George Tillman, Jr., prominent Columbia College alum and one of film Chicago’s big success stories, has signed with Story for exclusive national representation as a commercial director.
“We’ve been talking to George for years to come work with us as a director,” said Story executive producer Cliff Grant, whose ties to Tillman go back to their college days.
“About a year ago, when he was involved in his latest feature, ?Notorious,’ we began talking about an association again, and a few weeks ago it all came together,” Grant added.
Tillman will join Story’s roster of 12 notable directors who are located all over the world. “George sees us as a strong national company that will be working for him, and not just using his name,” said Grant.
“George is interested in directing any kind of storytelling, whether it’s 30-second or two hours long. It’s all part of his craft,” said Story executive director Mark Androw, noting that Tillman’s movies have been about drama and dialog that moves people.
Tillman’s directorial career began with the 1994, $150,000-budgeted “Scenes for the Soul,” produced by Columbia classmate and partner George Teitel.
That was followed by 1997’s “Soul Food,” which was funded by $6.5 million by Twentieth Century-Fox and grossed $43 million. He and Teitel moved permanently to L.A. and formed State Street Films.
