Crusader Staff Report
ATLANTA – Tyler Perry Studios is celebrated a historic night in hosting the fifth Democratic debate among 10 candidates on November 20.
Taking center stage on national television is filmmaker Tyler Perry’s new, massive 330-acre studio in Atlanta, which opened last month in a lavish, star-studded celebration, where Black Hollywood beamed with pride over a facility that they called their owned.
When Tyler Perry Studios opened last month with 12 sound stages and numerous film sets including a full replica of the White House, it made history as the first studio fully owned by an African American. The Democratic debate took place on the Oprah Winfrey soundstage.
The new facility helped cement Atlanta as a major player in the city’s booming entertainment industry after years of growth.
Perry purchased part of the property in 2015 from the city to build his namesake production facilities, which is larger than any studio in Los Angeles. He’s the only Black man to own a major film studio in America.
Perry is currently producing several series for BET Plus as part of a lucrative deal with the Black network’s parent company, Viacom.
The evening was perhaps the first time a major political event occurred at Tyler Perry Studios, giving the facility relevance and prestige in shaping the race for the White House.
“I mean it’s a huge story for Georgia, it’s a huge story for this election, for this to be one of the most diverse line ups of candidates in history and to do it in a place with historic racial significance,” said Rashida Jones, senior vice president of NBC News.
