In conversation with Samuel L. Jackson #DIFF 2016.

In conversation with Samuel L. Jackson was once in a lifetime for many who attended the event at The Madinat Theater in Dubai on Friday, including myself.  Jackson the iconic actor from such films as Spike Lee’s drama ‘Jungle Fever’ (1991), Quentin Tarantino's ‘Pulp Fiction’ (1994), George Lucas's 'Star Wars 'Franchise (1999 & 2002), John Singleton's 'Shaft' (2000) and  'Django Unchained' (2012) is in Dubai for the 13th Edition of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF). He received the Lifetime Achievement Award on the Opening Night a few days ago.

The evening had the warmth of a town hall meeting with the actor in high spirits. Jackson began with the story of how he got into cinema with his first film ‘Together for Days’ (1972) and how the first castings were always along the same lines; Gang Member, Drug Addict, Hold-Up Man. The turning point came after Spike Lee’s “Jungle Fever” earned Jackson a best supporting actor award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1991 - an award created for that particular performance.  

The actor was very humorous throughout the session talking in detail about the time when he was ‘Waiting for Hollywood to call’. For 15 years Jackson performed in plays at the Public Theater, Off Broadway, Off Off Broadway, the Yale Repertory and on traveling tours along with silver screen legends of today; Denzel Washington, Laurence Fishburne, Morgan Freeman and Wesley Snipes. He talked about how Washington was the first of his contemporaries to be called to Hollywood, then Fishburne, then Snipes. He kept waiting for the phone call and would not go until Hollywood called. ‘I would ask my agent every day – Did Hollywood Call? And for 15 years the answers was the same, No!’ he said.