Advanced Screening during Atlanta Film Festival at Historic Plaza Theatre
Director Jorge Hinosa is gearing up for the Atlanta Film Festival where he will be screening his new film, Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp, which examines the tumultuous life of legendary Chicago pimp Iceberg Slim (1918-1992) and how he reinvented himself from pimp to author of seven groundbreaking books. These books were the birth of Street Lit and explored the world of the ghetto in gritty and poetic detail and have made him a cultural icon.
Here, Hinosa discusses why he chose to do the film about the reformed notorious pimp turned author and mentor. –yvette caslin
Why did you choose to highlight Iceberg Slim?
When I first met and started to manage Ice-T 28 years ago, I asked him why he called himself “Ice-T” he said because of Iceberg Slim and gave me the books to read. Ice used to quote from those books all the time and still does till this day. Anyway, there looked like there was going to be an actor’s strike – which meant no work – so I looked for an alternative for Ice and came up with this idea because he and I dig Iceberg so much. He agreed but then the strike was resolved and he had to go back to filming “Law & Order: SVU;” so he told me to do it. As a character, Iceberg is fascinating because he is a cross between Mark Twain and Hannibal Lecter. Twain wrote brilliantly about a world many knew little about in a vernacular that was unique and Hannibal was brilliant judge of people and as such could manipulate the easily.
What can moviegoers expect?
The unexpected … Iceberg is revered by many prominent artists who praise his profound writings. The interview footage of Iceberg really showcases his intelligence and his willingness to be honest and transparent on who he was and became and why.
Who is a part of the project?
Iceberg Slim, Iceberg’s former prostitute, Ice-T is being interviewed and he’s the executive producer; Chris Rock, Quincy Jones, Snoop Dogg, Henry Rollins, Cash Money’s Baby and Slim, Katt Williams, Bill Duke, Leon Isaac Kennedy, Archbishop Don Majic Juan, Herschel Weisman, Wahida Clark, K’wan Foye as well as Iceberg’s friends and family.
What do you hope the audience walks away with?
I hope they will be driven to read his books and that the story resonates in them for days after they have seen it. This is a story of transformation and redemption and about the good and the bad in one man.
Tickets for ICEBERG SLIM: PORTRAIT OF A PIMP can be purchased at www.atlantafilmfestival.com and the screening is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19 at the Historic Plaza Theatre at 7:15PM.
(Photo credit: Kelly Jones)
