George Tillman Jr.

George Tillman Jr.

Keynote Speaker: 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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How do I book George Tillman Jr. to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like George Tillman Jr. for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for George Tillman Jr., or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for George Tillman Jr. or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book George Tillman Jr. for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for George Tillman Jr., or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire George Tillman Jr., click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does George Tillman Jr. speak about?

George Tillman Jr. is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Celebrity and Television & Film.

Who is the agent for George Tillman Jr.?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like George Tillman Jr. for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805, and one of our agents will assist you to book George Tillman Jr. for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host George Tillman Jr. or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


George Tillman Jr. is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Celebrity and Television & Film. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. George Tillman Jr. can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Quinta Brunson, Aunjanue Ellis and Anthony Mackie. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling George Tillman Jr. for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 28/04/2026.

George Tillman Jr. News

  • How do I book George Tillman Jr. to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like George Tillman Jr. for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for George Tillman Jr., or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for George Tillman Jr. or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book George Tillman Jr. for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for George Tillman Jr., or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire George Tillman Jr., click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does George Tillman Jr. speak about?

    George Tillman Jr. is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Celebrity and Television & Film.
  • Who is the agent for George Tillman Jr.?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like George Tillman Jr. for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805, and one of our agents will assist you to book George Tillman Jr. for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host George Tillman Jr. or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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