Horror stories about working at Tyler Perry Studios (Atlanta: salon, 2015)

[Newsboy]

OK, before I get into this let me say up front that this is NOT about the man or the type / quality films and TV shows he produces. It's about the way HIS people treat other people, particularly those who work as background actors in Atlanta.

I've never worked on a TP project, but I have many friends who have and all of them say it's THE WORST set experience in the Atlanta entertainment industry. Many work once and refuse to ever go back. Some have actually filed compliants with the unions and the state film office. Nothing ever changes.

The main complaints are that TP staff are arrogant and condescending, they change call times and casting details on the fly and without proper notification, they frequently shortchange voucher hours (for example, guaranteed you 8 but only pay for 6) and are not prompt in processing vouchers and payments. Craft services are non-existent and meals, when provided, are often less than adequate. One friend recently told me he was on a TP set and they gave background a sack lunch containing a cheese sandwich and an apple.

But another friend, who is Asian, has another story to tell: She was cast once to play a hairdresser in a beauty salon scene, for diversity sake apparently, when TP walked onto the set, pointed at her and said "This is a black show; get her out of here."

Another friend just forwarded me a letter she wrote today addressed to TP himself complaining about the shoddy treatment she recieved working yesterday (she showed up 30 minutes early for an 11 am call time that they moved to 1 pm without telling her, then clocked her in at 2 because that was the time she finally got through security and was "processed.")

I've worked on a lot of film and TV sets in this town and have heard these same horror stories told over and over by a lot of friends. Curious to know if this has been anybody else's experience?

[ATLTJL]

I only know one person who went to work at TP studios, probably 10 years ago.

I never talked to this person directly about it, but heard through the grapevine of mutual friends that is was a low-budget sweatshop environment.

[Gilah G.]

This shocks me.
Thought with his $$$$ and rags to riches story, he'd pay it forward. Why don't more people talk about this?

[bmw335xi]

Tyler Perry movies are crap anyways, I have no idea what his target audience is...

[PKCorey]

Originally Posted by Gilah G.

This shocks me.
Thought with his $$$$ and rags to riches story, he'd pay it forward. Why don't more people talk about this?

They have posted about it on the internet.

I'm not shocked at all. He underpays the writing staff which is why the WGA has gone against him so many times. All the other union issues that he has had with his various shows and plays.

I've had a couple associates discuss the same thing about him. It is a sweatshop. Quantity over quality.

[Newsboy]

Two Actor Unions Ban Their Members from Working on Tyler Perry’s Latest Stage Production | IndieWire

[ATLTJL]

I heard that instead of shooting the shows one season at a time like a normal production, they overwork everyone and shoot two seasons before wrapping in the same amount of time one would expect to shoot a single season.

[Othello Is Here]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

OK, before I get into this let me say up front that this is NOT about the man or the type / quality films and TV shows he produces. It's about the way HIS people treat other people, particularly those who work as background actors in Atlanta.

I've never worked on a TP project, but I have many friends who have and all of them say it's THE WORST set experience in the Atlanta entertainment industry. Many work once and refuse to ever go back. Some have actually filed compliants with the unions and the state film office. Nothing ever changes.

The main complaints are that TP staff are arrogant and condescending, they change call times and casting details on the fly and without proper notification, they frequently shortchange voucher hours (for example, guaranteed you 8 but only pay for 6) and are not prompt in processing vouchers and payments. Craft services are non-existent and meals, when provided, are often less than adequate. One friend recently told me he was on a TP set and they gave background a sack lunch containing a cheese sandwich and an apple.

But another friend, who is Asian, has another story to tell: She was cast once to play a hairdresser in a beauty salon scene, for diversity sake apparently, when TP walked onto the set, pointed at her and said "This is a black show; get her out of here."

Another friend just forwarded me a letter she wrote today addressed to TP himself complaining about the shoddy treatment she recieved working yesterday (she showed up 30 minutes early for an 11 am call time that they moved to 1 pm without telling her, then clocked her in at 2 because that was the time she finally got through security and was "processed.")

I've worked on a lot of film and TV sets in this town and have heard these same horror stories told over and over by a lot of friends. Curious to know if this has been anybody else's experience?

I like Tyler Perry and I hope none of this is true.Especially the part about "This is a black show".
However I do have my best friend who played a role on his show and he said it wasn't terrible but it was not a great experience either.
He is black but gets it a lot because if you closed your eyes,he sounds Caucasian.One of the other main actors of a TV show of TP joked a little to much for his liking about his "demeanor"

the arrogance thing Im sure exist.Give some people a little power and they run with it.

I hate to say it but its common among minority business.Asian companies are notoriously "cheap" and overwork their employees also.

[tyronejacobs0]

I was just thinking about applying at tyler perry studio's,after reading this I might reconsider some where else.

Thanks For the heads up!

[Iconographer]

We can all act the biotch sometimes, and I'm sure she's no exception.