. Ana. He has his own style and the reason I am bringing Mr. Lee’s name in this article, for there is something interesting Mr. Lee said to Tyler Perry few years ago that made Mr. Perry weep.

This Following Content is brought to you by Cinematic Impact. Courtesy of Huffington Post.

Perry, in both a message on his website and a press conference to promote "Madea's Big Happy Family," hit out against Lee, who in 2009 said, among other things, that Perry's films "harken back to 'Amos n' Andy'." (Wait – I remember the title now. Madea’s Big Happy Family), and to abbreviate the title it goes something like this “MBHF.”

There is more and this is how Mr. Perry the director of MBHF, a film that has no meaning in any way comes back in a conference at Mr. Lee the director of Malcolm X, a film which is a masterpiece. "I'm so sick of hearing about damn Spike Lee," Perry said during the press conference. "Spike can go straight to hell! You can print that. I am sick of him talking about me, I am sick of him saying, 'this is a coon, this is a buffoon.' I am sick of him talking about black people going to see movies.  – what?

And this is how M. Lee puts it all nicely in a professional manner directly to Mr. Perry the director of MBHF:  "Each artist should be allowed to pursue their artistic endeavors, but I still think there is a lot of stuff out today that is coonery and buffoonery," he said in '09. "I know it's making a lot of money and breaking records, but we can do better. ... I am a huge basketball fan, and when I watch the games on TNT, I see these two ads for these two shows (Tyler Perry's 'Meet the Browns' and 'House of Payne'), and I am scratching my head. We got a black president, and we going back to Mantan Moreland and Sleep 'n' Eat?"

I agree with Mr. Lee here. Of course, who is going to agree with Tyler Perry? – And this is what Tyler Perry says about MADEA. - "Madea is a cross between my mother and my aunt. She's the type of grandmother that was on every corner when I was growing up," Perry said. "She smoked. She walked out of the house with her curlers and her muumuu and she watched everybody's kids. She didn't take no crap. (Yeah, like us.)  She's a strong figure where I come from. In my part of the African-American community. And I say that because I'm sure that there are some other parts of the African-American community that may be looking at me now going, 'Who does he think he's speaking of?' But, for me, this woman was very, very visible." – Mr. Perry, yes, she is visible to us as well, but why?

My respect goes to all grandmothers in the world. And, I am apologize on behalf of Mr. Perry to all kind grandmothers. And with all grandmothers now I like to stand and shout, ‘Go To Hell Perry" as there is nothing cinematic in his films. And as far as I see there is nothing new to learn. It's mind boggling, for he somehow manages the funds and his film gets distributed to waste people's money and most importantly their time. Perry in his own words calls another film-maker, Go To Hell. Mr. Perry you are not aware that you are taking the spot of another film-maker/writer who is seeking for a golden opportunity to make a impact, and when someone stands up and criticizes you and your work, which has no meaning whatsoever you have the audacity to disrespect them and come back with phrases that only makes sense to you. Who cares what's going on with your characters in your films? - It's time to stop crying, stop writing nonsensical storylines. It's time to shine, and bring the audience something better than Madea and her big happy family. With all due respect to Mr. Lee, I disagree with him when he referred to Perry as an artist, for there is nothing artistic in Perry's work. I would like to comprehend the point of stories. If he makes it to entertain the audience. There is nothing entertaining in his films. - Why is this guy even allowed to conduct a press conference?

As You Can Tell By The Article I am Angry.

I will eventually post an all encompassing article about how frustrated myself and many moviegoers are with so called "minority cinema".  It is shameful that these plotlines actually make it to the big screen.  Below is my proposal for an upcoming class at my graduate school.  This is just the beginning of Cinematic Impact's battle against ignorance.

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Master of Arts Liberal Studies

Integrated Studies Directed Readings Course Proposal

Name:  Travlis Eric Hallingquest                           Date:  October 1, 2011

Please complete the following in detail. This form must be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to your anticipated start date so as to allow sufficient time to locate faculty to work with you.  Feel free to use additional pages if needed.

1. What is the research question or issue you wish to study for this specific course?  The issue that I wish to study for this course is the misrepresentation and lack of originality in films with a predominately minority cast.  Special emphasis will be placed on Black and Hispanic films.

2. What is the basis for your interest in this topic and how does it relate to your overall goals and objectives for the degree? What is your background and prior knowledge of this topic to support your investigation or advanced study of it at a graduate level?  The basis of my interest in this topic is simply my frustration and the frustration audiences.  There is no glaring reason why only predominately Caucasian casts are in movies like Saving Private Ryan, Inception, The Social Network, and Minority Report.  There have been spurts of brilliant minority casted films such as The Color Purple, Do the Right Thing, Hotel Rwanda, and even the gang themed Boyz N The Hood.  But these movies are few and far between. 

My prior knowledge of this topic began simply as a moviegoer. Movies have always been temporary escape to an alternate reality for people worldwide. Being a history major as an undergraduate and taking a graduate level course entitled History and Pop Culture introduced me to numerous topics that could make interesting historically based or fictional movies centered in African American and Hispanic culture.  My concentration in my Master of Liberal Studies is film studies, so this course will be highly beneficial. 

Why are African American movies (just like books) often given their own designated corner  (to collect dust, and depending on the plot rightfully so) in movie rental and movie sales places?  Why are most African American movies have a central plot of relationship problems, an individual who can dance well and uses dance to get out of a poor neighborhood, or a black man dressing up as the “big mammy” character?

Are African Americans and Hispanics not FBI Agents, politicians, scientists, astronauts, or philosophers amongst other things?  And if Blacks and Hispanics are to be the antagonist in a story, why are they not pulling off the greatest heist of all time, instead of knocking of a liquor store? 

Tyler Perry is a filmmaker that makes the same redundant uninspired films over and over.  He is a multi-millionaire because of the same stereotypes that if a non-black director/writer had made, they would have been considered a racist or bigot.   And when asked why they support Tyler Perry films it is never because of the acting, direction, or script.  It is always something along the lines of:  He is making black films for “us”.  Well as a representative of “us” I have had enough.    Of course he is not the only person blameworthy of the aforementioned, he is just the most currently popular person who enforces the minstrel show. 

3. List books that you would like to use in this course.  What authors or scholars do you see as beneficial?   (list at least 5 authors)

1. Slave Cinema: The Crisis of the African-America in Film:  Andre Seewood
   

     2.  Here I Stand:  Paul Robeson

     3. Oscar Micheaux The Great and Only:  Patrick McGilligan

     4.  Film Theory and Criticism: 

     5.  Inception-The Shooting Script- Christopher Nolan (shows how great a movie someone can come up with) 

     6.  Four Screenplays: Syd Field

4. What do you anticipate learning from this study?  I anticipate learning as much as possible on all aspects of film studies and film history.  I want to be able to intelligently and aggressively argue that filmmaker and movie studios need to stop making the same family reunion, dance and juvenile relationship problem centered movies.  The only reason that they are seen is because there is a narrow selection of minority movies. 

5.  Independent study courses can start on the 1^st or the 15^th of each month.  What is your anticipated start date for this course?  (Financial Aid students should consult with their financial aid advisor on enrollment load and start dates to make sure they are meeting the requirements for aid eligibility.)

January 1^st 2012.