SR360: SR360 Perry, Tyler; recognize

25 LC 112 3290 Senate Resolution 360 By: Senators James of the 28th, Rhett of the 33rd, Jackson of the 41st, Mangham of the 55th, Jones of the 10th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Tyler Perry; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, a visionary filmmaker, playwright, author, and entrepreneur, Tyler Perry has2 built an entertainment empire that currently spans 24 feature f ilms, 20 stage plays, 173 television series, and two New York Times bestselling books; and4 WHEREAS, born and raised in New Orleans, Tyler Perry overcame a childhood marked by5 poverty and adversity, transforming his experiences into compelling narratives that would6 later shape his career and artistic legacy; and7 WHEREAS, in 1992, he wrote and self-financed his first stage pl ay, I Know I've Been8 Changed, which initially struggled to find an audience but, through hi s perseverance and9 dedication, became a resounding success six years later, leading to sold-out performances at10 the Fox Theatre in Atlanta; and11 WHEREAS, he revolutionized modern theater with 13 original plays over the next 13 years,12 including I Can Do Bad All By Myself , which introduced the iconic Madea character, a13 beloved figure that has since become a cultural phenomenon; and14 S. R. 360 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3290 WHEREAS, in 2005, he made his directorial debut with Diary of a Mad Black Woman, a box15 office hit that launched his film career, followed by a series of successful movies such as16 Madea's Family Reunion, Why Did I Get Married?, and The Family That Preys; and17 WHEREAS, in 2006, he became a bestselling author with Don't Make a Black Woman Take18 Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Life and Love, which topped the19 New York Times bestseller list for eight consecutive weeks; and20 WHEREAS, in 2007, he expanded into television with House of Payne, the highest-rated21 first-run syndicated cable show of all time, followed by Meet the Browns , Love Thy22 Neighbor, The Haves and The Have Nots, and other groundbreaking series; and23 WHEREAS, in 2015, he acquired Fort McPherson in Atlanta to expand Tyler Perry Studios,24 transforming the 330-acre site into one of the largest film pro duction studios in the world,25 creating more than 400 job opportunities and positioning Atlanta as a major hub for film and26 television production; and27 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkab le individual be28 appropriately honored during this special time.29 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body30 recognize and commend Tyler Perry for his extraordinary achievements in entertainment, his31 contributions to the cultural and economic landscape of Georgia , and his unwavering32 commitment to storytelling that uplifts and inspires.33 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed34 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Tyler Perry.35 S. R. 360 - 2 -