Tyler Perry Studios president dies in aircraft crash in Florida

ATLANTA – The president of Atlanta-based Tyler Perry Studios died Friday night time when the small aircraft he was piloting crashed on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The studio confirmed on Saturday that Steve Mensch, its 62-year-old president and common supervisor, had died.

“We’re extremely saddened by the passing of our pricey pal Steve Mensch,” the studio stated in an announcement. “Steve was a cherished member of our staff for greater than eight years and well-beloved locally of Atlanta. It’s arduous to think about not seeing him smiling all through the halls. We’ll miss him dearly. Our coronary heart goes out to his household as all of us ship them our prayers.”

The crash occurred in Homosassa, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of Tampa. Images from the scene present the aircraft having come to relaxation the wrong way up on a street. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Nationwide Transportation Security Board are investigating.

The only-engine Vans RV-12IS was registered to Mensch at his house deal with within the Atlanta suburb of Fayetteville, in response to FAA data.

Who’s the president of Tyler Perry Studios?

Steve Mensch, the final supervisor and president of Tyler Perry Studios helped advocate for and preserve Georgia’s movie tax credit score of greater than $1 billion a yr. These lavish subsidies have made Georgia some of the energetic locations in the US for movie and tv manufacturing.

Mensch acquired into the film enterprise when he began working for Characteristic Programs, which offers gear for the film business. He was employed by Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting to run its studio operations, later turning into director of strategic manufacturing partnerships. It was there that he started to foyer state authorities for extra assist to film and tv manufacturing.

Ric Reitz, an actor who additionally helped create the tax credit, advised The Atlanta Journal-Structure that Mensch helped market the state earlier than the 1996 Summer time Olympics in Atlanta and helped launch the Georgia Manufacturing Partnership, an leisure business lobbying group.

“He was making an attempt to formulate the imaginative and prescient for {the marketplace} earlier than the Olympics and needed a assume tank of individuals locally to make Georgia aggressive,” Reitz stated. “He was an necessary determine within the our progress to turn out to be a robust movie and TV market.”

After a yr serving to plan and construct an enormous studio in China and temporary stint serving to to open Third Rail Studios in suburban Atlanta. Perry employed Mensch to assist create and run his namesake studio in 2016. The studio sprawls throughout 330 acres (135 hectares) of a former Military base in southern Atlanta that Perry acquired in 2015.

Mensch died on the identical day that Perry launched “The Six Triple Eight,” a warfare drama a couple of principally Black and all-female World Conflict II battalion. The movie was shot on the Atlanta studio.

Mensch is survived by his spouse, Danila, and three youngsters.

Georgia leaders react to president of Tyler Perry Studios’ demise

Gov. Brian Kemp

“Marty, the women, and I had been saddened to study of Steve Mensch’s passing. man and an instrumental a part of a studio Georgia is proud to name its personal, his achievements made our state higher and introduced extra alternatives to its individuals. His family members and all the Tyler Perry Studios staff shall be in our ideas and prayers as they mourn this loss.”

Georgia leisure business responds to Tyler Perry Studios demise

Lee Thomas, Deputy Commissioner, GDEcD & Director, Georgia Movie Workplace

“Georgia’s movie neighborhood has suffered an enormous loss with the passing of Steve Mensch, President and Common Supervisor of Tyler Perry Studios. Once I began on the Georgia Movie Workplace 28 years in the past, Steve was already a fixture within the movie business, working because the Vice President of Gross sales at Characteristic Programs, one of many handful of kit suppliers on the town. He was instrumental within the progress of studios in Georgia, serving as Director of Studio Operations at Turner Studios and as President of Third Rail Studios earlier than becoming a member of Tyler Perry Studios in 2016. Steve was additionally a staunch advocate for the movie tax credit score, serving to construct Georgia right into a manufacturing powerhouse by his management roles at Georgia Display screen Leisure Coalition (GSEC) and Georgia Manufacturing Partnership (GPP). Steve’s legacy was rather more than his spectacular resume – he was an ideal pal. Those that knew him know he had real heat, an ideal humorousness, and was at all times prepared to leap in and assist at any time when wanted. On behalf of the Georgia Division of Financial Growth and the Georgia Movie Workplace, our ideas exit to Steve’s family and friends, the Tyler Perry Studios household, and particularly to Steve’s spouse and three youngsters. He will definitely be missed.”

Kelsey Moore, Government Director, Georgia Display screen Leisure Coalition

“We’re deeply saddened by Steve Mench’s sudden demise, and prolong our heartfelt condolences to Steve’s household throughout this extraordinarily troublesome time, in addition to to all the Tyler Perry Studios staff. He was extensively referred to as a devoted husband and father, cherishing the time he spent with household.

“Steve was a unprecedented chief in Georgia’s movie business. His affect dates again many years, serving to to construct what right now is a thriving business in Georgia. Steve’s unwavering dedication, imaginative and prescient, and dedication to fostering the expansion of our state’s artistic economic system left an indelible mark on the business he beloved so deeply. Throughout his tenure as GSEC’s Chairman, his management and imaginative and prescient guided us by pivotal moments. The legacy he leaves behind is a testomony to the profound influence of his work and his spirit.

“Steve was not solely a colleague however a pal and mentor to so many. His generosity, knowledge, and kindness shall be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of figuring out him.”