FEATURE: STEP OFF (was "Battle") - Narrative Feature

Yea the MJ reference wasn't so much what he did for african american people, but what he did with his MILLIONS for people less fortunate than him, simply because he felt it was his duty since God blessed him with a unique ability. And some people DO feel that way, and with good reason, I'm usually one of those people that holds the door for someone if I see them trying to get in somewhere that I'm getting into. But at the same time not EVERYONE is like that, it's hard to fathom, but one has to look at what got them to where they are...I have looked deeply into the story of Tyler Perry the man, the things that he went through, the things he came from, and where he's at. I'm not even talking about molestation or anything, I'm talking about his career, from homeless, to writing, to being turned down, to being told no one wanted to see his plays, to him going broke trying to produce his plays, to him spending his last dime AGAIN on a play and it selling out..to him going to Hollywood with a proven success story and Hollywood basically spitting in his face and the face of the legacy he was creating..to NOW.

And the more I think of it, the more I can see where he might be coming from. I think the last few posts have touched on a few things, specifically that people in positions of POWER help those that first help themselves. When people make it to a point where they are comfortably able to help others that were like themselves, 9 times outta 10, they've left behind others who CLAIMED to be like them, but fell by the way side. I know all I'm producing is a short film (Feature in september) BUT..I've already come across dozens of people like that. When I first started opening doors for myself through hard work, I wanted to take everyone with me, over time I realized that these people weren't actually doing anything on their own, just standing idly by, not risking anything (reputation, money, blood, sweat, tears etc) but instead waiting...if I succeed, they ride in with me, if I fail, they wash their hands of it and walk away no harm no foul. Those people still come to me like "yo man don't forget about me when you make it, you know I've always wanted to be a writer, can't wait to know someone with the skill to produce my stories, that's gonna motivate me to sit down and get serious".

That makes me wary of putting the time in to help others who don't bring something to the table themselves. Now if I deal with that on an almost daily basis (and I'm sure you all do too) because I'm shooting a 15minute zombie short, I can't imagine what a guy like TP goes through. I had forgotten about his involvement with Precious, but you are correct, he and Oprah helped free of charge (funny how that get's over looked), but I guess that proves that Tyler IS willing to lend a hand to get a brilliant story told (It was TOO sad for me, but some people felt it was amazing).

Maybe Tyler is waiting for some cream to rise to the top so that he can tell who's WORTH helping, and who's just blowing smoke looking for an easy hand out!
 
CRProductions said:
The more this convo goes on the more I side with Tyler Perry...I'm starting to think about it, and I'm wondering man...maybe JUST MAYBE...he just wants to make movies. Maybe, just MAYBE he doesn't want to be the Malcolm X or MLK of Hollywood.

Funny thing about people, especially black people...we feel like if someone makes it somewhere it is their DUTY to turn around and open the door for us, "make it easier for us man, you know how hard it was for you"

Maybe the fact that he knows how hard it was for him, is exactly why he's not willing to part ways with his money so easily. We were "spoiled" in a sense by guys like Malcolm X, MLK and even Michael Jackson. People willing to give their OWN life to make sure others are treated fairly. But do they HAVE to? Nope...is it nice, and does it seem like the "right" thing to do? Sure...

I think a LOT of it is anger that Tyler's movies are the only black movies being put out there, and the feeling that we have more stories to tell, but is that HIS fault? Is he controlling Hollywood and saying "if you support other black films, I'm shutting down the Madea operation, and you KNOW yall don't want me to do that ****?" Is he threatening to cripple the economy in Atlanta if someone makes a "Great" black film? Because if not, then he's not to blame for the "unequal representation" amongst film. If anything he is indirectly or directly responsible for the sudden surge in black film makers getting off their asses and trying to get their stories told so that they CAN say we have something other than "Madea" to offer...
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See, that's the thing though. When you talk about African-American stories you have to realize and understand that if we don't tell our stories (which can also be universal stories), then who will? Can I expect for George Lucas to have made "Star Wars" with black actors in mind? No. I'm sure when he wrote that story, the actors that he had in mind were white, which is no different from when I write my stories. I'm African-American and I generally think of characters in my stories that way. There's nothing wrong with that, but when you only have a limited number of black people in positions to execute and tell these stories, you have underepresentation.

You talked about how hard it is. Well, that's why you give a helping hand to those trying to get to where you are so that they won't have it so hard. Should our parents have just sat back and said, "Well, I know how hard it is to do "this" or be "this" so I don't want my kids to do it? For the most part kids have it easier, because of what their parents went through and are able to help their kids with more opportunities. In my book you help others, no matter what you do or where you're from, because somebody had to help you get to where you are. But that's just my opinion.

Sorry to hijack, Martin. LOL! BTW - is there anything new you could tell us about how Step Off is doing? Did you do any film festivals at all before the distro deal?
 
Just sort of throwing in that I'm paying attention to this conversation and, as much as it pertains to myself as well, it's just a WEE bit hard to comment.

It's a good one, though!
 
Marlon Ladd said:
See, that's the thing though. When you talk about African-American stories you have to realize and understand that if we don't tell our stories (which can also be universal stories), then who will? Can I expect for George Lucas to have made "Star Wars" with black actors in mind? No. I'm sure when he wrote that story, the actors that he had in mind were white, which is no different from when I write my stories. I'm African-American and I generally think of characters in my stories that way. There's nothing wrong with that, but when you only have a limited number of black people in positions to execute and tell these stories, you have underepresentation.

You talked about how hard it is. Well, that's why you give a helping hand to those trying to get to where you are so that they won't have it so hard. Should our parents have just sat back and said, "Well, I know how hard it is to do "this" or be "this" so I don't want my kids to do it? For the most part kids have it easier, because of what their parents went through and are able to help their kids with more opportunities. In my book you help others, no matter what you do or where you're from, because somebody had to help you get to where you are. But that's just my opinion.

Sorry to hijack, Martin. LOL! BTW - is there anything new you could tell us about how Step Off is doing? Did you do any film festivals at all before the distro deal?
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Well, I agree with the first bit, but when I reeaalllyyy sit back, there aren't that many movies that tell "white stories" either. Sure there are some movies that talk about italian mob life, etc. But really, most movies, are just movies, they just happen to star people who's skin tone is more accepted globally in order to recoup the millions invested in it. I mean when you look at any black person driving a film with a big budget, they're all kind of removed, as PEOPLE from the general stereotypes that plague black people. They're what we might consider "safe" black people. For those that don't know what that term means, it's a black person who you know is "safe" to take out in public without acting out of character and embarrassing you, or what ever you're there to represent.

I think the reason why Hollywood doesn't use as many black actors in high profile films is because overall, as a race we haven't proven ourselves "safe". We've marketed ourselves to the world for SO long as thugs, gangsters, etc that that's what they see us as, and though other black people in the hood are quick to support negative stereotypes and shun positivity. The WORLD isn't quite as willing to ride that wave. Do I want Hollywood to feel safe putting us in a position to drive their films and not worry that their movie is going to bomb because of who's in the drivers seat? Of course..but I guess I'm starting to realize that first the world has to see that there's more to us than glorifying gangs, murder and drugs.

Can Tyler Perry help with that? Of course! Is he obligated to? Nope. Will he? Probably, it will ultimately benefit him as well, seeing as how his films make almost NO money overseas.

In a way I know for us (as in people who DON'T glorify negative stereotypes amongst our community) we want the world to instantly see.."LOOK, WE HATE THAT **** AS MUCH AS YOU DO, OUR VOICE HAS JUST BEEN SUPPRESSED BY THE BUYING POWER OF THE PEOPLE THAT GLORIFY IT...BUT WE'RE FINALLY ALMOST EQUALING THEM IN NUMBERS!" But the reality of it is, the damage is done, and it's going to take some time to undo, might not even be in our lifetimes. Not to say we wont make a comfortable living getting "our" stories out...but for the world, as a WHOLE to see that we view negative stereotypes in our community, the same way they view it in theirs, it's going to take some TIME.

Yes, you do give a helping hand, but you don't just give it to EVERYONE. Pretty soon you're out of hands and might not have helped the right people at all. Let's just say you're a giving kinda guy, you have an extra 500 bucks you got back from taxes, you see a homeless guy on the side of the road with a sign that says "Have starving family, please help"..you give him 500 bucks and watch him walk across the street and buy crack. The next homeless man with a sign that says "Have starving family, please help" you're going to think twice about helping. Not only that, but because you were willing to help the first bum standing there with a sign, a sob story, and a hand out...you missed the guy across the street with his stuff together, who's not a bum, but is a VFX wizard who only needs 500 more dollars for some new software before he can make the next "SUPERSEEDS" or "MONSTER". Feel me?

I'm all for making it easier for the next guy, but who's to say they'll appreciate it, you can take him to the fountain, but you can't make him drink right? And say Tyler Perry doesn't WANT to do it? Well then it's up to US, to do like you said...make it so that our kids have an easier time, making sure their kids have an easier time. After all, Hollywood is over a hundred years old, but black Hollywood is much younger.

Overall, I think SOMEWHERE a sacrifice has to be made, I think the best place is in budget...I think what you're doing, and specifically to this thread what Martin is doing, is the right course of action. spend less money, therefore being LESS of a risk, and putting out MORE of a story, until we earn our trust back. It may mean being paid less than you would for a "Hollywood" gig (prefer that over the term white gig)...but that's what we're willing to do to open the door for the next man right? Sacrifice our own money for the good of our industry?
 
At CRProductions, MJ is a perfect example. It's just still crazy to me that he's not living anymore and he's placed with other martyr type people. He was another person that I thought of when I asked about getting Tyler Perry money and being able to live a life with that. MJ was a person that I looked at back in the 80's as a person with a silver spoon (although he wasn't born with it). I dreamed of a house like his and people of various races did also. Very important dude.

You're hittin' the nail on the head. We had a writer's group that would meet on Tuesdays about 5 years ago. I remember one guy mentioning the fact that I should bring him on when I make it big. But guess what. He NEVER finished one script...not even a short one. Doesn't film anything. Even has a money source that I don't think he'll ever tap into. It's like you have to take all of the risk. And unless Tyler is teaming up with people, he'll have to do the same. Oprah is in the same boat but with feature films she kinda stepped out of it after she had poor sales on one movie. However, she still makes stars of people like Dr. Phil, Rachel Ray (I think), and others that come on the show. She still invests in people...schools included. Tieuel Legacy! Motion
 
At CRProductions. Makes sense. The big guys are lowering budgets to get more films in. By the way, has anyone noticed a prodco named Stage 6 or Stage 5? I know I saw 2 or 3 movies in the last few days and each of them had about 3 different Stage 6 projects on them.

Also check out a documentary called America Beyond the Color Line. The Black Hollywood Portion has Don Cheadle discussing the Omer (or Ohmer) scale which calculates what combinations of ethnicities bring certain monetary returns.

Tieuel Legacy! Motion
 
tieuellegacy said:
At CRProductions. Makes sense. The big guys are lowering budgets to get more films in. By the way, has anyone noticed a prodco named Stage 6 or Stage 5? I know I saw 2 or 3 movies in the last few days and each of them had about 3 different Stage 6 projects on them.

Also check out a documentary called America Beyond the Color Line. The Black Hollywood Portion has Don Cheadle discussing the Omer (or Ohmer) scale which calculates what combinations of ethnicities bring certain monetary returns.

Tieuel Legacy! Motion
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Stage 6 is a Sony Pictures shingle. They spit out about 10 a year between 1 and 10 Mil. They have access to great talent, but so far the movies have been pretty drab.
 
CRProductions said:
And the more I think of it, the more I can see where he might be coming from. I think the last few posts have touched on a few things, specifically that people in positions of POWER help those that first help themselves. When people make it to a point where they are comfortably able to help others that were like themselves, 9 times outta 10, they've left behind others who CLAIMED to be like them, but fell by the way side. I know all I'm producing is a short film (Feature in september) BUT..I've already come across dozens of people like that. When I first started opening doors for myself through hard work, I wanted to take everyone with me, over time I realized that these people weren't actually doing anything on their own, just standing idly by, not risking anything (reputation, money, blood, sweat, tears etc) but instead waiting...if I succeed, they ride in with me, if I fail, they wash their hands of it and walk away no harm no foul. Those people still come to me like "yo man don't forget about me when you make it, you know I've always wanted to be a writer, can't wait to know someone with the skill to produce my stories, that's gonna motivate me to sit down and get serious".
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I love what you said here. This is so true. DESIRE and SPIRIT are the things that rule men and women. Many people have learned to weaken their desire and let go of their spirit because it's easier to take a small defeat than a large one. It's easier to be pessimistic than optomistic. Because when they fail they can say "Hey, I tried" and it not hurt so bad. The problem is they think they are climbing the mountain, when they only got to the first hill. They go to the hill because if they fail, very little pain comes from the fall. But when you tackle the MOUNTAIN, if you fall you are broke, hurt, in pain, maybe death. BUT, BUT, BUT if you succeed - all the honor, power, and might of standing there on the peak is yours and yours alone. And it's hard for those Mountain Climbers to respect the people who will give up on the hill.

Glad to see more Mountain Climbers in here! ;-)
 
CRProductions said:
I mean when you look at any black person driving a film with a big budget, they're all kind of removed, as PEOPLE from the general stereotypes that plague black people. They're what we might consider "safe" black people. For those that don't know what that term means, it's a black person who you know is "safe" to take out in public without acting out of character and embarrassing you, or what ever you're there to represent.

...

Overall, I think SOMEWHERE a sacrifice has to be made, I think the best place is in budget...I think what you're doing, and specifically to this thread what Martin is doing, is the right course of action. spend less money, therefore being LESS of a risk, and putting out MORE of a story, until we earn our trust back. It may mean being paid less than you would for a "Hollywood" gig (prefer that over the term white gig)...but that's what we're willing to do to open the door for the next man right? Sacrifice our own money for the good of our industry?
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Preach Brother, Preach! LOL This is exactly what i've been getting at. And what's worse is that when you have Negative Sterotypes that feed into the subconsious minds of those who are watching the movie. (And this happens) It imputs into their minds an image of a bad thing. So people over seas when they see black people (and rarely see them in person) believe that all black people are bad. That we are evil and all we think about it hurting others. I've had friends from other countries and met people who have come to the states and literally heard them say "Wow Black people are cool. I actually thought you guys were bad and would rob me and stuff." But that's because that's the image that is going out. It's the signal that we are sending overseas and into space.

Maybe that's why aliens don't abduct us - they think we'll shoot and rob them. LOL ;-)
 
Marlon Ladd said:
Can I expect for George Lucas to have made "Star Wars" with black actors in mind?

Sorry to hijack, Martin. LOL! BTW - is there anything new you could tell us about how Step Off is doing? Did you do any film festivals at all before the distro deal?
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Okay, now for a collection of posts from me as there have been some terrific posts since I last chimed in.

As for Lucas, it should be noted that he is trying to bring a Big Budget account of the Tuskegee Airmen to the screen and has been for a long time. Now you can look at it two ways(simultaneously, I believe). One way, good for him...can't wait to see it. The other way, what the hell is taking so long...you have the power George to make this happen overnight, get on it man! And of course, the fear in the back of many minds way...PLEASE don't screw it up like you did with the Prequels :)

Okay, had to go there for a minute (See, hi-jacking it myself).

OKAY back to STEP OFF. Got some more nice press coming soon so stay tuned for that.

As for the festival route, I kind of touched on it elsewhere (I think recently in Kholi's Superseeds thread) about my take on it all.

We knew we were making a MOVIE as opposed to a FILM. I do think we could have gotten some festival play (and the Atlanta Film Festival asked if we could be allowed to do a screening outside the festival in LATE summer) but it would have been limited. However, we struck our deal before we'd submitted it to any festivals since we'd sent a rough cut (it was picture lock but temp score & sound) to the few distributors we'd targetted early. So, when the deal was made, festivals really went out the window. They were pushing us to deliver so they could make their desired window for release. SO, festivals became forgotten.

I like festivals and do think they add credibility...particularly to a FILM. However, we scrapped our festival strategy (we had one, so it's important to have one) when we came to terms on the deal.

-Martin
 
CRProductions said:
"yo man don't forget about me when you make it, you know I've always wanted to be a writer, can't wait to know someone with the skill to produce my stories, that's gonna motivate me to sit down and get serious".
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YES! Absolutely. This is rampant.

If someone (particularly a writer) can't be motivated to do work on their own. What makes me believe they'll be motivated when given a chance professionally. First, who in their right mind would give someone like this a chance professionally?

You're either serious, or you're not.

I run into this a lot with my Atlanta Screenwriters Group. So many folks who aren't serious about writing, they just think it would be neat to be a screenwriter and think that they're owed a "shot".

I have many friends who are excellent writers who I would help (and will help) once I'm a position to do so. But, it won't be just the guy off the street who always wanted to be a screenwriter and asks me for a chance at it. Not until I've seen their work, and seen their commitment to it.

And I don't doubt that TP gets many an unserious inquiry thrown his way. Shoot, I do.

Since I'm the Co-President of the Atlanta Screenwriters Group (which sounds important to some people I guess) I get emails from strangers all the time that go pretty much like this. "Hey, I found your website. I've always wanted to be a screenwriter. Can you help me get an agent?" ... or better still "Can you help me get my script made?"

I joke about it all the time with my Partner, the other Co-President...we think up mock replies like..."First I need to know if you'd prefer Will Smith or Tom Hanks as the lead, but as soon as you decide we'll get it sold."

This is definitely an issue. But, you'll know who to help. And TP may find his way to that space too one day. Heard he shot back at Spike Lee though...told 'em to "Go to Hell".

So, we'll have to wait for that summit a little longer :)

-Martin
 
Yeah, I'm definitely not saying help people that aren't serious or not talented. What I'm saying is that there are plenty of people that will need help and direction upon our successes and are viable candidates. I surely wasn't talking about your cousin's Uncle's friend 6 times removed that didn't graduate from high-school, but has a paragraph written from a script he's been working on for 5 years. Lol! C'mon now.

I think what happened to you, Martin is the best case scenario actually. Even with film festivals, distribution is the ultimate goal. You can spend alot of money and resources in that market and still not get what you want out of it. For some, it's a good and positive route. I think it helped Matt Sconce and Gary out quite a bit. I think when I'm done, I'll be exploring both at the same time, but will be hoping that distro comes in pretty quick. Everybody dreams of having a critically acclaimed, popular festival film, but the truth is that it can take quite some time to see any results from the festival circuit.
 
CRProductions said:
I think the reason why Hollywood doesn't use as many black actors in high profile films is because overall, as a race we haven't proven ourselves "safe". We've marketed ourselves to the world for SO long as thugs, gangsters, etc that that's what they see us as, and though other black people in the hood are quick to support negative stereotypes and shun positivity. The WORLD isn't quite as willing to ride that wave. Do I want Hollywood to feel safe putting us in a position to drive their films and not worry that their movie is going to bomb because of who's in the drivers seat? Of course..but I guess I'm starting to realize that first the world has to see that there's more to us than glorifying gangs, murder and drugs.
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I think this is a form of Institutional Racism at work that is of course denounced but still in place.

I once had a documentary idea that I pitched to KRS-ONE while he was living in ATL and I would bump into him at times. He dug it.

On the surface it would sound a little trite and superficial (you must consider the time I had hoped to do this was when Eminem was first becoming a Superstar). The central question the documentary would take on was "Why can there only be ONE white rapper successful at any ONE time?"

So, KRS-ONE said, "Huh? I don't know why?"

I explained my premise is that because the Music Industry doesn't believe that the Public will accept more than one at any one point. Seems like a lack of faith in the public to accept white rappers, right? WRONG. It's that the Industry knows that the majority of Rappers portray negative images/messages and that the public won't buy those same messages from White people.

He said he thought there was a lot to that.

Same with all media. The reason that there aren't more counter stories in media is because the establishment doesn't think the public with "BUY" them. Don't mention the fact that they've never tried to sell any other types of stories, so they've made their own reality predominately accurate. At least with limited data.

Sure NWA sold more than Positive Rapper A...so we got 25 NWA-like groups with big marketing support for every 1 Positival Rapper A with moderate marketing support. How else would it play out?

Movies are very similar.

I've written on projects that were being considered at studios. The notes were appalling to me.

One project was given notes that the "...black characters weren't believable, they don't use enough curse words or slang..." and even worse notes than that which showed how the development folks saw an Urban Film. Coarse language only, street slang only, thuggish behavior was a must for it to be "real".

So, this is still a problem which make films like the ones being done by the folks on this thread all the more important.

I'm not saying we sugar-coat our stories or characters to combat this but just don't pander to that ridiculously skewed view of how an African American character "should" be presented.

Step Off has NO GUNS...and several other features that we'd have been laughed out of the room with if we were trying to go through that same studio I mentioned previously. Yet we made the movie "real" enough for sale :)

It just doesn't have dancing in it which ironically is creating issues with folks who haven't got sense enough to read the back of the DVD to realize that it's NOT a dance movie.

"Do your job! Don't ask me to Dance!" - Rod Tidwell, Jerry Maguire

-Martin
 
tieuellegacy said:
I've been meaning to ask you. What's the deal with Immigration Tango? Is that another movie that you produced?

Tieuel Legacy! Motion
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Immigration Tango is a script I sold. It was produced with a low budget (albeit higher than Step Off and likely lower than Corrado/Bad Ass) in Miami from a production company out of Boston.

Now, I got an Associate Producer credit on the film eventually because I did a lot of follow-up and kept engaged in the project with the producer the whole time and they rewarded me with the additional credit. I was a sounding board for casting ideas, I did some extra writing even after they had re-written my original script. I just did whatever I could from the outside to be supportive of the movie getting made.

Me and the producer traded Distribution stories as we were both making deals at the same time. Immigration Tango actually got a theatrical release from Roadside Attractions and will be released on DVD and On Demand in June (tenatively). This movie is a good example of the Festival Route working well.

The movie Won Best Film at the Boston International Film Festival and screened at several others (Palm Beach, Bahamas FF) which I'm sure helped it garner the distribution attention. They had a couple nice options for distributors but ended up choosing Roadside Attractions.

I'm hoping to write another script for the Producer some time this year. They're busy with another feature they shot in Bulgaria with Christian Slater, Donald Sutherland & Timothy Spall.

So, that one wasn't one I produced but do feel very close to it since I was kept in the loop really well and was able to continue contributing to it the whole time.

-Martin
 
Marlon Ladd said:
I think what happened to you, Martin is the best case scenario actually. Even with film festivals, distribution is the ultimate goal. You can spend alot of money and resources in that market and still not get what you want out of it. For some, it's a good and positive route. I think it helped Matt Sconce and Gary out quite a bit. I think when I'm done, I'll be exploring both at the same time, but will be hoping that distro comes in pretty quick. Everybody dreams of having a critically acclaimed, popular festival film, but the truth is that it can take quite some time to see any results from the festival circuit.
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True. And I don't mean to say that festivals shouldn't be sought after. Matt's movie Stricken was able to garner nice accollades and that's always helpful. In fact, traditionally I'd have said that Horror movies weren't really prime candidates for Film Festivals but there seems to have been a rise in the Horror Festivals' collective profile and it's certainly worth something to be recognized in those circles to gain more credibility that certainly helps when you're seeking distribution. So, just in our case, we were able to strike quickly with the deal and it made sense to skip festival submissions. Otherwise, we'd have been doing our best to make the scene this year at key festivals.

-Martin
 
Yep, agree with all that was said, and that just goes back to the fact that we have to accept Tyler Perry may not be the "Great black Hope" in Hollywood, but that doesn't mean there is NO hope.

Let's just say we start at the bottom of the mountain JL (I believe it was, sorry if I'm misquoting) instead of at the middle of the mountain where TP could start most film makers at. We just have to climb longer..do more, but eventually if we flood the market with positivity and refuse to make the bullshit films they're putting out...if we get even a miniscule chance to say, HEY that's NOT us...eventually it's going to stop falling on deaf ears!

I too have friends that say, "wow man, black people are people too, who would'a guessed?" I still know friends that aren't allowed to DATE black people!
 
CRProductions said:
Yep, agree with all that was said, and that just goes back to the fact that we have to accept Tyler Perry may not be the "Great black Hope" in Hollywood, but that doesn't mean there is NO hope.

Let's just say we start at the bottom of the mountain JL (I believe it was, sorry if I'm misquoting) instead of at the middle of the mountain where TP could start most film makers at. We just have to climb longer..do more, but eventually if we flood the market with positivity and refuse to make the bullshit films they're putting out...if we get even a miniscule chance to say, HEY that's NOT us...eventually it's going to stop falling on deaf ears!

I too have friends that say, "wow man, black people are people too, who would'a guessed?" I still know friends that aren't allowed to DATE black people!
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Yeah, I agree and that's what it's going to take. Filmmakers like us putting out the positive images and different types of films. Good films are good films and it's almost like Hollywood doesn't want to take a chance with anything unproven or that's a risk. What they don't understand is that black people will watch anything with black people in it (to a point that is). Nobody in Hollywood wanted to give TP's sort of "Christian" positivity films a chance, because they didn't think it would sell or people would watch. He's proven them wrong time and time again by being #1 at the box office. And I know all about the friends not allowed to date black people. That's just nuts.
 
@Kholi, I didn't know that they were a part of Sony. I saw all of those ads and figured that they were brand new. Made me wonder who came into that heap of money. I do wanna check a few out though. Tieuel Legacy! Motion
 
@Kholi, Ohhhhh. I've seen a few of these like Stomp the Yard 2 and Dirty. I didn't know the Jumping the Broom was under that print also. Got it. Tieuel Legacy! Motion
 
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