I was first introduced to August Wilson in the 80s when Charles Dutton did Ma Rainey and James Earl Jones and Courtney Vance did Fences. I've long considered August Wilson to be one of the five greatest playwrights in American history. Denzel Washington More Quotes by Denzel Washington More Quotes From Denzel Washington I think the bottom of the totem pole is African-American women, or women of colour. I think they get the least opportunities in Hollywood. Denzel Washington women opportunity thinking [Fences] is just a great play to bring to the screen. Denzel Washington screens fence play I talked to my mother about it a lot. I asked her what it was like to grow up in New York and Harlem in the 1920s and 1930s, and I asked her about a woman leaving her husband. I asked her about how she would feel about that woman, and my mother grew up in the Church Of God In Christ, and she told me that the woman might be isolated because the other women thought she might go and come after their husbands. That's how they thought then. Denzel Washington growing-up new-york mother I never tell anyone what to take away from a movie. Denzel Washington You'll see some great performances [in Fences]. And I'm not just saying that because I directed it either! You'll see! Denzel Washington just-saying performances fence In 2009, Scott Rudin sent me August's [Wilson] original screenplay [Fences] and asked me what I wanted to do with it. He wanted to know if I wanted to act in it, direct it or produce it. I said, "Well, let me read it first." Denzel Washington august fence firsts I asked my mother I said, "You divorced my dad, how did you decide? She said, "I decided twelve years before he knew it." I was like wow; I'm learning something new every day. Denzel Washington learning-something-new dad mother I called Scott Rudin, and I told him I wanted to do the play [Fences], so that's how the ball got rolling. I never said, "I'll do the play, and the next year I'll do the film, I just wanted to do the play." Denzel Washington next play years When I did A Soldier's Story, I was very young and green and thought I knew everything-now I know I know everything! Denzel Washington green soldier stories When you look in one direction where Troy's chair was, you could see out through the yard across the street, there was an old cork bar advertisement for five cents. We wanted it to feel like this was real life [in Fences] and that it extended blocks and blocks. Denzel Washington one-direction block real We rehearsed for two weeks [in "Fences"], and we taped out the whole house in the front, and the rooms, and we stood it up like a play. We tried to get off book and gave people small props. Denzel Washington play two book I've been fortunate. I don't pick scripts. Scripts pick me. Denzel Washington pick-me fortunate scripts In Los Angeles, everyone is a star. Denzel Washington faith success life By the way, sitting with other mommies is probably the most frightening experience in the entire world. They're serious into mommy-shaming. Denzel Washington sitting way world When you don't understand something, you label it and condemn it" (94) - Danny Glover, "The Fundamental Things Denzel Washington labels fundamentals Every day, sincerely and without phoniness, Lou demonstrated by his actions how very vital it is - more than anything else - to understand and appreciate the people who work with you...Do your job well, but always remember that the people you work with are your most valuable asset. Embrace them. Honor them. Respect them" (206) - "Prescriptions for Success" by John Schuerholz Denzel Washington appreciate jobs people Don't get all sentimental on me, Makes me think I'm gonna die. Denzel Washington sentimental dies thinking It's very important to transcend places that hold us. Denzel Washington vision important dream When my oldest boy was about 14, I started to talk to him about some of the mistakes I made in life, just to put a few dents in that shiny armor. Denzel Washington mistake success boys I'm from around Tennessee. I ran away when I was 12 years old and I ain't never looked back. Denzel Washington ran tennessee years