Why Your Support of ‘Red Tails’ is Important for Black Hollywood
Ask any black filmmaker and they’ll tell you that getting black films made and subsequently released is a difficult task unless your first name is “Tyler” and your last name’s “Perry.” Now George Lucas, the Hollywood heavyweight that brought us “Star Wars” and the executive producer behind the film “Red Tails,” is talking about how difficult it was for even a successful film legend like himself to get the movie about the Tuskegee Airmen into theaters.
During an appearance on Comedy Central’s Daily Show Lucas joked that the movie had ” …been held up for release since 1942 since it was shot, I’ve been trying to get released ever since.” The film, which is set to be released on Jan. 20 through Lucasfilm, tells the story of the first group of African-American fighter pilots in the U.S. armed forces and stars an ensemble cast that includes Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Terrence Howard. But even with a big name producer and marquee talent attached getting it made was still a challenge. Why you ask? “It’s because it’s an all-black movie ,” according to Lucas. “There’s no major white roles in it at all…I showed it to all of them [major studios] and they said ‘no.’ We don’t know how to market a movie like this.”
To put the film out Lucas invested a total of $93 million of his own money–$58 million to make the movie and $35 million to distribute it–banking on it being a box office hit. Should it fail, Lucas told USA Today, the repercussions would be felt in Black Hollywood for along time to come. “”I realize that by accident I’ve now put the black film community at risk [with Red Tails, whose $58 million budget far exceeds typical all-black productions],” he said. “I’m saying, if this doesn’t work, there’s a good chance you’ll stay where you are for quite a while. It’ll be harder for you guys to break out of that [lower-budget] mold. But if I can break through with this movie, then hopefully there will be someone else out there saying let’s make a prequel and sequel, and soon you have more Tyler Perrys out there.”
Will you see “Red Tails”? Do you think Lucas is right about the consequences for Black Hollywood if it fails? Leave a comment and tell us what you think.
Thank you George for once again showing us all that no dream is impossible! Cried when I saw the trailer a few months ago. CAN’T WAIT!
I am do excited to see this movie. I love the older version of a movie about the Tuskegee Airmen made in the late 80s or early 90s. I’m so there Jan. 20.
Yes. Without a doubt I will be seeing this movie and will be taking my grandchildren as well.
I will go see the movie to support it and tell my friends to go see it as well.
Lucus is just trying to sell the movie. He is part of the hollywood establishment.
Black people are not going to the white movies.
Hollywood is missing $800 mil black money.
So throw us a bone and we will keep on giving. Stop going and listening to the white man. Boycott Red Tails.
Look forward to seeing this film and thank you Mr. Lucas
I couldn’t agree more. Heres what Sam is doing:
With the release of Red Tails Movie Sam is accompanying 1000 kids to watch the red tails movie in the bay area. As a black aviator with over 16 years of flying experience he also happens to be the only black person I am aware of in the United States who started and operates an aerial advertising company http://www.aerialbeacon.com. Watching red tails for us is such a thrill, we are intimately aware of and experience daily the challenges that are associated with being of color in the aviation industry. We do wish this movie much success and hope it will be a turning point for black involvement in aviation.
A few years ago I watched a program with Henry Louis Gates, I believe the title was “Beyond the Color Line”. In one segment which focused on Black Hollywood Mr. gates interviewed legendary film producer Arnon Milchan. During their discussion Mr. Milchan was asked if given the opportunity would he cast Denzel and Halle opposite one another in the lead roles of a film. His answer was an emphatic no. The reason he said was because White America would not watch a prominent African-American movie star paired with another. He went on to say that the only way that African-Americans are viewed as acceptable to the mainstream/Whites is if they are paired opposite a White actor e.g. ‘Training Day”, “Monster’s Ball.”
It’s unfortunate that George Lucas has to make such a plea to ensure that his endeavor to bring a historical fact to the big screen don’t hurt future possibilities about black movies and especially black historical movies. So there is a job before us all (African American) as well the none blacks to change the perception in Hollywood. What’s ironic is Blacks attend none-Black movies but none-Blacks don’t reflect the same efforts. Everybody needs to see this movie!
It looks impressive, as an action movie. I just don’t get a whole lot of information about the story line. How is this retelling different or more poignant than another? I’ve seen Tuskegee Airmen and enjoyed it. I have been to Tuskegee, taken my children there. This is an important part of our history – American history – that is dying off.
All the press that I keep hearing is that George Lucas (who I am a huge fan of) put up his money to make a movie starring black people. Please, please, somebody tell me and the rest of the world, why we need to go see this move!! I’m just so sick of Hollywood and their remakes. It seems like there is not a single original idea out there anymore and we’re flocking like pigs to slaughter, handing over our hard-earned money (a movie for my family of 6 costs us nearly $100) to watch something mediocre.
All that being said, I will go see Red Tails because my husband is excited about taking our sons to see it. It is already providing them (ages 11 and 9) with something to talk about and research. They’ve seen the trailer and are buzzing with anticipation. My children know that some of these great me still walk among us. These men are heroes but don’t go around with massive egos. They are humble men, who signed up to serve their country and this county is better because of it.
Our family will see Red Tails to honor these great men, real American heroes.