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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.

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Famous Ava DuVernay Quotes

“Some black filmmakers will say, "I don't want to be considered a black filmmaker, I'm a filmmaker." I don't think that. I'm a black woman filmmaker.”

Thinking Want Black Filmmaker Black Women

Author:Ava DuVernay

“There's never been a film with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the center released in theaters. Ever! One does not exist. You've only seen tele-films and stage plays about him. Yet, we have big screens biopics about all kinds of people. So, I think it's only right that there be a full-length feature about Dr. King. I don't think there could be enough of them, but there should be at least one. So, here it is!”

People Thinking Should Kind Doe Enough Play Bigs Film Stage Kings Theater Screens All Kinds Features Length Drs Luther Big Screen Dr Martin Luther King Stage Play

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I always go into a blocking rehearsal with an anchor, with a blocking plan. And sometimes they'll step into the room and they'll be in costume and you're like, "That sucks, that's not going to work. Let's think of something new."”

Thinking Sometimes Rooms Steps Plans Block Something New Costumes Going To Work Rehearsal Anchors

Author:Ava DuVernay

“Most of us think prison is a place where bad people go - which is what I thought for a long time - until you really start to look inside the system and you see, this is not right.”

People Thinking Looks Long Long Time Prison Bad People

Author:Ava DuVernay

“In addition to that, we have a woman post-production supervisor, a woman colorist, a woman first AD, a woman production supervisor... I think it's really sad when I hear so many shows are content to stay in a mono-cultural realm, not realizing how they are subtracting from their own greatness by not inviting women and people of color into the space - that seasoning that makes the recipe even more great. It was absolutely imperative for me. It's how I run all my crews.”

People Thinking Firsts Shows Running Realizing Space Greatness Color Productions Posts Realms Ads Crew Recipes Imperatives Inviting Really Sad Seasoning Supervisors Post Production Mono

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I think there are pieces of the film [Age Of Trump] that are even more emotionally resonant and more vital to talk about than ever.”

Thinking Age Film Pieces Trump

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I feel mushy these days when I think about art and artists and the work that lies ahead for us. There's good work to be done and there's joy to be found in it, I think.”

Thinking Feels Art Done Joy Lying Artist Found These Days Good Work Art And Artists Work To Be Done

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I think when we get to a place that this is not the story, that everyone's story is a part of the story, then we can say this has changed. Until then, these are steps to change if they're consistent.”

Ifs Thinking Stories Steps Changed Consistent

Author:Ava DuVernay

“Folks can look at this issue and read it and it can feel like medicine, it can feel epidemic. We wanted this to hit people in their gut, and the hope is that by doing that, we can get more people to think more deeply about these issues.”

People Thinking Feels Looks Wanted Issues Medicine Folks Guts Epidemics

Author:Ava DuVernay

“What we tried to do in 13th was get to the bottom of that. What were they motivated by? But certainly the attention that the Attorney General's office paid to it allowed for there to be some dialogue across the aisle that I think were the first steps then in change.”

Thinking Firsts Attention Steps Office Paid Bottom Dialogue Motivated First Steps Attorney Aisle

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I think there are a lot of people in this industry that have the ability, that have the position, they have the opportunity, they have the privilege to call the shots and could do it too.”

People Thinking Opportunity Ability Position Industry Shots Privilege

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I think it's a wonderful time to be a black woman who makes films. It's a good time to be an artist period. Traditional models of making and consuming art are breaking down and being rebuilt. I find that to be incredibly exciting as a filmmaker and film marketer.”

Thinking Art Film Artist Black Wonderful Exciting Filmmaker Good Times Black Women Breaking Down

Author:Ava DuVernay

“There’s something very important about films about black women and girls being made by black women. It’s a different perspective. It is a reflection as opposed to an interpretation, and I think we get a lot of interpretations about the lives of women that are not coming from women.”

Thinking Made Important Different Film Girl Black Perspective Reflection Interpretation Black Women Different Perspective

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I didn't start out thinking that I could ever make films. I started out being a film lover, loving films, and wanting to have a job that put me close to them and close to filmmakers and close to film sets.”

Thinking Jobs Film Lovers Filmmaker Film Set

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I think I am a little jealous of women who have great girlfriends as adults.”

Thinking Littles Adults Girlfriend Jealous

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I think that women definitely have a special bond as friends that is hard to describe to men, and we don't often see that portrayed narratively.”

Thinking Men Hard Special

Author:Ava DuVernay

“I just don't think there's a lot of support for the woman's voice in cinema, and it becomes really difficult to raise that money and start again every time.”

Thinking Difficult Voice Support Raises Cinema

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

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