George Tillman Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids George Tillman Jr.
Tillman Jr. at the 2013 MontClair Film Festival.
Born	(1969-01-26) January 26, 1969 (age 56) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Alma mater	Columbia College Chicago
Occupation	Film director screenwriter film producer
Spouse(s)	Marcia Wright
Children	1

George Tillman Jr. (born January 26, 1969) is an American filmmaker. He is known for directing and producing movies and TV shows. He has worked on popular films like Soul Food (1997), Men of Honor (2000), and The Hate U Give (2018). He also produced the famous Barbershop series.

Tillman has been recognized for his work. He was nominated for the Black Film Award for Best Director for Soul Food. He also received nominations for the Black Reel Award for Best Director and Best Screenplay for Notorious.

Early Life and First Steps in Film

George Tillman Jr. was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His dad worked in a car factory, and his mom was a secretary. From a young age, George loved movies. He would borrow his father's 8mm camera to film things around Milwaukee. He even used the local public TV channel to show his early work.

When he was just eight years old, George found a TV script for a soap opera called All My Children. This inspired him to write his own five-minute show. He later said that getting that script was the start of his writing journey.

In 1975, George watched a movie called Cooley High. This film made him want to create his own movies. He felt that movies like Cooley High, Five on the Black Hand Side (1973), and Claudine (1974) truly spoke to African American audiences. He wanted to be part of making such powerful stories.

George went to John Marshall High School in Milwaukee. There, he took classes about mass communications. As a teenager, he made amateur videos and created a show called Splice of Life for local TV.

After high school, George studied Film and Video at Columbia College Chicago. He chose Chicago because he felt it was a creative city. While in college, he made a 30-minute short film called Paula. It was about a 17-year-old single mom working in a diner. Paula won several awards, including the Black Filmmaker's Hall of Fame Award. It also won a Midwest Regional award at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences' Student Academy Award competition in 1992.

After graduating in 1991, George teamed up with his college friend, Robert Teitel. They started a company called Menagerie Films. George worked as a production assistant on commercials to support himself. He learned a lot by watching how films were made. He realized that to direct, he needed to write his own stories.

George started writing a script for a film called Scenes for the Soul. He and Robert tried to raise money for it. They invited investors to a screening of Paula. They managed to raise $130,000, which was enough to start shooting their first feature film.

Filmmaking Career

Scenes for the Soul

In 1994, George Tillman Jr. directed and wrote his first full-length movie, Scenes for the Soul. He filmed it in Chicago in just 30 days. The movie told three different stories about the lives of African American characters.

After finishing the film, George went to Hollywood. He sold his movie to George Jackson and Doug McHenry for $1,000,000. However, the company that bought it went out of business before the film could be shown in theaters. This was a big disappointment for George.

Soul Food

After the setback with Scenes for the Soul, George went back to Chicago and wrote the script for Soul Food. He wanted to make a movie about a black family in Middle America that everyone could relate to. He focused on strong female characters and the importance of family.

George's agents shared the script with musician Kenneth Edmonds, also known as Babyface. Kenneth and his wife, Tracey Edmonds, loved the story. They decided to make Soul Food the first movie for their new film company.

The Edmonds' worked with 20th Century Fox to get $6.5 million for the film. Fox initially wanted a more experienced director. But after seeing George's past work, they changed their minds. Filming for Soul Food began in October 1996 in Chicago. The team had only 38 days to shoot the movie. George was happy with the Edmonds' support. He said they let him make the film he wanted.

Soul Food is about three sisters in Chicago: Maxine, Teri, and Bird. Their mother ends up in the hospital, and their traditional Sunday dinners stop. The sisters then struggle to keep their family together. The film showed how important family traditions and bonds are. It was praised for its simple, heartfelt style.

When Soul Food came out in September 1997, it was a huge success. It earned $11 million in its first weekend and $14 million in its first week. This was twice what it cost to make! The film ended up earning $43 million in total and sold well on video. This success showed that African American audiences could make a film a big commercial hit.

Because of Soul Food's success, George and his partner Robert Teitel signed a deal with 20th Century Fox. They changed their company name to State Street Pictures, honoring their early film days in Chicago.

Men of Honor

George Tillman Jr.'s next big movie was Men of Honor (2000). It starred famous actors Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr.. George was inspired to direct this film because he wanted to show that African American directors could work with big stars.

When George first read the script, he was very impressed. He felt it showed a unique world that many people didn't know about. Directing Men of Honor was a new challenge for George. It was his first time working in a "white film world" with big special effects. He also had to prove himself to the crew.

Working with De Niro and Gooding was also a learning experience. George did his research on both actors to understand how they liked to work. He had to shoot many scenes each day because the film cost $32 million to make. Despite the challenges, George was proud of the final movie.

Men of Honor was released on November 10, 2000. It was a success, especially overseas, earning $85 million.

Barbershop

While editing Men of Honor, George's producing partner Robert Teitel showed him the script for Barbershop. They both felt it would be funny but also touch people's hearts. Barbershop stars Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, and Cedric the Entertainer. It's about the daily life and social interactions in a barbershop on the South Side of Chicago.

George and Robert tried to sell the script to several studios, but they were turned down. Finally, MGM bought the script. Filming began in Chicago in 2001. The set for the barbershop was once a laundromat in the South Chicago area. George still aimed to show African Americans in a positive light, just like he did with Soul Food.

MGM spent a lot of money marketing the film. George believed that if a studio truly supported an African American film with universal themes, it could make a lot of money. He and Robert were very involved in the marketing to ensure the film was seen as both heartfelt and funny.

Barbershop was released on September 13, 2002. It was a big hit, earning over $77 million.

The Longest Ride

In 2015, George Tillman Jr. directed the romantic drama The Longest Ride. This movie was based on a popular novel by Nicholas Sparks.

Recently, George's production company, State Street Pictures, made a deal with Sony Pictures Television. This means they will work together on new TV projects.

Personal Life

George Tillman Jr. is married to actress Marcia Wright. They have one child.

Filmography

Films

Producer only

• Barbershop (2002)
• Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004)
• Beauty Shop (2005)
• Roll Bounce (2005)
• Nothing Like the Holidays (2008)
• Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016)

Television

Executive producer

Director

See also

In Spanish: George Tillman Jr. para niños

• Directors with two films rated "A+" by CinemaScore