great plan… i share the intention to support meaningful and complex black cinema, and can agree to join the effort in putting my money where my mouth is. what i would also like to see us doing (in addition to supporting with our wallets and speaking out when we feel unsatisfied with the ways we are represented on film) is contributing to the exposure of those films “relegated to indie obscurity” with our voices. you mentioned that often times those with the income to do so, don't partake in the quality films that feature black stars. speaking for myself, i can say that many times awareness is an issue.

im grateful to social networking sites such as twitter where we can exchange ideas and also suggest music, film, and literature with one another. i've been enlightened by my tweeps and exposed to SO many artists and quality material that i probably wouldn't have known about if i sat around watching advertisements on BET or TVOne. No shots to those who enjoy those networks *sideeye* but its like homeland security (not really) : if you see something, say something. share the wealth! complain about tyler perry, or whomever else is irking your nerves, but have a quality alternative to share. if you see a great film with great black actors, tell all of your friends about it. you know how group think works… lol

the plan to boycott Tyler Perry flicks is so ironic. Why do we need to show Hollywood that films/sitcoms with Black leads and plots are profitable? Tyler Perry has the RIGHT idea. Forget Hollywood and make your own way. Perry has his OWN studio where he employs Black MAJORITY and this majority of writers are the ones who will pave the way for scripts with lead roles that call for Black actors. Screw Hollywood, our own can be reinvented and thrive in Atlanta with the support of Very Perry Film Studio which can slowly and hopefully abolish the stereotypes the author of this article is going against

I agree that we should definitely support Black cinema, especially positive films. We have enough talent, but lack sufficient resources (money- which goes back to support) in order to produce the films, which then need to be distributed. I really admire those who are trying through the indie film route or other means. I have seen some fantastic films that were produced and went straight to dvd or premiered at film festivals- Cover, Gospel Hill, 500 Years Later, Forbidded Fruits, etc. Overseas, Nollywood (Nigerian film industry) is popular throughout African countries, with it being similar to Bollywood (India's film industry).

As far as Tyler Perry, I respect his work. He is a director, playwright, and actor, who owns his own studio, has creative control over his works, and employs/ showcases several Black actors and actresses. As a woman, I do not find his “Madea” character to be derogatory or offensive. He is definitely not the first man to portray a woman, and he won't be the last.
I also respect Spike Lee, Lee Daniels, Malcolm Lee, Ken Whittingham, Sanaa Hamri, Antoine Fuqua, Debbie Allen, Bill Duke, George Tillman, John Singleton, F. Gary Gray, M. K. Asante, Jr. and others for their works.
If you don't like their works, then perhaps you should make your own, or keep watching the same thing.

Interesting that you post this. I JUST had a conversation with a house manager who is in the same theater program I volunteer for. She made a great point that the problem also lies in the fact that the money maker formula enforces the tyler perry style movies and that what sells will be what works. It's so saddening though…

I like your angle on this issue as well. And the more i think about it, the more I understand your logic. Good post.

This post seems to be the apology of an unambitious movie-goer. The logic isn't sound at all: support mediocrity hoping that excellence arises. Not going to happen. Never has happened. Not a good plan. Worthy black films (whatever that means) have been and will be made by visionary filmmakers with the desire and the will to make them. And as the audience for these films actually worth seeing we have to search them out and support them. “Indie” is only obscure to people who are caught up in the mass market paradigm. Many of the best American films come out of the Indie sector and it will most like remain that way.

Quick notes: A) Films with all black casts will always make less money and will be struggle to make because there are fewer blacks in the U.S. Simple issue of demographics. B) The writer says: “In turn, however, Hollywood, responds to our lack of support by not backing any movies featuring black people at all.” This isn't true. It's a well-known fact that black people go to the movies in substantial numbers. The reason Hollywood is reluctant to cast black actors in otherwise white films is that black actors (other than superstars who are post-racial) aren't well received by some audiences abroad. Hollywood depends on those black-resistant audiences to make their films even more profitable. A simple economic issue based on the fact that black peoples' presence on the screen is not desirable in many global markets.

The writer here is not convincingly knowledgeable about the history of black people in film or film in general. He's also not very well versed in the economics of the movie industry. This is very superficial, dull and unenlightening, much like the films the writer would have us sit through for sake of saving black cinema. Thumbs down.

whoa whoa whoa…I will have you know that I, Mychal Denzel Smith, don't even know the meaning of the word unambitious!

No, seriously, I don't know what the fuck that means…

THANKS FOR COMMENTING! Even if you do think I'm an idiot!

As a person with a love and knowledge of film and the film industry when I clicked the link for this article I was in search of solid ideas or at least a solid exchange of ideas about “saving black film” –not a lackluster stand up comedy routine. Instead of responding to the heart of my comment, you're telling us that you don't know what a very common word -”unambitious”- means? “Un” means not. “Ambitious” means ambitious. Unambitious means lacking ambition. I was under the impression that dictionaries were widely available in the digital and analogue worlds.

And by the way I don't think that you're an idiot because I have no idea who you are and this is the first time I am seeing your byline. I do, however, think that your article and your response to my comments is roughly the journalistic equivalent of the Tyler Perry films you so harshly criticize. The difference is that Tyler Perry has at least created opportunity for himself and others. Tyler Perry's presence has in many ways added meaningfully to the dialogue about the state of black film. Your ill-conceived post reminds me that the blogosphere is filled with people who strangely have no clue about the topics they choose to discuss. Your post also reminds me that I should be much more selective in my reading. In the future I would suggest that you write about what you know and not write simply to see your words in print.

I know exactly what the word “unambitious” means. My flippant, dismissive response to your comment was an attempt to disarm your attack on my lack of knowledge. It's what I do.

Anywho, to address your original comment, I understand fully well what you're saying, but we're coming at this from two different perspectives. You seem to be OK with the idea of indie films remaining indie films and people going out and searching for them (something I do myself). My position is that it shouldn't have to be that way (silly idealist, I know). And that's not just black films I'm talking about, but in general, my hope is that major studios would put more money and energy behind films that wind up being produced on the indie market. I would prefer there not be the idea that smart, interesting, innovative films are not going to be supported by major studios. That's just me.

And so far as black films *always* making less money…eh. Yeah, you look at the numbers and say “if every black person in America goes to see a film with a majority black cast, it still won't make as much as a film that every white person goes to see.” Well yeah, doesn't take an economics degree to figure that out. But, we have to look at financial succes in relative terms. If Tyler Perry opens with $40 million, then he is a success, if Iron Man 2 opens with the same numbers it's a flop. So if more black films were to open with Tyler Perry-esque numbers, could we not say they're commercially viable? Different set of rules.

My idea, and again, it's only a theory, but I think it's worth a shot at least, is that if more black films were to have Tyler Perry style success, it would open it up for more black films from artists with varying viewpoints to be taken seriously by studios. Yes, we run the risk, as Tatiana G. King points out, of studios seeking to make more of the same type of movies, and more of the same quality. But I don't know for sure what would happen. None of us do. It's just an idea.

You disagree. Fine. Don't go see these mediocre films. Continue searching for better (as will I). I'm just throwing out an idea.

Thank you for a serious response.

I will NOT go see movies that continue to emasculate black men.. like the “Death at a Funeral”
debaucle that paints a black father as having had a homosexual affair with a white midget.. there are already too many damned black men parading around in dresses.. If you pay for THAT kind of ignorant ISH.. the Jews who OWN & RUN HOLLYWOOD.. are going to keep producing it, becuase it makes money for them. YOU will NEVER get positive portrayals, by supporting STUPID ONES.. I will go see Just Wright, regardless of Common's acting skills.. because it does not highlight DYSFUNCTIONAL black male female relationships.. I am still boycotting Tyler Perry's buffoonery & coonery!

I will NOT go see movies that continue to emasculate black men.. like the “Death at a Funeral”
debaucle that paints a black father as having had a homosexual affair with a white midget.. there are already too many damned black men parading around in dresses.. If you pay for THAT kind of ignorant ISH.. the Jews who OWN & RUN HOLLYWOOD.. are going to keep producing it, becuase it makes money for them. YOU will NEVER get positive portrayals, by supporting STUPID ONES.. I will go see Just Wright, regardless of Common's acting skills.. because it does not highlight DYSFUNCTIONAL black male female relationships.. I am still boycotting Tyler Perry's buffoonery & coonery!

The Hollywood Reporter believes that Bailey, whose next project is an adaptation of the non-fiction The Last of the Tribe: The Epic Quest to Save a Lone Man …

The Hollywood Reporter believes that Bailey, whose next project is an adaptation of the non-fiction The Last of the Tribe: The Epic Quest to Save a Lone Man …