With Tyler Perry‘s provocative new release, The Family That Preys, some say he’s broadened his brush strokes with having a mixed cast–Perry just notes that as his “universe gets wider,” so too does the scope of his work.
One constant: Perry‘s recipe for success combines ‘secret’ ingredients that have faithful audiences coming back for more; and this time he’s adding new flavors, spicing up his filmmaking gumbo with yet another heavy-hitter cast.
Known to take critics with a grain of salt, Perry instead listens closely to his faithful following and responds to what they yearn to see onscreen, utilizing it as his guide as he gravitates towards new family-driven themes.
A provocative story revolving around the matriarchs of two very different families being torn apart by greed and scandal, The Family That Preys clearly speaks to his growing audience, now crossing more demographics.
For all you hopeful moguls, filmmakers, actors and moviegoers in between, click thru to learn: Tyler Perry’s Secret Ingredients to Success”:
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Ingredient #1: Stay on Track
The Family That Preys
Who: Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard
What: Wealthy socialite Charlotte Cartwright and her dear friend Alice Pratt, a working class woman of high ideals, have enjoyed a lasting friendship throughout many years. Suddenly, their lives become mired in turmoil as their adult children’s extramarital affairs, unethical business practices and a dark paternity secret threaten to derail family fortunes and unravel the lives of all involved.
Who: Lisa Arrindell Anderson, Jenifer Lewis
What: Madea’s fed-up niece, who has very special goals of her own, goes head to head with her overbearing, bourgeois (aka ‘bougie’) mother, who’s forcing her to marry a rich man she doesn’t love.
The ‘Perry Secret’: Fully in step with how Tyler Perry conducts his professional life, one thing’s for sure his characters who experience real growth and emerge as better people for it, are the ones who stick-it-out. Be determined. Have faith that taking an alternative path can work. It never hurts for a filmmaker to add a character to the mix, whom audiences can root for no matter how “out there” they are.
“I really admire Tyler as a filmmaker–he’s a maverick and he’s giving a voice to an entire community in Hollywood that doesn’t get that. I was really proud of him for that and I was really happy to do a read-thru when he asked me.”
—Sanaa Lathan, The Family that Preys
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Ingredient #2: Tell Me Somethin’ New
The Family That Preys
Who: Rockmond Dunbar, Sanaa Lathan, Cole Hauser
What: Families start to unravel as two very different matriarchs, Charlotte and Alice, who have enjoyed a lasting friendship throughout many years, become mired in turmoil when Alice’s self-centered newlywed daughter Andrea, betrays her trusting husband, by engaging in a torrid affair with her boss–the son of her mother’s best friend.
Who: Gabrielle Union, Idris Elba
What: Class clashing turn into a classy romance in this tale about love breaking the rules. Hired to represent a sexy, caring, working-class dad in his court case to keep custody of his three daughters, this uptight lawyer crosses the line when love sneaks upon her and she falls head over heels for her magnetic client.
The ‘Perry Secret’: Crossing into new territories is what life is all about, and Perry’s movies reflect both the consequences and positive joys of broadening one’s scope; only when it’s done for selfish or manipulative reasons does it come back to bite you.
“I wanted to work with Tyler Perry but at the right time—I felt like this was the right film. He was trying something new and I wanted to be a part of it. And, he offered it to me…I don’t get that much respect in Hollywood. I have to fight for everything!”
—Taraji P Henson, The Family that Preys
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Ingredient #3: There’s Always a Good Old-Fashioned Cat Fight Right Around the Corner
Who: Jenifer Lewis, Angela Bassett
What: A struggling single mom gets in touch with her roots–the hard way–when she heads down south to start a new life and meets her outlandish, ‘crass’ family, following the death of her estranged father.
Who: Jenifer Lewis, Rochelle Aytes, Lisa Arrindell Anderson
What: Madea’s fed-up niece goes head to head with her overbearing, bourgeois (aka ‘bougie’) mother, who’s forcing her to marry a rich man she doesn’t love.
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The ‘Perry Secret’: Roll up your sleeves ladies and prepare to pull your earrings out! It’s on! Guaranteed to strike the universal cord of brewing discord we all deal with, Perry is always ready to throw an attitudinal-conflict-on-the-verge-of-turning-into-a-confrontation moment in his works–preferably between, er um, his female cast.
“I would show the audiences the trailer for Madea’s Family Reunion, and the reaction was so huge that I knew it was going to be a great thing.”
—Tyler Perry
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Ingredient #4: Granny Get Your Gun
Who: Tyler Perry
What: The bible-toting, lawless Madea does a quick drive-by in this tale about a struggling single mom gets in touch with her roots who heads down South to start a new life and meets her outlandish, ‘crass’ family.
Who: Tyler Perry
What: An unstoppable force of nature, southern matriarch Madea may’ve finally taken on more than she can chew. She’s just been court ordered to be in charge of a rebellious runaway, her nieces are suffering relationship trouble, and through it all she has to organize her hectic family reunion.
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The ‘Perry Secret’: Doing a little tango with the law is something Tyler Perry freely plays with–especially when the lawbreaker arrives as none other than the aggressive, semi-neurotic, self-righteous, largess church lady of the decade, Mabel “Madea” R. Simmons, aka Madea. With a $50-million dollar box office gross for her film debut in Diary, seems audiences can’t get enough–perhaps the thought of drag behind bars is more popular than we think!
“I was traveling, attracting 30,000 to 40,000 people a week in theaters. I couldn’t go to the bar, I couldn’t go anywhere. They were my training for all of this stuff. So it doesn’t bother me. I live a couple of houses away from Jennifer Aniston. That annoys me because of the paparazzi. But other than that, I’m pretty good about it.”
—Tyler Perry
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Ingredient #5: Let’s Face It, Real Life Hurts
Who: Tasha Smith, Sierra McClain
What: A corrupt, drug-dealing mom with a shady boyfriend fights dirty to get custody of her three daughters, who yearn desperately to live with their upstanding dad.
Who: Janet Jackson, Malik Yoba
What: This couple, one of four on their yearly couples’ getaway, is comprised of an award-winning pop psychologist author who enjoys a perfect union with her architect husband–except she still can’t face, let alone discuss, the trauma of their only child’s death.
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The Perry Secret: Mr. Perry does not shy away from throwing a weighty dose of tragedy into the mix. While it often tips his work to the side of being melodramatic, these tear-jerking plot devices work well for his theatrical productions–and have only further served his cinematic dramedies, where audiences are hungry for both the highs of comedy and depths of tragedy.
“It’s amazing to have someone [Perry] that in tune, and that caring, wanting to bring important issues to help people get through.”
—Sharon Leal, Why Did I Get Married
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Ingredient #6: Keep It Sexy, Keep It Clean
Who: Gabrielle Union, Idris Elba
What: Hired to represent a sexy, caring, working-class dad in his court case to keep custody of his three daughters, this uptight lawyer crosses the line when love sneaks upon her and she falls head over heels for her magnetic client.
Who: Michael Jai White, Tasha Smith
What: Four couples play and try to work out their issues on an annual retreat. From the lot, Angela is a brash, top-notch businesswoman rarely misses an opportunity to belittle her ex-footballer spouse Marcus, who’s become accustomed to his wife’s constant put-downs.
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The ‘Perry Secret’: Generally bathed in just enough plum or golden lighting, Perry complements his sienna-hued pulchritudinous actors with just enough glow to render them photo-perfect for their ‘risqué‘ love scenes, often accompanied by a slow-burning music track. However, the smoldering situation isn’t something grandma can’t catch on daytime TV … A little bit of skin, a little bit of hotness. It’s always very “PG-13” for Perry.
“I think you’d be surprised at how many men there are who actually really want the same things you [women] want … We’re looking for that intimacy and everything too, seriously.”
—Lamman Rucker, Why Did I Get Married
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Ingredient #7: Everyone Needs A Little Lesson Learning Now and Again
Who: Tyler Perry, Keke Palmer
What: Just like a good Southern matriarch should, Madea is gonna whip things at shape on the homefront as she has just been court ordered to be in charge of Nikki, a rebellious runaway.
Who: Kimberly Elise, Steve Harris
What: A wealthy, philandering, verbally abusive husband must now depend on his once devoted, now clued-in wife of eighteen years–whom he recently kicked out of their house for his mistress–as he attempts to own up to his mistakes, while she digs deep to find grace.
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The ‘Perry Secret’: Stand in line, ’cause whether you’re a low-down cheatin’ mess of a husband, a drug-toting mom, or an unruly, unmotivated delinquent teen, Tyler Perry is very much about dishing out the discipline to those who need anything from a large dose comeuppance to a slap on the hand. It’s all quite biblical in the end; but the ‘good’-souled ones flourish with a bit of punishment.
“I am grateful that the [Hollywood] system booted me out so that I had to find my own way. A lot of people would give up and walk away, but I’m the type of guy that’ll find a way to cut a hole in the door.”
—Tyler Perry
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Ingredient #8: A Little Cameo Action Never Hurts a Hammy Director
Who: Tyler Perry, Sharon Leal
What: Of four couples in flux who embark on their annual getaway weekend, Terry, a straight-and-arrow pediatrician (with no drag stashed in his closet) is married to workaholic lawyer Diane, as their marriage suffers from neglect.
Who: Tyler Perry, Rochelle Aytes, Lisa Arrindell Anderson
What: Fresh out of court and while planning her hectic family reunion, the brassy beloved mother, grandmother and mentor Madea has her hands full trying to solve the tiring woes of her nieces’ messy romantic lives. The family protector, you do not want to get on Madea’s bad side–or you might feel the back of that frying pan.
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The ‘Perry Secret’: Ask Woody Allen, Spike Lee, Alfred Hitchcock or Christopher Guest, a little onscreen time can really woo an audience to your side … just ask his theater fan-base who first embraced his appearances in his works as a pistol-packin, drag alter-ego, Madea. Compared to his fellow filmmakers, Perry of course takes it to a whole ‘nother level, donning both BVDs and Victoria’s Secret over the course of one shoot day.
“To me this [Daddy’s Little Girls] was a break, getting behind the camera and getting to play and not having to worry about weight and eating right and all that stuff.”
—Tyler Perry
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Ingredient #9: Lest we forget–Let’s Give It Up For the Legendary Seniors
Who: Cicely Tyson, Maya Angelou
What: Forget the morning newspaper the front porch can serve as a great hotbed for the exchange of information, entertainment and a day’s worth of people watching. Myrtle and May find out all the latest news and gossip, steps from their front door.
Who: Lou Gossett Jr, Idris Elba
What: Willie sits Monty down to give him some familial advice on trying to make things amicable with his shifty ex-wife, for the good of his children.
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The ‘Perry Secret’: Making sure to include the legendary African-American icons who made Civil Rights era (and beyond) culture, arts and media some of the most vibrant legacies in the world, Tyler taps into some oft forgotten names to unearth talents that include an Oscar winner, Emmy winner and a Poet Laureate.
“What’s pleasantly surprising me is watching it cross over. Watching the charts rise in the other demographics.”
—Tyler Perry
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Ingredient #10: Broad Humor–On Many Levels–Is Always a Must!
Who: Tyler Perry, Blair Underwood
What: While planning her hectic family reunion and fresh out of court, Madea has her hands full trying to sort out the men who revolve around her nieces and their complicated love lives.
Who: Tyler Perry
What: A Madea-planned reunion not only brings together family, young and old, but also some much expected drama. Prepared to shoot action with his old school over the shoulder camcorder, the outlandish Uncle Joe won’t miss a moment. They can watch the home videos at the next reunion if there is one!
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The ‘Perry Secret’: Clearly Tyler derives pleasure from have broad, caricature-like humor dotted throughout his comedy dramas. Just like any joke intended to make one gaffaw, the multi-hyphenate director dips into the coarseness of life to get a rise out of his loyal, ever-growing audience. He’s not afraid of the awkwardness that clumsy, fantastical humor can usher in–so, go him.
“What’s pleasantly surprising me is watching it cross over. Watching the charts rise in the other demographics.”
—Tyler Perry
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Ingredient #11: Practice What You Preach
Who: Cicely Tyson
What: A stern mother watches as her daughter, Helen, wakes up to find an earth-shattering truth: that her wealthy, philandering, verbally abusive husband has discarded her for the mistress with whom he’s sired two children.
Who: Cicely Tyson, Tyler Perry
What: Self-righteous Myrtle can’t help herself when dropping by Madea’s thrown together reunion from chiding the guests for clothing behavior unbecoming of proud African-Americans.
The ‘Perry Secret’: More than willing to: profess moral code, wear religion on his sleeve–and on the sleeves of his productions–Perry‘s connection to the church may be his strongest box office draw with his faithful audience who comes to get their inspirational message while getting entertained. From the ubiquitous church lady in all his works to “keepin’ it real” on a profinity-free head set, it’s clear–notwithstanding the drag–that he’s somewhat of a Christian faith-based entertainment missionary, tapping into the essentials of primarily African-American life.
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“So I figure what is the next way that I can meet the needs of this [his theater] audience because they’re starving for good, wholesome entertainment with good values, that has some form of respect or faith in God.”
—Tyler Perry
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Ingredient #12: In the Name of Reversing Stereotypes
Who: Idris Elba, Sierra Aylina McClain, China Anne McClain, Aylina McClain
What: Monty fights for custody of his three young daughters from his estranged, morally bankrupt ex-wife. He enlists the help of a successful-but-lonely lawyer, Julia, and might get more than he bargained for after all.
Who: Angela Bassett, Sofia Vergara
What: Urged by her friend, Cheryl to make a change, Brenda, a struggling single mom heads to Georgie to meet her estranged, outlandish family, following the death of her father.
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The ‘Perry Secret’: Knocking down at least a few stereotypes in each film–those often foist upon the working class and/or people of color–Tyler Perry knows how to be inclusive by extending the range and scope of images, typically assigned to the ‘marginalized’: i.e., the single mother works hard, yet remains elegant; the blue-collar man is no dead-beat dad–he’s there for his kids … as are millions who walk in his shoes. However, the comedy loving director can also fall into the caricature trap easily with his works; nonetheless, he means well…
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Ingredient #13: Keep a Positive Vibe On Set
Who: Maya Angelou, Tyler Perry, Cicely Tyson
What: Myrtle and May, part of Madea’s universe are often quite busy getting up in the neighborhood business .
Who: Gabrielle Union, Idris Elba, Tyler Perry
What: Monty starts to fall for the woman of his dreams who arrives in the form of a beautiful, uptight lawyer who’s taken on his case to help him win back custody of his three daughters.
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The ‘Perry Secret’: Is it that he keeps his actors happy by wearing pumpkin-colored shirts while directing? Actually, looks like the helmer knows that the way to produce chemistry on screen is by keeping the vibe on set upbeat, open, ‘profanity free’ and personable.
“I think there was a lot of camaraderie among the cast. We all just hit it off and friendships were built from day one. It’s so sincere. We all genuinely really love each other. We had so much fun.”
—Tasha Smith, Why Did I Get Married
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Ingredient #14: Vital Secondary Character – Fine Brother to the Rescue
Who: Shemar Moore, Kimberly Elise
What: When Helen comes home to find that her cheating husband is having her clothes loaded into a U-Haul in the name of hooking up with his mistress, she meets Orlando, the truck’s driver who empathizes with her situation and soon takes a shine to Helen.
Who: Rick Fox, Angela Bassett
What: Brenda, an attractive struggling Chicago single mom who loses her job, takes her three children to Georgia for her estranged father’s funeral where she finds a crass, fun-loving Southern clan–and the possibility of romance with the handsome Harry.
The ‘Perry Secret’: This “secondary character” or “brother in the wings”–a favorite prototype of Perry‘s–often arrives on a messy scene with his fine face, surprising depth and fantasy-like sensitivity to bring comfort to the strong, neglected woman-in-need, who’s finally getting in touch with a layer of her own vulnerability. He swoops in like a knight, but warning ladies: this is the movies–not real life.
“I think for myself, especially going through it twice, being divorced twice, it would be more of a spiritual commitment. Finding your soul mate and exchanging vows, that’s still marriage in a different way. That’s enough for me.”
—Janet Jackson, Why Did I Get Married
