WGA Creators, Showrunners, and Executive Producers Submit an Open Letter to the Producers of Tyler Perry's "House of Payne"

This season, scripted television programming will consist of about 150 shows employing 1,200 writers.

Of that universe, 149 shows and 1,193 writers will produce shows covered by the Writers Guild’s Minimum Basic Agreement. The MBA guarantees minimum compensation, residuals, health coverage, and pension in addition to other benefits.

The big exception? Tyler Perry's "House of Payne" and the seven writers who, collectively, played a key role in producing over 100 episodes of one of television's most successful sitcoms.

Right now, these seven writers are in a struggle with you, the producer of "House of Payne," to extend Guild coverage to the show. This past Monday, after months of negotiations with the Guild, four of the writers were abruptly and illegally fired because of their efforts to secure the same minimums and benefits as their peers.

We all know that producing television is a tough and uncertain business. But some things are simply not acceptable.

We have a simple ask – reinstate the writers and make a fair deal with WGA.

Respectfully,

Rich Appel, The Cleveland Show
Lee Aronsohn, Two & a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory
Rene Balcer, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Alan Ball, True Blood
Carol Barbee, Swingtown
Carter Bays, How I Met Your Mother
Ed Bernero, Criminal Minds
Jenny Bicks, Men in Trees, Sex and the City
John Bowman, Frank TV, Martin, In Living Color
Shane Brennan, NCIS
Marc Cherry, Desperate Housewives
Alan Cohen, Held Up
Elizabeth Craft, Dollhouse
Bob Daily, Desperate Housewives
Elias Davis, WGAW Secretary Treasurer
Gary Dontzig, Murphy Brown, Suddenly Susan, Becker, State of Grace, Hannah Montana
Sarah Fain, Dollhouse
Kevin Falls, Journeyman
Michele Fazekas, Reaper
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Larry Gelbart, M*A*S*H
Mike Gibbons, Talk Show with Spike Feresten
David A. Goodman, Family Guy
Glenn Gordon Caron, Medium, Now and Again, Moonlighting
John Gray, Ghost Whisperer
Walon Green, Canterbury’s Law
Marc Guggenheim, Eli Stone
Hart Hanson, Bones
Warren Hutcherson, Everybody Hates Chris, The Bernie Mac Show
Michael Jamin, Glenn Martin
Al Jean, The Simpsons
Mike Kelley, Swingtown
Anne Kenney, Greek
Bill Lawrence, Scrubs, Spin City
Michael Leeson, Bill Engvall Show, The Cosby Show
Steve Levitan, Just Shoot Me
Chuck Lorre, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory
Bill Martin, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Grounded for Life
Chris McGuire, Mind of Mencia
Carol Mendelsohn, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY
Ted Mulkerin, Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Peter Murietta, Wizards of Waverly Place
Marti Noxon, Mad Men, Private Practice
John Peaslee, Operating Instructions
Steve Peterman, Hannah Montana
Clyde Phillips, Dexter
Judd Pillot, Operating Instructions
Bill Prady, The Big Bang Theory
Matt Pyken, Knight Rider
Michael Rauch, Love Monkey, Beautiful People, Life is Wild
Andrew Reich, Friends
Shonda Rhimes, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice
Shawn Ryan, The Shield, The Unit
David Sacks, Lewis Black's Root of All Evil
Steve Skrovan, ’Til Death
Mike Schiff, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Grounded for Life
Robin Schiff, Former WGAW Board Member
Gary Scott Thompson, Knight Rider, Las Vegas
Chris Sheridan, Family Guy
Amy Sherman-Palladino, Gilmore Girls
David Simkins, Warehouse 13, The Dresden Files, Blade: the Series, The Book of Daniel
Robert Singer, Supernatural
Dan Sterling, The Sarah Silverman Program
Matt Tarses, Worst Week
Alison Taylor, Just Jordan
Betsy Thomas, My Boys
Eric Tuchman, Kyle XY
Marc Warren, Cory in the House
Michael Warren, Happy Days, Family Matters, Step by Step, Hanging with Mr. Cooper
Matthew Weiner, Mad Men
Dan Wilcox, M*A*S*H, Newhart, Growing Pains, WGAW Board Member
Larry Wilmore, Former WGAW Board Member, The Bernie Mac Show

The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) is a labor union representing writers of motion pictures, television, radio and Internet programming, including news and documentaries. Founded in 1933, the Guild negotiates and administers contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of its members. It is involved in a wide range of programs that advance the interests of writers, and is active in public policy and legislative matters on the local, national and international levels. For more information on the WGAW, please visit: www.wga.org.

Fired Writers and their Supporters Move Picket Line to Tyler Perry’s Atlanta Mansion on Sunday

WHAT: Four "House of Payne" TV writers who were illegally fired earlier this week by Tyler Perry’s production company, House of Payne, LLC, will be joined by supporters on the picket line now moved to Tyler Perry’s Atlanta mansion tomorrow morning, Sunday, Oct. 5. They are asking invited guests not to cross the picket line.

The strike action comes after the Writers Guild of America, West filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging that "House of Payne" unlawfully fired the four writers in retaliation for their union activity. The charge also alleges that the company bargained in bad faith with the Guild, which is seeking to negotiate a contract covering the writers on Perry’s cable television series "House of Payne" and "Meet the Browns."

WHO: Fired "House of Payne" writers Kellie Griffin, Christopher Moore, Teri Brown-Jackson, and Lamont Ferrell will be joined by supporters in urging invited guests to respect the picket line.

WHEN: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2008
9:00 A.M.

WHERE: Tyler Perry’s Home
4110 Paces Ferry Road N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30327-3012

Actor Danny Glover Slams Hollywood Producers as Racist

Hollywood actor Danny Glover has alleged that Hollywood studio bosses are racist after he failed to secure financial aid for a biopic of revolutionary Haitian leader Toussaint L'Ouverture.

According to the New York Post, Glover's project has yet to move forward due to financial woes despite Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez offering half of the $36 million budget to finance the film, reports Contactmusic.com.

Glover was reportedly banking on the other $18 million from a distributor, but claims he faced rejection from financiers unsure of producing a film based on L'Ouverture, who helped to abolish slavery in Haiti in the late 1700s.

"Producers said it is a nice project. A great project in fact, but where are the white heroes?" Glover recently told a Paris film seminar, reports the Pan-African Newswire.

He added: "I couldn't get the money here. I couldn't get the money in Britain. I went to everybody. The first question you get is: Is it a black film? All of them agree, it is not going to do good in Europe, it is not going to do good in Japan. Somebody has to prove that to be a lie".

Black class, as 'reality' would have it

What do you think about this LA Times article about black reality series with a focus on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta"?

"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" is but one of a spate of current reality programs focusing on wealthy African Americans.

E-mail Picture

By Jon Caramanica, Special to The Times
August 10, 2008

LATE last month, Bravo aired a half-hour preview of its forthcoming "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," and with clinical precision, it lived down to expectations. Here, again, will be a group of women, many married to wealthy men, cataloging their possessions and their beefs for the cameras, largely because they lack the good sense not to.

But the opening monologue, voiced by all of the featured women, highlighted what will set this show apart from its New York and California predecessors: "Atlanta is a mecca for wealthy African Americans. Nowhere else is there an elite society of African Americans going to galas, fashion shows, and living in luxury gated communities. Atlanta is the black Hollywood."

Certainly the wealthy black communities of New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and other cities around the country are breathing collective sighs of relief that Bravo has chosen to train its cameras elsewhere. Most of the Atlanta "Housewives" are African American, making for the largest collection of black wealth any reality show has yet displayed, even if the opening monologue does describe it as "new money."

Click here to read the complete story.

'Distributing Indie & Making a Profit' on "Inside Urban Hollywood"

Film Distribution Guru Stacey Parks Join BlogTalkRadio Host Tanya Kersey on "Inside Urban Hollywood" on Monday, April 21, 2008, at 8pm PST/11pm EST

As many filmmakers out there can tell you, the distribution process can be a very rough road. Stacey Parks, founder of Film Specific and author of The Insider's Guide to Independent Film Distribution (Focal Press 2007) spent years as a sales agent, and knows the worldwide marketplace, and the major players, inside and out. Having been responsible for finding distribution for hundreds of independently produced films, Stacey has unique insight into what some of the most successful filmmakers are doing right. Just as importantly, she sees the mistakes some filmmakers are making which are preventing them from being more successful.

Parks will appear on BlogTalkRadio’s show "Inside Urban Hollywood" (http://blogtalkradio.com/insideurbanhollywood) with host Tanya Kersey on Monday, April 21, 2008, at 8pm PST/11pm EST, to discuss strategies for getting distribution for your films -- whether it's traditional distribution, alternative distribution or both -- and making a profit. Parks will also talk about resources and opportunities for filmmakers to get their foot in the door and propel their careers in a very demanding and unforgiving independent film marketplace.

Callers are welcome to join the conversation during the show by calling (646) 200-3290. The live, Internet talk-radio show will stream from the host page at http://blogtalkradio.com/InsideUrbanHollywood.

An archive will be available at the same link immediately following the show or listeners can subscribe to the archives via the RSS feed located on the host page at http://blogtalkradio.com/insideurbanhollywood. Read more about the host at http://www.tanyakersey.com.

About "Inside Urban Hollywood"

"Inside Urban Hollywood" takes you behind-the-scenes for insider insight into the people, issues and events that reflect the pulse of who's doing what, where and when in Urban Hollywood. Veteran entertainment journalist, author and film festival director Tanya Kersey is known for having her finger on the pulse of what's happening in Urban Hollywood. In addition to the inside scoop on the latest urban entertainment news, "Inside Urban Hollywood" also features interviews with some of Hollywood's movers and shakers -- from filmmakers, directors and writers to studio executives, agents and entertainment attorneys -- who share their knowledge and insights to help those aspiring, beginning and hoping to grow their careers in the entertainment industry. Callers are encouraged to call (646) 200-3290 to listen or ask questions. The stream and archives are available at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/InsideUrbanHollywood. The show is live every Monday night at 8pm. PST/11pm EST. Pacific. The show is hosted on BlogTalkRadio.

About BlogTalkRadio

BlogTalkRadio is a free, web-based platform which allows any user with a phone and a computer to host a live, interactive Internet broadcast. Hosts call into the service by phone, managing callers on the web-based host dashboard. Shows stream live directly from the host’s BlogTalkRadio web page with archives available for all past shows. BlogTalkRadio’s social radio network can be found at http://www.blogtalkradio.com.

Tavis Smiley Can't Take the Heat and Quits Tom Joyner Show over Obama Politics

After 12 years as a fixture on radio's syndicated "Tom Joyner Morning Show," activist, commentator and broadcast personality Tavis Smiley has quit the show. According to columnist Richard Prince, Smiley is said to be hurt by "hate" over his Obama stance.

The announcement was made by Joyner on this morning's show. Smiley has been on the syndicated radio show since 1996.

Read the complete story here http://www.maynardije.org/columns/dickprince/080411_prince/ and tell us what you think.

'Casting Indie' on "Inside Urban Hollywood"

Casting Directors Twinkie Byrd and Pamela Staton Join
BlogTalkRadio Host Tanya Kersey on "Inside Urban Hollywood"
on Monday, April 14, 2008, at 8pm PST/11pm EST

Just because your film isn’t a big budget or studio film doesn't mean you can't get name talent cast in your project. Due to the increasing pressure to have name talent in a film in order to get it into the distribution pipeline, attaching a seasoned, well-connected casting director to help cast an indie project has in recent years become a creative and strategic force in an independent filmmaker's success. Not only can talent determine whether or not you get financing for the film, for the low-budget independent film, it may mean the difference between development hell and a green light.

Casting Directors Twinkie Byrd ("Notorious," "Stomp the Yard") and Pamela Staton ("All About You," "Traci Townsend") will appear on BlogTalkRadio’s show "Inside Urban Hollywood" (http://blogtalkradio.com/insideurbanhollywood) with host Tanya Kersey on Monday, April 14, 2008, at 8pm PST/11pm EST. Byrd and Staton will talk about how indie filmmakers can get well-known talent cast in their independent film projects. They will also discuss how actors can jumpstart their careers by acting in indie films. Callers are welcome to join the conversation during the show by calling (646) 200-3290. The live, Internet talk-radio show will stream from the host page at http://blogtalkradio.com/InsideUrbanHollywood.

Twinkie Byrd has been casting for 20 years. She has cast many high-profile music videos and has worked with artists such as Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Wyclef Jean, Avril Lavine, N'Sync, Christina Aguilera, Brittany Spears, Black Eyed Peas, P. Diddy, J. Lo, 50 Cent, OUTKAST , DMX, P.O.D. and Eve. Many of the directors she's worked with in the music video world have moved onto film. They include David LaChappelle, Brett Ratner , Spike Jonze, Tim Story, Marcus Raboy, Forest Whitaker & Dave Meyers just to name a few. Her Commercial clients include Reebok, Barbie, PEPSI, TGI Fridays MTV, VH1, Home Depot and Dodge Chrysler. Byrd's feature casting credits include the number one hit "Stomp The Yard," "King's Ransom" and "Three Can Play That Game". She is currently casting Fox Searchlight's "Notorious," about the life of Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace.

As the president of Pamela Staton Casting, Staton sees her vision for diversity in casting fulfilled as she strives to create many acting opportunities and expand the scope of working actors. As a result of her dedication to excellence and keen eye for talent, she has completed 18 Independent Films, 14 of which received distribution, 11 garnered "Best Film" honors from prestigious film festivals, 7 film shorts, 2 documentaries and a few Stage Plays. Some of the more popular titles are “"All About You," "Restraining Order," "Traci Townsend," "Playaz Court," named an urban classic by Variety, "The Disciple," "Sister’s Keeper," and most recently "Street Boss."

Some of the talented actors Staton has cast in film projects include: Morgan Freeman, Robin Givens, Eric Roberts, Jeff Fahey, Michael Madsen, William Forsythe, Chris Tucker, D.L. Hughley, Chris Spencer, Gary Anthony Williams, Keith David, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Jay Acovone, Richard T. Jones, Taraji Henson, Raven Goodwin, Debbie Allen, Boris Kodjoe and Ruby Dee. She approaches client's wish lists with determination and often delivers greater than the budget dictates. She has a track record for recognizing new and emerging talent. She considers Craig Ross, Jr., Christine Swanson, Marc Cayse, Reggie Gaskins, J.D. Cochran, Greg Morgan, Tracie Dean Ponder, Karen Hayes, Robert Hyatt, Bo Svenson, Rodney Charles, Kent Faulcon, Brian Crewe, Michael Hoffman, Jr, Connie Robinson, Lance Kawas, Christopher Marlon and Greg Carter "ones to watch."

An archive will be available at the same link immediately following the show or listeners can subscribe to the archives via the RSS feed located on the host page at http://blogtalkradio.com/insideurbanhollywood. Read more about the host and the discussion on Tanya's website at http://www.tanyakersey.com.

About "Inside Urban Hollywood"

"Inside Urban Hollywood" takes you behind-the-scenes for insider insight into the people, issues and events that reflect the pulse of who's doing what, where and when in Urban Hollywood. Veteran entertainment journalist, author and film festival director Tanya Kersey is known for having her finger on the pulse of what's happening in Urban Hollywood. In addition to the inside scoop on the latest urban entertainment news, "Inside Urban Hollywood" also features interviews with some of Hollywood's movers and shakers -- from filmmakers, directors and writers to studio executives, agents and entertainment attorneys -- who share their knowledge and insights to help those aspiring, beginning and hoping to grow their careers in the entertainment industry. Callers are encouraged to call (646) 200-3290 to listen or ask questions. The stream and archives are available at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/InsideUrbanHollywood. The show is live every Monday night at 8pm. PST/11pm EST. Pacific. The show is hosted on BlogTalkRadio.

About BlogTalkRadio

BlogTalkRadio is a free, web-based platform which allows any user with a phone and a computer to host a live, interactive Internet broadcast. Hosts call into the service by phone, managing callers on the web-based host dashboard. Shows stream live directly from the host’s BlogTalkRadio web page with archives available for all past shows. BlogTalkRadio’s social radio network can be found at http://www.blogtalkradio.com.

LA TImes Articles Dissect Debate Among Black Film Professionals over Tyler Perry and the State of Black Films

My colleague and friend Greg Braxton penned an interesting article in the Los Angeles Times entitled "African American Filmmakers Seek a New Star." In it, a wide range of industry professionals from super talent agent Charles King to Sony Screen Gems' head Clint Culpepper and producer Will Packer chime in on the current state of black films, the opportunities and challenges in the industry today.

Central to the story is the hot button debate in the industry over Tyler Perry and how his success has affected the black film scene in Hollywood.

Speaking of Tyler Perry's films Braxton notes that "Despite the film's popularity and its message of faith, family togetherness and perseverance against seemingly overwhelming odds, the celebration within the African American creative community has been muted, its volume registering several notches below the joyous acclaim that once greeted [Spike] Lee and his contemporaries."
"If Lee laid the groundwork for a diverse army of black creators, then Perry has had the opposite effect, according to several experienced and aspiring African American filmmakers who want to tell dramatic, personal stories with complexity, and without bawdy humor, broad characters or facile resolutions," Braxton says. "They contend they are all dressed up with no place to show, all but shut out by studios who have embraced the Perry formula, as well as comedies such as "Who's Your Caddy?" or the youth-oriented frolics "You Got Served," "Stomp the Yard" and "How She Move.""

What do you think? Read the complete story at:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-ca-blackfilm30mar30,1,7841656.story

Spike on Politics, Making Black Films in Hollywood and His Moment of Delusion

Filmmaker Spike Lee had some harsh words for democratic presidential nominee, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, during an interview with him last week at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel as he was about to be honored by Chrysler with the "Behind the Lens" Award. Spike talked up politics, making films in Hollywood and his moment of delusion.

Q: Do you still have more sports films in you?

Spike: Yeah. So far I'm 0 for 3. I haven't been able to get money for Joe Louis and Jackie Robinson and also James Brown so I'm 0 for 3 for the black biopics.

Q: Why has it been so hard for you to get the films made?

Spike: I think all of these men made a great contribution to America and the world and I don't want to do the small version of their life. And its not that they say I can't get the money, they don't want to give me the money I need to shoot the vision I want. That's what happened to "Malcolm X" and I had to turn to other people to bail me out. I can't make those calls again. That was really tough making those phone calls.

Like my man Obama has said, progress has been made. When I first started, and I was in film school there was the only one African American filmmaker working in Hollywood and that was Michael Shultz. It’s hard to make a film, black or white, unless you're Spielberg or Lucas or James Cameron. Its just hard. For example, the studios they tell you this and that, so "Inside Man" was my most commercial film ever. Worldwide including DVD sales, over $200 million dollars. So when you're told all the time, 'well you haven’t had a hit over $100 million dollars,' and once you reach that, which is a huge hit and only cost $49. Usually Denzel gets $20 million for a film alone. So you get him Jodie Foster, and Clyde Owens and it’s made for $49 million, they're getting a bargain. So, that success put me in a delusional state (chuckling) where I thought, 'Oh yeah I'm in there now.' But, I couldn't get the money for James Brown. I want to do a film about the L.A. Riots that was written by John Ridley, couldn't get that money. I was pissed and got on the plane to Italy and that’s how we got the money for this new film called "Miracle at St. Anna," a WWII film. Disney Touchstone is the American distributor but the bulk of the money is coming from Europe.

Q: Why is it so hard to get wealthy African American doctors, lawyers and the like to invest in black films?

Spike: It's risky. It's gonna take time, It's gonna be evolutionary. You can get films made with black themes but most of the money is gonna go the comedies or hip hop, drug, shoot-em-ups and that’s not something I want to do. After "Inside Man" I got sent like twenty scripts about black heists. I think that demonstrates how creative Hollywood is -- 'Oh you got a heist film, send it to Spike.' It shows you the breath of their intelligence. If i were going to go the buffonery coonery route I'd get money for that. But there is just some things I'm not going to do.

Q: You said 'your man Obama,' you're obviously supporting Obama. Can you comment on that?

Spike: I just think that the Çlintons are bad people, they will do anything to win, and they keep demonstrating that. This last thing when she said she was under fire and my man Sinbad straightened that out real quick. That’s not something you just, you know, 'oh I thought it was Tuesday' and its Wednesday. No, that was complete fabrication -- just fabricating stuff. Then the stuff Bill Clinton has been saying ... Maybe it went to his [Bill Clinton] head when Toni Morrison said he’s the first black president but its been back firing because of the stuff he said about Obama, South Carolina, and all that stuff.

And then this whole thing with Florida and Michigan, each one of those democratic nominees understood the rules. Howard Dean laid it out. Florida and Michigan cannot be counted and Hilary Clinton was thinking like the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, 'It’s in the bag. F$%# Florida and Michigan, I’m not gonna need them anyway because by that time I'm rollin.'" But it didn’t work out like that, so now its like, oh this is un-American if the voices of Florida and Michigan are not heard. She wasn’t saying that stuff when she signed the thing. It’s a complete flip flop and I really think that Americans are getting more sophisticated. Some of us are not going for the okey doke.

But I will say this ... my Grandma, she put me through Morehouse and NY Film School. She lived to be 100 years old. She’s died Christmas Eve 2006, the day after James Brown died, both in Atlanta. Her mother was a slave so I’m only four generations from slavery and I think the mistake we make as African Americans is we talk about former years, but to get former years we have to talk about the day it ended, 1865. We talk about history, 1865 was like yesterday. And she [grandma] went to the grave for sure not thinking that a black man would ever be, or have the chance to be, President of the United States. So we living in an amazing exciting time.

When asked if he though Obama was going to win the democratic nomination and the presidency, Spike said yes. He added, "there's gonna be a lot of people who are going to have to explain themselves." He specifically mentioned BET founder Robert L. Johnson and Congressman Charles B. Rangel. Johnson, a Clinton supporter, came under fire for making a reference to Obama's admitted teenage drug use while campaigning for Clinton in South Carolina back in January. He later apologized. While announcing his support for Clinton’s presidential, Rep. Rangel, who represents Harlem, said Obama had no chance and claimed the people who enthusiastically backed him were motivated by “Black pride.” Rangel later reassessed his outlook.

"I think its gonna be tight and once I think he is gonna win the democratic nomination. But McCain, its not going to be a walk," Spike added.

Next up for Spike is "Miracle at St. Anna" which chronicles the story of four black American soldiers who are members of the US Army as part of the all-black 92nd “Buffalo Soldier” Division stationed in Tuscany, Italy in 1944 during World War II. They experience the tragedy and triumph of the war as they find themselves trapped behind enemy lines and separated from their unit after one of them risks his life to save an Italian boy. Directed by Spike Lee from a screenplay written by James McBride, the author of the acclaimed novel of the same name, the film stars Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso, Omar Benson Miller, Matteo Sciabordi, John Leguizamo, Joseph Gordon Levitt and James Gandolfini.

The film will be released October 10, 2008 by Touchstone Pictures.

Interesting that several mainstream media outlets described Lee's comments as "racial tension" and a "tirade." Check it out ...

The Hollywood Reporter: Risky Business
http://www.riskybusinessblog.com/2008/03/spike-lee-takes.html

Award Winner Spike Lee Blazes New Trails in Acceptance Speech Racial Tension
http://defamer.com/373451/award+winner-spike-lee-blazes-new-trails-in-acceptance+speech-racial-tension

Your thoughts?

What will Tyler Perry do to Cross Over with Broader Mainstream Appeal?

In a recent story in The Hollywood Reporter, the quandary writer-director-producer Tyler Perry is faced with is posed. Is he too black for broader appeal?

While Perry has consistently deliverd $20 million plus openings for his string of Lionsgate features, his overwhelmingly black audience demographics have not crossed over to the mainstream movie-going audience.

Perhaps Perry is pushing towards broader appeal with his next film, "The Family that Preys," which stars Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard. A departure from Perry's familiar character (including the gun-toting Madea) and themes, will "Preys" push Perry into broader acceptance in the moviegoing universe?
Your thoughts?