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Tyler Perry Officially Unveils the First Black-Owned Studio in Atlanta with Oprah and Other Celebrities

Claudine Varela
Oct 07, 2019
07:14 A.M.

Tyler Perry recently launched one of the biggest studios in the country making him the first Black man to own one. He also reveals his future plans for the 12-soundstage complex which will make it a major attraction in Atlanta.

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In his pursuit of ownership, Tyler Perry has managed to amass a production empire following into the footsteps of Oprah Winfrey and Berry Gordy. His latest acquisition is a 12-soundstage studio, making it the first Black-owned studio in the history of Hollywood.

“I built the absolute best I could. We perform and run this place like a top,” Tyler proudly shared.

Tyler Perry at the grand opening gala of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia on October 5, 2019. | Photo: Getty Images

Tyler Perry at the grand opening gala of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia on October 5, 2019. | Photo: Getty Images

Perry unveiled the sprawling complex sitting in Atlanta via an opening gala attended by the most luminous stars of the Black community. Among those who flocked to the black-tie affair were Oprah, Samuel L. Jackson, Cicely Tyson, Denzel Washington, and Halle Berry.

Of his massive new production nest aptly named Tyler Perry Studios, the entertainment mogul told the media that it was a turning point in his career.

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"I think it's pivotal in everything that we've done, everything that we're doing still, that we continue to try to motivate and inspire people," he said during an interview with the Associated Press.

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Tyler spent approximately $250 million for the studio which is currently one of the largest in the country. This is a far cry from his humble beginnings as a troubled child and later as a struggling homeless playwright who at one point lived out of his car.

It was back in 2015 when Tyler bought the 330-acre lot which was formerly an army base called Fort McPherson. Oprah revealed she encouraged him to buy the property and told him “You’d be crazy not to take it.”

One of Tyler’s future plans is to open up the studio for school tours. He also intends to build a 3,000-seating theater to accommodate concerts and events.

Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry during an interview at the opening gala of Tyler Perry Studios on October 5, 2019. | Photo: Getty Images

Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry during an interview at the opening gala of Tyler Perry Studios on October 5, 2019. | Photo: Getty Images

Since the purchase, Tyler has built 12 soundstages, 40 buildings and developed more than 200 acres of green space. Among the sets he built is a replica of the White House, a hospital, an airliner, an airport terminal, a trailer park, and a suburban subdivision.

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“I built the absolute best I could. We perform and run this place like a top,” Tyler proudly shared. “We have excellent service and everything you would expect to have in a major film television studio. People are glad to shoot here. A lot of them want to return because of the way we handled it.”

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One of Tyler’s future plans is to open up the studio for school tours. He also intends to build a 3,000-seating theater to accommodate concerts and events. This coupled with restaurants and retail establishments he hopes to install on the premises would fulfill his dream of making it a weekend destination for tourists.

Tyler Perry speaking to the press at the opening gala of Tyler Perry Studios in October 5, 2019. | Photo: Getty Images

Tyler Perry speaking to the press at the opening gala of Tyler Perry Studios in October 5, 2019. | Photo: Getty Images

Samuel said it best when he told reporters on the red carpet during the studio’s launch, “This is more about Tyler the entrepreneur. The visionary. A guy who understands that ownership means that you can do what you want.”

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