Home / Authors / Ava DuVernay

Ava DuVernay

Ava DuVernay Quotes

Filmmaker

Ava DuVernay is an American filmmaker recognized for her contributions to independent cinema, particularly for her films that delve into African American history and culture. Born on August 24, 1972, DuVernay has directed several significant films, including 'Middle of Nowhere' and '13th', which have been praised for their narrative depth and social commentary.

Filter quotes by topic

All Film Filmmaker People Thinking Black Knows Ifs Feels Done Needs Want Art Black Women Color Kind Long Prison Trump Way Age

Famous Ava DuVernay Quotes

“Black people loving and losing is something we don’t see enough of. We’re always in these heightened situations like something big is happening, something funny or something violent. And you know what? Sometimes we die of breast cancer or a broken heart. Things happen that are just not being explored cinematically. It’s time we reinvigorated that type of film.”

People Knows Heart Sometimes Enough Bigs Happens Film Dies Black Situation Broken Type Losing Happenings Cancer Things Happen Violent Breasts Black People Like Something Breast Cancer

Author:Ava DuVernay

“We [Americans] know Martin Luther King Jr. as a statue. We know him as a holiday. We know him as a speech. We don't know him as a man. Most people don't even know the whole speech, just "I have a dream." They don't know what his speaking voice was like, how he looked at his wife, or that he had four kids.”

People Knows Men Whole Dream Kids Voice Four Wife Kings Speech Holiday Statues Luther

Author:Ava DuVernay

“For film, you know, the Tarantinos and Nolans of the world who are very focused on a certain kind of film aesthetic and a certain kind of presentation, to be honest, that comes from a place of privilege. It comes from a place of always having access to such, but when you ain't never - you can't see it because you can't even get to it.”

Knows World Kind Film Certain Honest Privilege Focused Access Being Honest Aesthetic Presentation Tarantino Nolan

Author:Ava DuVernay

“If your work is solid, it really doesn't matter what people you know because good work starts to rise to the top.”

People Ifs Knows Matter Good Work

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I was talking to Shonda Rhimes the other day and I said, "I. Do. Not. Know. How. You. Do. This." While we're writing episode 10, episode 6 is shooting, episode 3 is in the edit, and episode 2 is in its color session...You've got seven episodes in different parts! It's a wild, wild, wild ride, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was badass and amazing.”

Knows Writing Said Different Talking Know How Color Seven Enjoyed Shooting Episodes Badass Session Edits Wild Ride

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I know when we were making the film [ Age Of Trump] that we knew that there was going to be some kind of radical change coming on the horizon. That's why it was important for us to get it out before the election.”

Knows Kind Important Age Film Trump Election Radical Horizon Radical Change Changes Coming

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I know that sounds a little bit corny, but I've found some solace in that. I hope art can continue to do that for people, I really do.”

People Knows Littles Art Found Bits Sound Little Bit Corny Solace

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I know how to make films and now I'm able to make films with the resources and the tools that match my imagination, and what filmmaker doesn't want to do that? I feel very fortunate to have that. I don't take it for granted.”

Knows Want Feels Able Film Imagination Know How Resources Tools Granted Fortunate Filmmaker My Imagination

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I'm not to say that my male counterparts do, but certainly, it feels very special to me because I know that so few women have had the opportunity to do what I'm doing, so I'm thrilled by it every day.”

Knows Feels Opportunity Special Males Counterparts Special To Me

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I know that there are a lot of great women that have gone before me, so it's important to acknowledge them.”

Knows Important Gone Acknowledge Great Women

Author:Ava DuVernay

“You know, often films that are deemed positive, nobody wants to see them.”

Knows Want Film

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I think good publicists are just like good mommies - always looking out, making sure folks are comfortable and making sure that folks are on time and making sure that folks are getting what they need and know what they need to do.”

Thinking Knows Needs Comfortable Folks Publicists

Author:Ava DuVernay

About the Author

Born: August 24, 1972
Known for: Filmmaker
Quotes: 112

Related Topics

Film Filmmaker People Thinking Black Knows Ifs Feels Done Needs Want Art Black Women Color Kind Long Prison Trump Way Age

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Similar Authors

Chika AnaduBrowse related quotes
Spike LeeBrowse related quotes
Haile GerimaBrowse related quotes
Alexander PayneBrowse related quotes
Christopher NolanBrowse related quotes
Chris HegedusBrowse related quotes
Kim LonginottoBrowse related quotes
Abbas KiarostamiBrowse related quotes
Alan ParkerBrowse related quotes
Alain ResnaisBrowse related quotes