Friday, July 17, 2009

Why Leslie First? - Omar Tyree

I know, I know, I know, many of you guys would just loooove to see Flyy Girl as my first movie. The only problem is, most of the readers who love Flyy Girl so much have never bothered to read many of my other books. So if I gave them Flyy Girl first as a movie, would they even bother to see my otherfilms? Because if I can't trust them to read the other books, then whyshould I trust them to see the other films? And they have all had PLENTY of time toread my other books. And they ALL GOOD READS!

So for the first film, since I want to have a film CAREER and not just one movie deal, we decided very strategically to go with the Leslie franchise first, where we can possible do 3 films with a character that folks willlove and want to see much more of. But if you guys have not read Leslie the book,you have no idea what you're missing.

Therefore, a New Orleans-based suspense vehicle like Leslie would get us "out-of-the-box" of typical African-American films that may immediately destroy new types of ideas if I were to do the obvious Flyy Girl first. Andsince we know everyone is waiting for Flyy Girl anyway, we decided do it when we have more experience and power to do it RIGHT and have plenty of marketing money to push it. But you often have to beg on the first movie, so we'drather do that on an exciting trilogy film like Leslie.

Second, I would love to do Sweet St. Louis as an urban love story or One Crazy Night, as a run-for-your-life thriller. Then we would do Flyy Girl third, followed by Diary of A Groupie, the Leslie sequel, Just Say No!, TheLast Street Novel, Pecking Order. We have plenty of great film vehicles, but I will NOT make the mistake of giving fans the only book they ever read ofmine FIRST and then being nervous about whether they will continue to follow my film career, because they have not done so with the books.

So the idea is to force an audience to enjoy my other great content first, then I can keep a film career going with respect, instead of being one film and out with Flyy Girl. With all that being said, we will also need the power and money to choose and original franchise actress for Flyy Girl,shoot it in Philly, go back to the 80s, get the wardrobe right, keep the locations outside. And those are all ideas that we will have to FIGHT FOR that we may not be able to do on a first film without having that power.

So bear with us. We will get to Flyy Girl, just learn to read something else with my name on it first, starting with Leslie. And if I can't count onyou to do that, then I have to honestly say that you're not an Omar Tyreefan, you're a Flyy Girl fan. But I want an Omar Tyree film career, and not a Flyy Girl film career. Flyy Girl is only one movie. And I want to make 20movies or more. You feel me? So learn to respect the man's other work.

What are your comments on all of that? I'm curious to know?

Sincerely,
Omar Tyree

22 comments:

  1. I feel you on that Omar Tyree. I just got done reading "The Last Street Novel" and it was awesome! I've been a fan of yours since I was in middle school and I am now a senior in college. I love all of your books and I am so excited to see the books that I loved to read portrayed on the big screen!!

    I loved Leslie, I read that when I was a senior in high school and I think it's a strong story to cross over onto film. But since I'm a such a loyal fan, I probably would love just about anything you put out lol.

    If you are still doing lectures, would you like to speak at Eastern Michigan University? Since I've been here, we've never had an African American author speak to us about business success, and I feel that's something we need. As an aspiring journalist myself, I know I would benefit tremendously.

    Anyway, congratulations on your continued success and thanks for supplying good storytelling that let's us escape from the reality of our lives hours at a time.

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  2. I like suspense, but I am also a big "love story" fan!! So, I would like to see Sweet St. Louis First! Everyone wants to see a love story!!!

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  3. I will be honest, I have never heard of you till a week ago, when I was at the library looking for urban books. My libraian suggested I read What they want, I have read that, Diary of a Groupie, Boss Lady, The Last Street Novel, and Pecking Order all in the course of 4 days, you are becoming one of my favorites and im very glad that my librarian recommended you!!!!

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  4. I loved Leslie, and to be perfectly honest I am glad you arent doing Flyy Girl first. I think if people have not read anything but that they are missing out. Personally, and no offense to you, the book was a good read but I think it was your worst if I had to pick a worst coming from you. So people read his other books, if you liked Flyy Girl that much you are going to LOVE the rest of them.

    I am a little behind in my reading but Im picking it back up and there are a few authors (black) that I go to and you are one of them. Thank you for what you already done and I cant wait for Leslie the movie.

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  5. I totally agree! I am that person you are talking about. Now since I have heard good reviews on your other books I am going to Amazon now! Can't wait for the movie.

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  6. I love your other books and everything and I could understand where you coming from. Then again I still would love to see flyy girl become one of your breaking in movies. If they love that as a movie then they probably would want to read your other books even more. It would be really nice to relive the 80s lifestyle for a 2 hour time period. I love your work still Omar Tyree!!!!

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  7. In my opinion, Leslie is your best work. I absolutely LOVE that book and have recommended it to others @ book events that ask about you. Can't wait to see it on the big screen!

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  8. Shannon Brandi GarnerAugust 27, 2009 at 8:12 PM

    I respect your opinions on everything you had to say I am a 17 year old that is a senior in high school and I have been reading your books since middle school the first book I had read from you was Cold blooded an urban griot after I had read that book I just started reading more and more of your books so far I have read the one I just said Flyygirl, boss lady, for the love of money, What they want, The Last Street Novel, and I am reading Just Say No! right now. I have a mini collection of your books I am going to start reading Single Mom next, I just absolutely love your work. I always have a book in my hand that is one of yours my friends already know who the author is they dont even have to read the title because they already know its Omar Tyree. Thank you for everything you will always be a big fan of mine and I look forward to your films and I hope to meet you in the near future.

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  9. omg when iread flyy girl i thought Tracy was a real person i searched everywhere for her and the i soon had to realize she was just a character lol. i love your books like they pull you in and you live it. any of your movies would be a hit no doubt im in love with your craft for writing. neve put the pen down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  10. OMG I FEEL YOU! LOL. IM ONLY 14 AND IVE READ ALL OF YOUR BOOKS I PROBABLY WONT BE ABLE TO SEE YOUR MOVIES UNTIL THEY COME OUT ON DVD LOL BECAUSE OF MY AGE. WHO CARES. I AM LIKE YOUR BIGGEST FAN! I READ EVERYTHING. I JUST FINISHED READING A DO RIGHT MAN. I WAS A FLY GIRL FAN BUT I DECIDED TO BUY ALL OF YOUR BOOKS LOL AND I JUST LOVE THE WAY YOU WRITE.. PLEASE! KEEP ON WRITING..

    MUCH LOVE..

    YOUR BIGGEST FAN...

    KARYN..=]..

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  11. i want to read leslie.
    what is it about?
    is it similiar to flyygirl??
    can someone give me details?
    email me! - Jessybabyy@live.com

    i love you omar ! & ill be waiting patientlyy for those movies!keep up the good workk.

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  12. Like one poster said, I too was in a local library looking for good urban literature and I noticed Diary of A Groupie. The cover and the title stood out to me (lol). That was just 2 weeks ago. I managed to finish that and Boss Lady among my busy schedule. You have a special way of using your words to craft out the story perfectly so that it pops out and become so surreal to the reader. Great storylines to where it's creative fantasy for some and real life situations for others. I'm bout to start to start Leslie, I have no doubt it will be fabulous as the other two. BTW: I hope you are going to write a follow up to Boss Lady because i would love to read what happens with Vanessa and the others characters. Can't wait for the future films to come out, and I will be finishing all the other books you have written! Keep up the excellent work...

    A NEW LOYAL FAN-WENDY B.

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  13. i enjoyed leslie to the fullest.i am anticipating the movie.Her character was a strong minority woman who had to adjust and the way she did it was unique.i am a true reader and have enjoyed the books that u have written.I wish ther was a sequel to LESLIE i really wanted to know what direction her sister was gong to go.

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  14. I agree with you not doin Flyy Girl first. Don't get me wrong I love the book and it WILL be a hot movie but no book that I have ever read has touched me the way Just Say No has. I purchased that book in 2002 and it had crying my eyes out. I just reread it last weekend and I was crying like I had never read the story before. The story of John and Darin makes me feel some kinda way. I wish this was your first movie but I understand why its not.

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  16. Im cool with the whole leslie being the first movie but what i need to know is when is the movie coming out i have been waiting for one of ur books to become a movie since i read ur book flyy girl and iv been waiting for years so when is ur movie coming out

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  17. I think u are right to do Leslie first although i fell in love with Just Ssay No, but leslie was the bomb and had me on edge just reading it. Suggestion I think someone like Dawn from danity kane could play leslie and for Just say No, Shawn Stockman form Boyz II men could play John "LoverBoy" Williams. Just a thought

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  18. I so upset I’m just finding out about this now. I remember meeting you at a book signing in Brooklyn when I was 16 with my "flyy girl" book lol and I told you how much I loved the book and when you made a movie (b/c I knew it would be a movie) that I was your flyy girl STAR lol and I gave you my information on a piece of paper and you told me ...."well we don’t have a movie deal yet, but I’m working on it!" So I’m so proud of you.... and as for the strategy....its brilliant lol But since I was so brave that day and you got movies in the works I think I should at LEAST get an audition !!!!! so HIT ME UP ! lol seriously though……

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  19. So when is Leslie the movie gonna come out. I read the book and would love to see the movie on the big screen or even it just went to DVD I would buy it. I will keep looking for the movie to come out. And keep up the good reads......

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  20. Leslie needs to be/ and will/ translated/translate on film because it is dark enough to keep people invested. She is genuine enough to keep people caring about the protagonist. make this happen

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  21. all I really want is a flyy girl movie pleaseee pleaseeee tracy and everything that happens in that book is just amazing soo please I know soooo many people who will enjoy that book as a movie!!

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  22. I loved Leslie! When are you gonna write the sequel I cant wait to read it- I'll watch the movie and I can wait for the flyy girl movie.... I started with fly girl, then just say no and I just finished Leslie and had to see if you had a sequel cuz ya kinda left me hangin on that one. Very glad to know there's more Leslie coming!

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