Helmer Lee Daniels and Oprah Winfrey at Sunday's 'Precious' premiere.
Pic's Mariah Carey gets a kiss from husband Nick Cannon.
The Writers Guild must love
Lee Daniels. Before a SRO crowd Sunday at Grauman's Chinese Theater, the helmer of "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" said, "It all started with the word," saluting
Sapphire, who wrote the book, and
Geoffrey Fletcher, who adapted it for the bigscreen.
"I did this movie for my mom," Daniels said, because she asked him why he couldn't make films like
Tyler Perry. "So I did this movie for you, Mom, and I got Tyler Perry as an exec producer."
Daniels said that when he read the book, "it split me open," a sentiment repeated by exec producers Perry and
Oprah Winfrey.
"You will appreciate this experience," Winfrey told the aud. "I don't know if 'enjoying' is the right word."
Among those attending the AFI Fest preem of the Lionsgate pic, which had an after-party at Chateau Marmont, were its stars
Mo'Nique,
Paula Patton,
Mariah Carey,
Sherri Shepherd and
Gabourey Sidibe. producers
Sarah Siegel-Magness and
Gary Magness, Lisa Cortés and Tom Heller; plus guests Macy Gray, Eva Longoria, Jamie Foxx and Will Smith.
Contact Shalini Dore at
shali.dore@variety.com