Now that he's worked under someone else -- when he was featured in this summer's blockbuster 'Star Trek' -- Tyler Perry plans to do the same thing with his production company.
The New Orleans, Louisiana, native filmmaker will write, direct, and producer Ntozake Shange's award-winning 1975 play 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuf.'
The film will be the first project for 34th Street Films, Perry's new production company, which is housed at Lionsgate.
The film will feature an all-star cast of female actors. Principal photography is scheduled to begin in Atlanta in Nov. and continue through Dec.with a planned release for next year.
While this will be his tenth film collaboration with Lionsgate, it's Perry's first film to be based on non-original material.
The franchise's eighth title, 'Tyler Perry's Perry I Can Do Bad All By Myself,' opens nationwide on Sept. 11, followed by the opening of 'Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?' on April 2, 2010.
Perry is also a co-presenter and executive producer, with Oprah Winfrey, of the Sundance Film Festival award-winner 'Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire,' which Lionsgate is releasing in November.
On his new venture, Perry states, "Making a film of 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuf' is a dream come true for me. Ntozake Shange's play is a magnificent tribute to the strength and dignity of women of color, and I think audiences of all generations will be able to recognize and embrace the experiences these women represent. Creatively, this movie is one of the most exciting undertakings of my career, and I'm excited to start production this November."
'For Colored Girls' is a series of 20 poems, referred collectively as a "choreopoem", performed through a cast of nameless women, each known only by a color: "Lady in Yellow", "Lady in Purple", etc.. The poems deal with love, abandonment, rape, and abortion. The performances of the seven actresses are focused on their specific stories; i.e., Lady in Blue's visceral account of a woman who chooses to have an abortion; and Lady in Red's tale of domestic violence.
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By: Always Amazed... on 9/04/2009 2:26PM
Wow! What an interesting piece! The title alone speaks volumes. And this was a 1975 award-winnng play? Yes, I would have to say that Tyler has selected yet another winner. The idea of what it stands for is absolutely wonderful. One would definately have to be excited...What a great accomplishment for you, Tyler. When you believe, dreams really do come true... (remember, you are in a place where even dreams believe)...I am extremely happy for you...You deserve it!
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By: lumineers on 9/04/2009 5:38PM
tyler you are truely a blessing . god gave you a vision and you went with it , that is just great just keep them coming its so good to see people doing big things on a larger than life scale at their own pace, and not racing with no one but themself, its a beautiful thing. and all of your work is over and above the top and very entertaining. you are a piece of work and multi/talented in the film , writing, producing and acting arena you are doing a super job and you are very love and cared about for your labor of love in the movie industry and you are right up there with the best of the best.
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By: ceo on 9/04/2009 6:15PM
I'm a little perplexed by this choice of material for Tyler Perry. Ntozake Shange's play is not the pseudo-Christian text that he has produced in the past. I helped produce a version in college almost 30 years ago. It was raw/powerful then and with the passage of time and thousands of reproductions it has become black theatrical canon. I wish him well and I hope the film can capture the plays original power. We need Black run film companies willing and able to produce good films i.e. Spike Lee. I hope this is a productive journey for Tyler Perry.
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By: Dee on 9/05/2009 3:16PM
Dam,Will Tyler Perry Ever Do a Black-Casted All Action Movie?
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By: shawnee on 9/06/2009 8:19PM
my dear aunt, patricia scott gave me this book to read, when i was abandoned by both of my parents at 16 years old. it was the best book, it brought me out of a seriously deep depression.
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By: Phytgurrl on 9/07/2009 2:05PM
I don't know if Tyler Perry is sophisticated enough a writer to handle "For Colored Girls..." No offense to all the Tyler Perry fans, but his writing and his work is very simplistic and basic and for colored girls is One of the best poems i've ever read. What was Ntozake Shange thinking when she gave Perry her writes?
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By: Airet on 9/07/2009 10:48AM
I visited ATL in hopes of touring the new TP studios (not offered, yet). I was informed of the For Colored Girls...play being redone with a phenomenal cast of black women. One who has been cast in a TP production. Will the two meet work together again? Maybe (Robin Givens)? What a Holy Ghost hook up, I can’t wait for mine. In Jesus name. Amen.
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By: Sylvia on 9/07/2009 2:15PM
I have been waiting many years for someone to do this again as a play/film. I bought the book and saw so many women and their experiences. I am 58 years old and will go see this movie with my daughtes and friends. Most Blessings....
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By: TED DONAHUE on 9/08/2009 9:16AM
I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME SOME BLACK PRODUCER, WRITER, ACTOR OR SOMEONE DID THIS REMARKABLE PLAY. I SAW IT IN CHICAGO IN 1973 AND WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THE STORIES OF THESE WOMEN. THANKS TYLER FOR HAVING THE INSPIRATION TO DO SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PIECE.
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By: Dymondaire on 9/08/2009 9:51AM
BRILLIANT!!! Whoopi’s desire to bring the choreopoem to Broadway was thwarted (one issue was the word "colored"). While Tyler is sensitive to women's issues (Medea is another story), I have reservations with him writing the screenplay. Ntozake Shange should be leading the work that may be necessary to adapt “For Colored Girls…” to the screen. At first thought, Kasi Lemmons & Cheryl Dunye would both work the Director's chair. No offense, but Tyler's power should be focused on production.
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