When we're talking about diversity, it's not a box to check. It is a reality that should be deeply felt and held and valued by all of us. Ava DuVernay More Quotes by Ava DuVernay More Quotes From Ava DuVernay I don't understand the iPhone. I just don't get it. Don't ya'll have to write serious emails throughout the day? How can you possibly manage detailed missives on a phone with no keys? Ava DuVernay phones keys writing 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. Ava DuVernay special men thinking I tell the stories that are of interest to me. Ava DuVernay interest stories All the films I do, I write the scripts, I direct. Ava DuVernay scripts film writing I'm a prison abolitionist because the prison system as it is set up is just not working. It's horrible. Ava DuVernay abolitionist horrible prison You know, often films that are deemed positive, nobody wants to see them. Ava DuVernay film knows want Film school was a privilege I could not afford. Ava DuVernay privilege film school Filmmakers need to realize that their job isn't done when they lock picture. We must see our films through. Ava DuVernay locks jobs needs As long as you're in an environment where the worth of the project isn't based on the project but what its predecessors did, it's not truly inclusive. Ava DuVernay projects environment long The documentaries were something that I could do for a small amount of money, and then I felt like as long as I found the truth in the stories I was telling as a doc, I could teach myself filmmaking through doc filmmaking. Ava DuVernay documentaries stories long Roger Ebert was such a champion of underrepresented filmmakers. He was a very big deal to me. It shows the power of critics. People who write about film, like you, can really affect the confidence of a young filmmaker. He did that for me, so it was such a pleasure to have an opportunity to talk about Roger in the movie. Ava DuVernay writing opportunity people We're hoping that people watch this very famous case and begin to become emotional and connected to the idea that we need massive work to reframe the way we think about criminality in the United States. Ava DuVernay entertainment He shattered every preconceived notion, smashed every boundary, shared everything in his heart through his music, the only way I know how to make this film is with love. And with great care. I'm honored to do so and grateful for the opportunity entrusted to me by the estate. Ava DuVernay entertainment Prince was a genius and a joy and a jolt to the senses, he was like no other. Ava DuVernay entertainment The Academy has no power over Hollywood. We have nothing to do with hiring, what we can do, however, is to get them to widen their normal stream of thought. Ava DuVernay entertainment Hollywood is like the boyfriend who doesn't call you as often, that's kind of like what Hollywood is to women filmmakers, (There is) a little a bit of neglect in terms of recognizing the imagination and talent women filmmakers have ... of older actresses who might be past the window of when the industry says they're valuable. There's so much of that going on so it's certainly something we all have to work to correct. Ava DuVernay entertainment I am extremely happy to note that 'Selma' is up for best picture, which means the talent that it took to bring 'Selma' to the screen was recognized, and I think that's important. Ava DuVernay entertainment I think any black woman is a queen. It's just, do you know it? Do you see it in yourself? Do you recognize it, do you abide by that, do you define yourself as that? Based on who we are and what we've been through and how we survive and where we stand, we are on kind of sacred ground. We stand on the backs of our ancestors. Ava DuVernay queen woman yourself you Nonviolence is pretty ballsy, pretty advanced weaponry. Ava DuVernay advanced pretty weaponry nonviolence The way that we're consuming what we watch. Netflix, binge-watching, destination agnostic were not terms. It was about networks, times, dates. Even with feature films, you had to see it this way, in this capacity, at this time. All that has changed. Now it's really about the story. It's a gift that I became a storyteller at this time. Ava DuVernay gift you destination time