Flip the Script: Taking Sides In the Spike Said Tyler Said Drama

It’s an age old debate that comes right back to the “black dollar.”  No matter who’s sparring, it comes back to what we do with our money as an audience and consumers.  As usual the dollar and the argument is split about 60/30/10.  I’ll aways say (or borrow from the theory) that everything can be defined as such.  You’ll see what I mean in the end.

The Drama –  In this corner we have Spike Lee, an Icon of his generation. Picked up the gauntlet to make movies where those before him left off .  Pretty much he had to start from scratch.  Spike can be credited with opening doors, perhaps doing the “cross over” thing or “multicultural” or however you want to put.

Spike goes in the history books no doubt. Therefore Spike, a voice of a movie making generation is often asked and shares his opinion about those coming after him.  Here comes Tyler Perry repping his generation.  Perry coming the stage route (already criticized by “traditional and historic theatre”, entertains an audience judged harshly by “historic” standards.  In theory, they are considered the 60%.   To a certain generation, it makes money, so it makes sense. To another generation, it can make all the money in the world but is it good for a people?  We the people divided 60/30/10 will have this argument forever.

For Tyler’s work, he also goes into the history books.  So when Spike said this (mouse over) and then Tyler said that (mouse over) their audiences and movie goers didn’t much notice. Except 30% watch news and read blogs where the comment was made into a spectacle to play out in an upcoming prime time interview. Now fans have started taking sides.

But Spike had a point. However Tyler also had a point.  But the argument doesn’t stop there because they both get pissed and dissed when it comes time to distribute their movies whether Madea is at the table or not.

Does this means its time for somebody else, perhaps another generation or gender to pick up the gauntlet?  Let’s figure out what’s up with that brother and distribution. Stop putting the money on the back in and get in on the front.  Flip the script: What would happen if our brothers and sisters had a pot of $90 million dollars to make and distribute movies?  Right now only about 10% is having that conversation in terms of ownership.

To be continued . . . stay tuned.

PS Update 10.24.09: Don’t make a black woman blog.  Let me tell you what really pisses me off (since we’re using the word in media now).  Three brothers whom I love dearly (as brashly as a black woman can love) Spike Lee (fa sho), Tyler Perry (like a brother by another mother that can’t pass DNA) and Byron Pitts (whom I need not wiki) are about to be discussed in prime time with “this convo” as the lead introduction. Same will forever be the perception of what’s up with these brother.  If you check out 60′s Minutes page and preview to the interview with Perry and Pitts, one has to ask why are they leading with “”coonery and buffoonery?”  Why is Tyler frowning in the picture? Can a brother appear in a prime time interview without the need to show disconnect between two generations of black film makers? With that, what stereotype is it to have another brother moderating “the beef.”

Lastly (probably not), Perry and others in the industry say all the time their audience is ignored by Hollywood which is not all together true.  Let’s flip the script.  Black audience for what they are worth (billions) support black movies when distributed.  However, to the detriment of black filmmakers, their audiences also support mainstream movies without question.  At the same time, to the detriment of black audiences, they are often lead to mainstream with interviews such as the one Perry is giving to 60 Minutes. If they don’t come back, then what?

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