[Stratosphere 2020]

Over the weekend I have watched three black movies, and to my surprize they were all shot in Atlanta. I was wondering if Atlanta is the leading city where African American movies are made? Like what NYC is to action films. I am also curious as to why aren't there many African American movies made in Philly, Detroit, St. Louis and Chicago, where there are large African American communities?

A differance to standard Hollywood films, I have noticed these movies really stressed on the beauty of Atlanta. Certainly a total of more or less 5 minutes of each film showed the skyline, suburban homes, town homes and towers of Atlanta. It really makes you want to move there. It seems that black movies promote Atlanta as a great place to live with great job opportunities, particularly for African Americans in the rest of the country.

[Easy]

Over the last 10, 20, or 30 years it would be LA by a wide margin. Over the last 5 years it might be Atlanta because of the Tyler Perry movies, but LA and NYC have had a few so it wouldn't be by a wide margin.

[PA Pride]

Atlanta is a city with a large proportion of successful, wealthy black people. So I would think it is a good setting for such movies.

[Westsidelife]

Erm, LA would be the "capital" of action films.

[urbanactivistTX]

Atlanta just has a great and mobile community of African Americans. It's become the epicenter for the urban industry (Ludacris, JD, respective clothing lines). Another BIG factor is that the strong universities of Clark Atlanta, Spellman, Morehouse etc. make the city LOOK good... everyone wants to be a college kid because they're young, adults, and mostly in shape. It makes the city a good place to find extras and set films.

[BnaBreaker]

There may be more of them that are shot in Atlanta, I don't know for sure, but my favorites were shot in LA and Chicago.

[urbanactivistTX]

There may be more of them that are shot in Atlanta, I don't know for sure, but my favorites were shot in LA and Chicago.

Yeah, I'm sure more have been shot in LA/NYC/Chicago, but the movie market for AA films is definitely seeing a big shift.

[TexasBoi]

Yeah I agree. It is making a huge shift now more recently. I'm surprised that Washington DC doesn't have alot of AA movies. It is very similar to Atlanta for Black Americans in this country.

[urbanactivistTX]

^DC is kinda weird though. Atlanta has a lot more "prominent African Americans"... much more than the other urban culture epicenters like DC or Houston. DC (from a press standpoint) is really dominated by the national government scene, and the Universities. Eventhough Howard is the standout as the most prominent diverse university and founded as an HBCU, it's not enough to highlight the major achievements of DC AA community. It's the difference between the AA middle class of DC, and the AA upper middle class of Atlanta.

[volguus zildrohar]

Two words: Tyler Perry.

[Chris Creech]

Two words: Tyler Perry.

Exactly, Tyler Perry has single-handedly reinvented the black family comedy as mainstream fare. He's done a great job of utilizing talented neglected actors as well. His movies continue to be big grossers with minimum marketing, just his brand name attached.

Also someone mentioned the music industry strength in Atlanta, which also gives Atlanta move makers access to capital.

[DFW LUV]

Some refer to Atlanta as "Black Hollywood". Due to an above average number of celebrities either having residences in the area, deep connections or visiting regularly. It does't hurt ATL may be the epicenter of R&B/Hip Hop music right now with numerous videos being shot there. I imagine the economic impact of all the movie/music exposure has been tremendous.

[DBR96A]

Atlanta is the capital of African America, if that makes any sense.

[Trae]

Tyler Perry did it. He makes some good movies, too. It seems that mostly every Black movie that comes out of Atlanta is made by TP. I've had some friends that wanted to visit Atlanta just because of TP.

[PhillyRising]

Two words: Tyler Perry.

Yep...and his movies are always entertaining to watch.

It's not unusual for a director/producer to set all their movies in which they live in.

M. Knight Shamalan sets all of his movies in Philadelphia and John Waters has all of his movies set in Baltimore.

[Steely Dan]

I am also curious as to why aren't there many African American movies made in Philly, Detroit, St. Louis and Chicago, where there are large African American communities?

well, the successful barbershop movies were set and shot in chicago, and tyler perry's new film coming out this weekend is set in both chicago and atlanta and filmed on-location in both cities.

[LivingIn622]

Detroit tends to have more white films than black. 8 mile was the only Detroit movie with that many black actors. Atlanta is African Capitol in the US. Atlanta is based on the African community.

[Capsule F]

Is the grass green?

[ChrisLA]

Atlanta is now what Detroit used to be for African Americans. Just a side note The ATL is an african american filmed on location and not a Tyler Perry movie.

[TexasBoi]

Atlanta is now what Detroit used to be for African Americans. Just a side note The ATL is an african american filmed on location and not a Tyler Perry movie.

As well as many of the movies like Drumline and Stomp The Yard (both of which are stupid).:haha:

[Trae]

Drumline was nice when it came out a few years ago, but I watched it again the other day, and it was pathetic. I mean damnin, Petey freaking Pablo was in that movie.

LA seems to be the capital of Black movies now that I think about it. There is a bunch.

[illmatic774]

Jermaine Dupri called it the "New Motown" in "Welcome to Atlanta" about 7 years ago. Pretty accurate claim so far. As far as Detroit goes, filmmakers would rather perpetuate the negative stereotypes and connotations of the city (as seen in 8 Mile).

[TexasBoi]

Drumline was nice when it came out a few years ago, but I watched it again the other day, and it was pathetic. I mean damnin, Petey freaking Pablo was in that movie.

LA seems to be the capital of Black movies now that I think about it. There is a bunch.

Yeah, but not lately. I seem to remember the last black movie filmed in LA was Two Can Play That Game and that was several years ago. Most of the rest have been in Atlanta.

[Trae]

Waist Deep was in LA. That was last year I think, but La has fallen over the years, as Atlanta has risen.

[ColDayMan]

Well it's fitting that Atlanta is the new Black Hollywood as Shawty Lo has created a city for 2 sides, ya dig?

[ChrisLA]

Yeah, but not lately. I seem to remember the last black movie filmed in LA was Two Can Play That Game and that was several years ago. Most of the rest have been in Atlanta.


Well not exactly, Getting Played with Vivica Fox & Bill Bellamy was shot in Los Angeles, and so was Breaking All The Rules with Jamie Foxx & Gabrielle Union.

[KB0679]

Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins was shot in Louisiana. So I guess that's the new hotspot for Black films, LOL.