George Tillman Jr.

Filmmaker, Writer, Director & Producer; Known for "Soul Food" and "The Hate U Give"

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George Tillman Jr. Biography

George Tillman Jr. is an American filmmaker known for his work as a writer, director, and producer, with a focus on storytelling about the Black American experience. Listing Martin Scorsese, Gordon Parks, and Spike Lee as influences, Tillman began his career making short, experimental video projects as a teenager before creating the public access cable show "Splice of Life" using local talent. He studied filmmaking at Columbia College in Chicago, where he created a 30-minute short, "Paula," about a 17-year-old single African American mother working in a diner. The film earned him the Black Filmmaker's Hall of Fame Award and a win in the Midwest Regional, Dramatic Category, of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Student Academy Award competition.

Tillman wrote and directed the feature "Scenes for the Soul," financing it with $150,000 raised through Chicago investors. The film was sold to Savoy Pictures for $1 million, though it was not released due to the company's bankruptcy. Building on this experience, Tillman wrote the script for "Soul Food," loosely based on his own life. The film, produced on a $7 million budget, achieved critical and financial success, grossing over $43 million domestically. "Soul Food" demonstrated that stories about African Americans can attract large audiences without relying on violence or bawdy humor. Following this success, Tillman and his producing partner Bob Teitel secured a first-look deal at Fox 2000 and renamed their company State Street Pictures, referencing their early years as a filmmaking team in Chicago.

Tillman's next directorial project was "Men of Honor," inspired by the life of Carl Brashear, the first African-American Master deep sea diver in the United States Navy. The film starred Cuba Gooding Jr., Robert De Niro, Charlize Theron, Michael Rapaport, and Hal Holbrook, and grossed $85 million worldwide on a $34 million budget. Tillman also served as executive producer of "Soul Food: The Series" for Showtime Networks, co-produced the MGM "Barbershop" franchise films, which grossed over $200 million worldwide, and was executive producer on "Mudbound," which received four Academy Award nominations. He directed the biopic "Notorious" at Fox Searchlight, depicting the life of rapper Notorious B.I.G., with Jamal Woolard as Christopher Wallace, Derek Luke as Sean Combs, Angela Bassett, and Anthony Mackie as Tupac Shakur.

In addition to feature films, Tillman has directed television projects including Starz' "Power," Netflix/Marvel's "Luke Cage," and NBC's "This Is Us." His film "The Hate U Give" starred Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Common, and Anthony Mackie, premiering at the Toronto Film Festival and winning several audience awards from festivals including Mill Valley and Hamptons. Tillman wrote and directed "Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World," starring Khris Davis and Forest Whitaker, released by Sony Pictures. The film chronicles the boxer's rise from poverty, his decision to leave boxing to become a preacher, and his return at age 45 to become the oldest boxing champion in history. Tillman is also attached as director of "The Defender," starring Sterling K. Brown as defense attorney Scipio Africanus Jones.

With a body of work spanning family dramas, biopics, and socially relevant narratives, Tillman is recognized for his contributions to American cinema and his focus on authentic storytelling within the film industry.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 04/28/2026.
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  • What topics does George Tillman Jr. speak about?

    George Tillman Jr. is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Celebrity, Television & Film

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George Tillman Jr. is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book George Tillman Jr. for your event is available upon request. George Tillman Jr. generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Oona Chaplin, Quinta Brunson, Aunjanue Ellis, Anthony Mackie and John Ridley. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling George Tillman Jr. for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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