February 2009 | blackfilm.com | TYLER PERRY'S MADEA GOES TO JAIL BUTTON

February 2009

TYLER PERRY'S MADEA GOES TO JAIL | An Interview with Tyler Perry

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TYLER PERRY'S MADEA GOES TO JAIL
An Interview with Tyler Perry
By: Wilson Morales

February 16, 2009

With a handful of films, a hit TV series, and another one getting ready to get off the ground, Tyler Perry is clouded with success all around. When does he find time to concentrate on one thing? The fact that he can do much in a short timeframe speaks for it.

With his signature role as Madea, Perry couldn’t have predicted that his alter ego would take him this far. Perry has been able to make more of a character than just a comedy skit.

Coming out on February 20 is his fourth stint as Madea on the big screen in ‘Madea Goes to Jail’. After a high-speed freeway chase puts Madea (Tyler Perry) in front of the judge, her reprieve is short-lived as anger management issues get the best of her and land her in jail. A gleeful Joe (Tyler Perry) couldn't be happier at Madea's misfortune. But Madea's eccentric family members the Browns (David and Tamala Mann) rally behind her, lending their special "country" brand of support.

Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Hardaway (Derek Luke) is on the fast track to career success. But Hardaway lands a case too personal to handle - defending young prostitute and former drug addict Candace Washington (Keisha Knight Pulliam) - and asks his fiancée and fellow ADA Linda Holmes (Ion Overman) to fill in on his behalf. When Candace ends up in jail, Madea befriends the young woman, protecting her in a "motherly" way as only Madea can.

In speaking with blackfilm.com, Perry talked about getting back into Madea again and casting Keisha Knight Pulliam in the lead role.

With so much going on in your life, how does it feel to directing films again?

Tyler Perry: It’s good. I haven’t stop directing. I’m learning. Every time I try to do a movie, I try to be better at my job. I’m starting to pay attention to other great directors like Spike Lee and (Steven) Spielberg, and J.J Abrams. I’m looking at their styles and my points of directing. Those guys are real directors and I’m just trying to tell a real story.

What’s the difference between the play and the film?

TP: It’s a whole different thing. The play was the play and it was fantastic. The story is just different in the film. The only concept that stays the same in both the play and the film is that Madea goes to jail.

Did you worry about this when you wrote it, knowing the fans want to that version on film?

TP No, because they actually don’t want to see the play on the big screen. They don’t want to know exactly what’s going to happen. They don’t want to see the exact same thing, so I’m not concerned about it.

Are you concerned about the growth of Madea in films?

TP: She’s the same all the time. She never ages. What’s important to me is to show critics and people alike that there are different sides to me, so I like to do different things. I will return to Madea from time to time.

Why cast Keishs Knight Pulliam in the lead role?

TP: We were working together on ‘House of Payne’ and I love working with people who have a great attitude about things, and her attitude was so perfect when it comes to work. She just wants to do the work, and I told her about the role, and she was like, “Please let me do it.” She wanted to get out of Rudy, and what better way to get out of it than by playing a hooker in film. She can show the world that she’s an actor and that she’s not typecast as this little child star. She was great at it.

You also have some cast member getting more exposure by being in your film.

TP: It’s a little younger, which I am excited about. Ion Overman, and Sofia Vergara, Ronreaco Lee and Derek Luke, all worked good together.

Oscar nominated Viola Davis is in the film as well.

TP: Yes, she came in pretty excited from completing ‘Doubt’ and could not wait for it to come out and for her to be nominated, I was over the moon for her and Taraji (P. Henson). She’s nominated for ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ and was in my film, ‘The Family That Preys’. Too bad they can’t win since they are competing in the same category.

What was the idea behind writing this film?

TP: Where the country is right now, people need to laugh, so I wanted to do something where people can do that. That is why I wanted to have some fun.

How did you get Dr. Phil to be in the film?

TP: That’s because of his wife. She loves ‘Diary of a Mad Black Woman’ and told him, “You gotta do this movie!” It was really great to have the two of us in the film riffing on each other.

Do you get tired wearing the makeup?

TP: Yes, that’s why the movies are so far apart now in years. Before, it was just a year. Besides the makeup, it’s all fun. I’m enjoying myself and having a good time.

What’s the next film featuring Madea?

TP: Who knows? I want to tell more great stories so I don’t know.

MADEA GOES TO JAIL OPENS ON FEBRUARY 20, 2009

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