Arts & Entertainment
Celebrity
continued from page 7
has donated generously to the NAACP. In
January 2010, he pledged $1,000,000 via
The Tyler Perry Foundation to help rebuild
the lives of those affected by the recent
earthquakes in Haiti.
Obviously, Tyler practices what he
preaches, and what he preaches has
endeared him to millions of fans drawn by
that unique blend of spiritual hope and
down-home humor that continues to shape
his inspiring life story and extraordinary
body of work. Here, he talks about his new
film, Good Deeds, a relationship drama
which he wrote, directed and stars in oppo-
site an A-list cast which includes Thandie
Newton, Gabrielle Union, Phylicia Rashad,
Rebecca Romijn, Jamie Kennedy, Beverly
Johnson and Brian White.
Kam Williams: Hi Tyler, thanks for the
interview.
Tyler Perry: No worries.
KW: Do you care to comment about the
passing of Whitney Houston?
TP: [Pauses to collect himself] Kam, I
can’t… I’m actually just trying to find a
way to get through the day today… [Hesi-
tates] Nobody knows this, but I was very
close to…[Chokes up] Sorry… I can’t… No
offense to you, Kam.
KW: I understand completely. I have a lot
of other questions for you from fans. Harri-
et Pakula Teweles says: Good Deeds is a
unique film for you in that the story
revolves around an issue in your character’s
life. She was wondering how you came up
with the idea for the story? She points out
that this is a film about a “defining
moment,” so she’s wondering whether it
was inspired by such a moment in your life
or career that you’d like to share?
TP: Yeah, for me, it was a question of just
reflecting at 40 that I was very grateful that
I had followed my own voice. So, that led
me to my own path and I listened to outside
influences. Good Deeds is a story about a
guy who had always done what he was told
to do but never what he wanted to do until
his defining moment arrives when someone
comes along who helps open his eyes. I’ve
had a few of those moments in my own life
like when during a job interview I was told,
“You don’t complete anything. Your appli-
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cation isn’t even complete.” And right at
that moment, I realized I had to become a
finisher, and see every task through to com-
pletion.
KW: Harriet observed that there are a
number of actors and actresses you’ve col-
laborated with several times in film and/or
TV. Is there a Tyler Perry acting ensemble?
TP: I’d say I’m open to anybody. I’m
very open to fresh talent, and I love the
underdog, people who have been counted
out, because they come in with a different
type of hunger. For instance, nobody would
give the members of the cast of House of
Payne a shot on TV, period. Yet, here they
are with already more episodes than any
other sitcom in history except Leave It to
Beaver. I’m all for the underdog, so I’d like
to talk to anybody who shows up with that
sort of thirst.
KW: Harriet also asks: How do you use
music to advance the message, mood and
momentum of the movie?
TP: Just as we do in life. There’s always
a soundtrack playing in the background
Wesley Deeds (Tyler Perry) and Natalie (Gabrielle Union) in "Tyler Perry's Good
Deeds." Photo credit: Quantrell Colbert
KW: Film student Jamaal Green says:
There are so many of us who admire what
you have created and achieved and would
like to follow in your footsteps. In the spir-
it of helping the next generation of
successful African-American artists do you
Live your own truth, live the life that God has put
you and nobody else on this Earth to live and
not what somebody might be telling you to live.
somewhere. Growing up, there was always
music around, whether across the street, or
on the next-door neighbor’s stereo. So, as in
life, music is always around, and it helps to
heighten any emotion. Music is amazing.
KW: Editor/legist Patricia Turnier asks:
What message do you want people to take
away from the film?
TP: Just that life is but a moment. Life is
so precious, such a gift, and that you have to
live for you. Live your own truth, live the
life that God has put you and nobody else
on this Earth to live and not what somebody
might be telling you to live.
moving forward and
moving backward.
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Page 10 The Portland Skanner February 15, 2012
have a mentoring program for aspiring
young black filmmakers?
TP: Jamal, right now, we’re in the process
of expanding the studio from 5 soundstages
to 15. Once they’re done, there will be a
1200-seat theater where I intend to open up
classes and courses, and even host an annu-
al festival in Atlanta where folks can come
and be inspired and encouraged and get
some information about how to be in the
business.
KW: Professor/director/author Hisani
Dubose says: Since there are so few
African-Americans of your stature in enter-
tainment, I know you must be inundated
with requests from people wanting to get
their projects off the ground. I know
because at least 100 people have asked me
if I’ve sent my scripts to you. How do you
handle this pressure?
TP: Respectfully, because I know I can
only do as much as I can do. I started a com-
pany called 34th Street Films just to filter
and to look for fresh talent with new ideas.
Although I have so many ideas of my own,
I’m still very interested in helping to culti-
vate and encourage some promising new
artists. But there are a lot of people and,
unfortunately, a very small window.
KW: Filmmaker Kevin Williams says: I
consider you to be the best example of com-
plete persistence and belief in one’s self. I
always try to remind myself of what you,
J.K. Rowling, Sylvester Stallone and others
went through when almost no one believed
in them. Many of us struggle in the start of
our career with self-doubt. How did you
motivate yourself in your early days before
others recognized your talent and saw your
potential?
TP: I would always feed myself positivi-
ty, from the Church to prayer to Gospel
music to the Bible. Even to this day, I turn
to anything that teaches good, that teaches
strength, and that you can make it. I swear
to you that those kinds of thoughts come
alive in your body and in anything you
touch because your energy goes into every-
thing you touch, everything you share and
everything you speak. So, it’s most impor-
tant that you surround yourself with
positivity always, and have it in your mind
at all times.
KW: Larry Greenberg says: Now that you
have truly mastered the realms of theater,
film and television, do you have any inter-
est in getting into video games?
TP: Video games? That’s a pretty inter-
esting question. If you’re just getting into
video games at 42, that might be a little late.
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