Ava DuVernay Quotes

American - Director Born: August 24, 1972

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

Woman, Yourself, Queen, Think, Black

Creativity is an energy. It's a precious energy, and it's something to be protected. A lot of people take for granted that they're a creative person, but I know from experience, feeling it in myself, it is a magic; it is an energy. And it can't be taken for granted. Ava DuVernay

Experience, Myself, Creativity, People

There's something very important about films about black women and girls being made by black women. It's a reflection as opposed to an interpretation. Ava DuVernay

Women, Reflection, Black, Important

I love community, I love to be around other people. I love to be around other people when everyone's feeling good and doing their best. Not to just be the only one in the room that's shining. Ava DuVernay

Love, Best, Community, Good, People

Be passionate and move forward with gusto every single hour of every single day until you reach your goal. Ava DuVernay

Day, Goal, You, Reach, Forward, Single

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

Time, Gift, Destination, Story, You, See

I love to see people just being regal in their own skin; it's just when they know who they are. Ava DuVernay

Love, People, Know, Skin, Own, See

'Queen Sugar' is a drama about family. It's something that allows us to be ourselves and see the ways that we interact with our own families. Ava DuVernay

Family, Queen, Drama, Sugar, Own, See

If I can be in a place where my image is encouraging people to see different people behind the camera, and my image and the images I make can help open up a certain world view, I think that's all a part of a larger spirit of change and progress, and I'm happy to be part of it. Ava DuVernay

Change, Progress, Happy, People, Think

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

Diversity, Reality, Talking, Box, Check

Top 10
Ava DuVernay
Quotes

You could make the most beautiful film, and that weekend it's raining too hard on the East Coast, and no one goes out. Artists should have a chance to do it again. That's the challenge: Women artists don't get a second chance. People-of-color artists don't get a second chance. You're put in director's jail, and that's a wrap. Ava DuVernay

Women, Beautiful, Challenge, Weekend

I want more girls to be able to see themselves behind the camera creating images we all enjoy, and I want to call attention to the fact that women directors are here all over the world. Ava DuVernay

Women, World, Camera, Enjoy, Attention

I am honored to be one of this year's Urbanworld ambassadors for the festival's 20th anniversary, joining my friend David Oyelowo. I have always had a special relationship with Urbanworld, back to my days as a festival publicist to previewing my earlier films and now as an ambassador. Ava DuVernay

Relationship, Anniversary, Friend, I Am

There can be a progression to the dream; there can be steps to it. When you dissect any successful person's story, it's really rare that it was all or nothing. It's steps, and I just try to remind myself of that in terms of the things that I want; it's like, everything is a step, leading you to where you need to go. Ava DuVernay

Myself, Step, Story, Dream, You, Need

If your dream is only about you, it's too small. Ava DuVernay

Small, Dream, You, Only, Your, Too

Oprah Winfrey is a big role model for me from a business capacity and a creative capacity. She is an incredible interviewer who cultivated a certain style by inserting her own personhood into a show on national television at a time when no one was talking about empowerment, spirituality, or our inner lives. Ava DuVernay

Business, Time, Style, Creative, Me, She

All the traditional models for doing things are collapsing; from music to publishing to film, and it's a wide open door for people who are creative to do what they need to do without having institutions block their art. Ava DuVernay

Music, Art, People, Door, Creative, Need

In Hollywood, there is one dominant voice. It is a white, male, straight gaze. When I talk about positive portrayals of black people and women, I'm saying complexity. I'm not saying goody-two-shoes, everything's okay. No. The positive view of me is to see me as I am: the 'good,' the 'bad,' the gray. That is a positive portrayal. Ava DuVernay

Positive, Women, Good, I Am, People, Me

If you're doing something outside of dominant culture, there's not an easy place for you. You will have to do it yourself. Ava DuVernay

Culture, Yourself, Doing, Place, You

I intend to be making films until I'm an old lady. So, if God willing I get there, I need to create a paradigm for myself where I can make it regardless of whether or not they still like what I'm making. Ava DuVernay

Myself, God, I Can, Need, Create, Lady

Every filmmaker imbues a movie with their own point of view. Ava DuVernay

View, Point Of View, Own, Point, Movie

All black women aren't sassy, loud, difficult, or subservient. We are, in fact, very complex and very diverse, living very complex and diverse lives. That point cannot be made enough. Ava DuVernay

Women, Black, Living, Enough, Difficult

Women have been trained in our culture and society to ask for what we want instead of taking what we want. We've been really indoctrinated with this culture of permission. I think it's true for women, and I think it's true for people of color. It's historic, and it's unfortunate and has somehow become part of our DNA. But that time has passed. Ava DuVernay

Women, Culture, Time, Society, People

I made my first film when I was 35, so I firmly believe that you don't have to be one thing in life. If you're doing something, and you have a desire to do something different, give it a try. Ava DuVernay

Life, Believe, Doing, You, Desire, Try

My next project is 'Venus Vs,' which is a documentary that follows tennis star Venus Williams and her effort to get equal-award pay for women at Wimbledon. Most people don't realize that Venus fought for years to make sure women and men winners of that tennis championship received the same amount in award money. Ava DuVernay

Women, Money, Effort, Men, People, Award

Any film that you see that has any progressive spirits that is made by any people of color or a woman is a triumph in and of itself. Whether you agree with it or not. Something that comes with some point of view and some personal perspective from a woman or a person of color is a unicorn. Ava DuVernay

Perspective, Woman, People, Color, View

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