Filmmaker Tyler Perry made history in 2019 when he opened his very own movie lot in southwest Atlanta. More than 800 guests came out to christen Tyler Perry Studios.
The star-studded event featured such celebrities as Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey, and even former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. The acreage is now being courted by Texas Bishop T.D. Jakes, who is interested in purchasing more than 200 acres.
Tyler Perry Studios: Everything You Need To Know
Perry wasn’t born in Atlanta, but he’s made it his home for more than 20 years. In this article, we’ll look at some things you probably didn’t know about Tyler Perry Studios.
Let’s get started.
Unlike other movie lots, Tyler Perry Studios, like the name implies, made up of several studios.
1. How Big Is Tyler Perry Studios?
Tyler Perry Studios sits on 330 acres just outside the borders of East Point, Georgia. It is one of the largest movie production facilities in America.
The studio is larger than the studio lots of Disney, Fox, Paramount, Sony and Warner Brothers, with acres to spare.
Here are some facts about Tyler Perry Studios:
- More than 40 sites on the National Register of Historic Places sit on Tyler Perry Studios property.
- Tyler Perry Studios has 12 sound stages
- The studio also encompasses more than 220 acres of greenspace
- The studio space has 21 movie sets on site
2. How Many Movie Sets Does Tyler Perry Studios Have?
Tyler Perry Studios has 21 movie sets on the property. They have names like “Mansion,” “Prison Yard,” ‘Rustic Cabin,” “Motel,” “Oval Office,” “Motel,” and more.
3. What Are The Origins Of Tyler Perry Studios?
The plot of land, more than 300 acres, traces its earliest beginnings to a U.S. Army barracks that would soon be home for the Confederate Army. It would quickly return to the Union during the Civil War.
In 1885, Fort McPherson would claim the space over 500 acres. The Army base was named after Union Major General James McPherson, who was killed in battle during the Civil War.
When Georgia seceded in 1861, the Confederate government took charge of Fort McPherson. These lasted until the Battle of Atlanta, which saw operations at the base moved elsewhere.
But the site is not so much about the past as it is about its future. Perry has transformed the grounds into an oasis of manicured natural beauty.
4. How Much Did Tyler Perry Pay For Fort MacPherson?
Perry paid $30 million for more than 300 acres of Fort McPherson. He would then go on to invest more than $250 million of his fortune into the land.
When the price of the sale was published in the newspaper, there was quite a bit of criticism.
5. Where Was Tyler Perry’s First Atlanta Movie Studio?
Perry originally had a studio in Midtown Atlanta, where the site of Krog Street Market now sits.
After that in 2008, he bought a studio lot in southwest Atlanta close to Greenbriar Mall. That studio was 200,000 square feet and a perennial tourist attraction.
6. What Was The First Movie Filmed At Tyler Perry Studios?
You know Atlanta has all types of movies filming here. Marvel’s “Black Panther” was actually the first movie to be filmed on the lot.
Perry has said in interviews how he thought it was appropriate that somehow a movie about a black superhero would be the first one filmed at his studio.
7. Is Tyler Perry Hiring?
Perry holds auditions periodically to fill positions on his many projects. Since he signed his production deal with BET+, he’s been hiring more and more for his series.
We can’t say it’s easy to get a job with Tyler Perry, but here’s what you need to know to get hired.
8. What Are Celebrities Saying About Tyler Perry Studios?
View this post on Instagram
//www.instagram.com/embed.js
A who’s who of A-Listers spoke out about the massive achievement of Perry, who was homeless at one point in his journey.
Beyonce took to Instagram to say this about Tyler Perry Studios.
” I could feel our ancestors’ presence. Surrounded by my heroes, I watched Denzel, Queen Oprah, Spike, Whoopi, Sir Poitier, Will, Halle , Dame Cicely and our angels John Singleton and Diahann Carroll honored. The Armand de Brignac crashed against each soundstage as fireworks lit up the sky. Generations of blood, sweat and tears, success, excellence and brilliance. It makes me so proud, so full, I could not stop crying. Thank you my Virgo brother for so much love and passion put into every detail. My prayer today is that you will take it all in. You inspire me to dream even bigger.”
Actor Michael Ealy said that it was important for creatives of color to witness the creation of a black-owned film studio.
Oprah Winfrey was visibly moved to tears during a choir procession at the gala. Footage from fillmmaker Ava Duvernay showed the mogul taken aback by the gravity of the moment at Tyler Perry Studios.
Atlanta has become a movie mecca in recent years and Georgia has been a favorite location for TV productions since the state instituted generous tax breaks for film companies that agree to shoot locally. Projects from CBS, NBC, HBO, BET and more are slated to shoot in the metro area in 2018-19 and the foreseeable future.
Inside Tyler Perry Studio’s Star-Studded Grand Opening (PICS)
Want to work in Georgia film & TV? Here are the latest Atlanta casting calls
The post 6 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Tyler Perry Studios In Atlanta appeared first on AtlantaFi.com.
Source: AtlantaFi
