10 minutes with … Tyler Perry

(A version of this story originally appeared on Beliefnet.com.) NEW YORK — Tyler Perry, you’ve heard the name. And even if you don’t know exactly who he is — writer, producer, director, and actor — you’re probably familiar with his gun-toting grandmother alter-ego character from most of his films, Madea. In the last five years, […]

(RNS4-NOV29) Actor/director Jean-Claude LaMarre plays a black Jesus in the film ``Color of the 
Cross.'' See RNS-10-MINUTES, transmitted Nov. 29, 2006. Religion News Service photo 
courtesy Nu-Lite Entertainment.

(RNS4-NOV29) Actor/director Jean-Claude LaMarre plays a black Jesus in the film “Color of the
Cross.” See RNS-10-MINUTES, transmitted Nov. 29, 2006. Religion News Service photo
courtesy Nu-Lite Entertainment.

(A version of this story originally appeared on Beliefnet.com.)

NEW YORK — Tyler Perry, you’ve heard the name. And even if you don’t know exactly who he is — writer, producer, director, and actor — you’re probably familiar with his gun-toting grandmother alter-ego character from most of his films, Madea.


In the last five years, five of the eight movies he has released have debuted at No. 1 — including his most recent film, “I Can Do Bad All By Myself.” All of this from a man, who not too long ago, was a struggling playwright living out of his car.

Perry recently talked about the new film, how he deals with Madea’s critics, and his spiritual life. Some answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Q: Your movies always have a Christian theme, but how are you are reaching unbelievers?

A: It’s clearly Madea. Madea is such an inviting figure. That’s why I’ll never change her. She’ll never be saved. She’ll never be Christian. She is the disarmer to invite people to come in and see the movie. And then, I’ll have other characters represent that too.

I don’t want to just do movies to do movies. I want to do movies that inspire, motivate, and change lives. And as long as I’m doing that, I feel like I’m doing the right thing.

Q: So, is Madea a Christian?

A: See, there are Christians who cuss and don’t go to church, I believe that she’s one of those.

Q: She’s a nominal Christian?

A: Yeah, yeah.

Q: Some critics might say that your portrayal of her can be considered minstrelsy. How do you respond to that?


A: You know what? That’s a high-brow comment. It comes from a certain culture or certain kind of black person. But I can take you to my neighborhood and you will see 20 of those women. They’re not stereotypes. They exist. They’re real.

Q: Would you say that your target audience are not those black people and are more middle class Black Americans?

A: What I know about my audience for a fact is that it’s all of that: it’s the middle class, it’s the poor, it’s the rich. It’s all of them, the young and old. And that’s why my stories are the way that they are.

They’re very simple. They’re predictable, deliberately, on purpose. I’m talking to 2 and 3-year-olds who love Madea, all the way up to 80-year-olds who were around when there were minstrel shows.

Q: Your movies always have plots that deal with sensitive issues within the black community. This movie deals with sexual abuse and alcoholism. What makes you stick to those issues?

A: I just write from my experiences. How can I write something I don’t know anything about? I know these people, I know them. They’re my family.


Q: Do you go to church?

A: It’s really bad. It’s so disrespectful. The last time I was in church was maybe New Year’s and I was down on my knees, and there are people slipping notes in my hands as I’m praying. It’s so difficult now because I miss it. When I go to some churches, the sermons become about me and they’re mentioning me and talking. I just want to just go to church.

Q: The movie uses gospel music as a catalyst for change. How has gospel music shaped your life?

A: All of my life from when I was a kid, my mother and I would go to church on Sundays and that’s what it would be (about), gospel music. And I would see that was the only time I really saw my mother smile was when she was up there in the choir singing and happy. It’s been very important to me and it is stitched into my fabric. I love gospel music.

Q: Do you have a favorite Bible verse?

A: Tons of them. But, I love the story of Joseph and all he went through, and David and Psalm 91. Isaiah 6:1 says, “I saw the Lord. He was high and lifted up.” And what it made me realize is that in this life, if there’s something in your life that is so big you can’t see God, let it die. And if it dies and you still can’t see God, you’re looking too low. You have to look higher.

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