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BOB JOHNSON TELLS 'OUR STORIES' & TALKS 'MESS': BET Founder launches studio and new film.
*Robert L. Johnson can easily be counted as one of the top American media moguls. The entertainment executive founded the BET Network in 1980 and in 2004, he became the first African American to be the principal owner of a North American major-league sports franchise after acquiring the Charlotte Bobcats NBA expansion franchise.
Late last year, Johnson founded Our Stories Films, a Los Angeles-based film company whose inaugural release "Who's Your Caddy?" opens nationwide this week.
"Whenever we'd go to forums and meetings involving black creative people, the one constant complaint was, 'Why is there no studio that will tell our stories? Why is there no black executive that can greenlight a film about us?' I heard that ever since I started BET," Johnson shared with EUR's Lee Bailey. "I figured the only way that was going to happen was for somebody African American put up the money, hire the talent, find a strategic partner, and make it happen."
Johnson explained that he named the company Our Stories because of that very complaint.
"We never had a way to get our stories on the screen and in front of our audiences. That's how it came about," he continued. "I think it's an opportunity to create a brand; to put people to work; and to provide creative content to an audience that is anxious and hungry for black film."
Johnson is partnered with Harvey Weinstein, whose own new enterprise, the Weinstein Company, will serve as his distributor. His studio team also includes Tracey Edmonds who is a partner on the new film and an equity partner in the business.
"I know money, I don't know funny," he said of his reason for bring Edmonds aboard. "I thought I needed someone who had a good business head and a good creative head and that short list was Tracey Edmonds. She's committed to help making it a success."
For this film, another powerful Hollywood name is tied in. "Who's Your Caddy?" was brought to the company by Queen Latifah and her production company.
"It had the right mix and had some very talented people attached to it," Johnson said about choosing the flick as the company's premiere film. "I think it hit all the marks."
Johnson said that the new venture expects to put out three films per year at this point. He added that Our Stories will also have a division that handles direct-to-DVD titles.
"I think it's exceedingly important that black people go out and support this film. If this film works, there's going to be more coming down for the audience. If you like going to the movies, you ought to get more films about you, that fit with you and your lifestyle. But it could also spur the other studios to do what we're doing," he said.
On that note, Johnson took the opportunity to discuss the latest controversy at BET. The issue concerns the network's new series "Hot Ghetto Mess" (recently renamed "We Got To Do Better"), which has provoked criticism and sent advertisers running out before its debut last night.
"As far as the 'Hot Ghetto Mess' issue, [BET President/CEO Debra Lee] has got the same problem that I had in that BET, for all practical purposes, is the only preeminent voice for African Americans in media and because of that it is given a greater responsibility and obligation by certain people that BET has to be a little bit 'holier than thou,'" Johnson said. "We'll let Jerry Springer get away with that or we'll let Morton Downey get away with that or we'll let the people at VH1's 'Flavor of Love' get away with that. But when it's black folks making the decision to do that, all of a sudden people start saying you can't do that because you have a greater obligation. And then they go to advertisers and many white advertisers will head for the hills the moment they see themselves in the middle of a black controversial issue. They will stop, [partly] because they don't really want to be on it; don't value it; or they don't know how to handle it."
Johnson called the fallout surrounding 'Hot Ghetto Mess' a "knee-jerk reaction that has a chilling effect on creativity."
"All of a sudden, creative people who want to tell stories or produce shows like 'Hot Ghetto Mess' are saying, 'I don't want to work on BET because they can't doing anything that's innovative or pushes the envelope," he said. "I think that would be detrimental to creativity. I think it would be detrimental to the black community in allowing us to mature and let a lot of voices be heard."
Our Stories' "Who's Your Caddy," starring Antwan "Big Boi" Patton, Faizon Love, James Avery, Tamala Jones, Li'l Wayne, and a host of others, hits theaters this Friday. For more, check www.whosyourcaddythemovie.com.
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