"We want to tell multidimensional stories with in-depth characters," said D'Angela Steed, one of the heads of Strange Fruit Media, which produces films and television series (BET's "Exalted!"). The company recently pitched a made-for-TV drama to a cable network. The response? "What's the Tyler Perry version?"
Nia Hill, Steed's partner, added that the situation extends beyond just a lack of opportunity. "The images that are being put forth are too powerful to be taken lightly."
But others in the industry proclaim that the African American film landscape is not only alive but thriving. They say several filmmakers, including Perry, Tim Story ("Barbershop," the "Fantastic Four" movies), David E. Talbert ("First Sunday") and others have tapped into commercial sensibilities and have taken advantage of increased opportunities.
"The producers and people I talk to are thrilled by the success of Tyler and the opportunities this has presented for other filmmakers," said Charles King, an agent with the William Morris Agency who represents Perry, Story, director Craig Brewer ("Hustle & Flow") and Andre Benjamin, actor ("Idlewild") and member of the rap group OutKast. "It really shows there's a marketplace that's not being fed."
A harder road?
Black film festivals around that country are where up-and-coming movie-makers meet to share projects and ideas. This next wave of black filmmakers is an amorphous group, perhaps less easily categorized than those who followed Lee. Though united in their goal to make artistic statements that will draw audiences (and financial success), they differ greatly in backgrounds and perspective. All have personal stories or insights about family, life and love that they want to share. Some are industry veterans who want to make their own mark after years working as publicists or in other jobs. Some are actors who want to create more satisfying roles than those they are being offered.
And they are trying to make headway in an industry that's almost impenetrable for independent filmmakers of any race. But some black filmmakers feel they face a harder challenge in getting their voices seen and heard, especially during this time dominated by Perry and his distinct sensibility. They say they have hit resistance in trying to create universal stories with specific and realistic black characters that would be the equivalent of "Juno," "Little Miss Sunshine" and "Sideways."
