SCAD Savannah Film Festival: Samuel L. Jackson

“From an early age I was serious about being an actor, so I went out and worked,” said Samuel L. Jackson, recipient of the Legend of Cinema Award, during his opening remarks at the 23rd SCAD Savannah Film Festival. “I don’t know how many projects I have been a part of. I lost count along the way.”

Jackson has been in over 100 movies, with 189 credits to his name, including television, video games, soundtracks, and production projects. He is revered across every cinematic demographic, from young children who love him as The Incredibles’ Frozone, to Star Wars fans who covet Mace Windu’s purple lightsaber, to “old Black grandmas who know me from A Time to Kill.”

In a conversation filled with laughter and insights, Jackson and Entertainment Weekly executive editor Sarah Rodman gave the audience an honest look at a legendary career.

Samuel L. Jackson:

I consider myself a native son of Georgia. The film scene in Georgia helped propel me in my career. My first film Black Cream was filmed in Atlanta. Then I shot the The Displaced Person in Milledgeville. Recently I have been at Pinewood Studios in Fayetteville for some smaller movies — I’m not sure if everyone has heard of The Avengers.

From the very beginning I was serious about being a professional actor. I worked hard on my craft, and was ready to shoot when “action” was called. If a director said we were starting at seven o’clock, that meant I needed to be on set at six to warm up, get into character, envision my steps, and walk around the set to get a feel of the room. Call time was not the time to start my process. I always encourage young actors to take a similar approach. Be ready. Be professional and know your role.

I also encourage actors to develop their skills on the stage. When I was young, I lived in New York and cut my teeth on Broadway. I learned stage direction, how to project my voice, how to exude emotion, how to speak to the people in the back row even when I had to whisper. Nowadays, I meet so many actors in Hollywood who skipped that step. They were the lead in their small-town play and then moved to L.A. without learning the art of acting. When I was just starting out I took whatever part I was offered. Today it’s a little different, but my process hasn’t changed.

I am proud to have been part of several iconic franchises and cult classics. Whenever I’m out, I know what film people recognize me from, and I always enjoy seeing people realize it is me. Yes, I do go to the grocery store, and yes it is okay to wave. Older Black women will always come up to me, punch my shoulder and say, “Do you know who you are?” I reply: “I do. Do you?” Parents with smaller children usually introduce me as “super suit guy.” And young men quote Pulp Fiction from across parking lots.

I am thankful for the career I have, and I love being a movie star. I think it’s important to be passionate about your work, and I even watch the movies I made. Anytime I am flipping channels and see Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, or Deep Blue Sea, as long as I haven’t been killed off yet, I watch. My favorite is The Long Kiss Goodnight. Long Kiss Goodnight was the first real girl kick-ass movie. I’d been at a party and saw Gina Davis and told her “I want to be in your movie” and she said, “You got the part.”

Things happen when they are supposed to happen. If you’re trying to move the needle, you need to look inside yourself and understand why the needle is going the way you want. Success came to me when I forgot about success, and focused on being the best version of me.

By Robert Almand