Ava DuVernay Quotes - BrainyQuote

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

About, Felt, Held

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

I Think, Through, Been

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, Magic, Granted

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

Goal, Move, Gusto

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

Small, Dream, Your Dream

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

I Think, Been, Trained

Diversity is not one in the room. Diversity is not two in the room. Diversity is not three in the room. True diversity is half the room. Ava DuVernay

Diversity, True, Half

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

Second Chance, Weekend, Put

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

Here, Over, Behind

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

Top 10
Ava DuVernay
Quotes

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

Back, Year, Joining

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

Leading, Progression, Remind

It's not enough even to have one black Barbie... because black women are not a monolith. Ava DuVernay

Black, Enough, Even

Film is a mirror. I want to see more filmmakers. We all want to see ourselves. Ava DuVernay

Mirror, See, More

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

View, Point Of View, Movie

The best art is realized when you can share the experience of making of it and not just the presentation of it, so that the audience is part of the creation and not just part of the consumption. Then it becomes much more full-bodied and robust. Ava DuVernay

Art, Audience, Making

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

Doing, Will, Dominant

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, Doing, Other

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

Doing, Give, Firmly

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. Ava DuVernay

Wanting, Films, Sets

There's really no precedent for someone like me gaining clout in the space that I'm in - a black woman directing films in Hollywood. Ava DuVernay

Clout, Gaining, Films

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

Fact, Loud, Very

Oh, Diane Nash deserves her own film. Diane Nash is a freedom fighter who is still alive and kicking. She was one of the leaders of the desegregation of Nashville, basically. She was a student at Fisk University who was one of the founding members of SNCC, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Ava DuVernay

Alive, Nashville, Diane

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

Willing, I Can, Paradigm

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

Love, Skin, Own

If, in 2014, we're still making 'white savior movies,' then it's just lazy and unfortunate. We've grown up as a country, and cinema should be able to reflect what's true. And what's true is that black people are the center of their own lives and should tell their own stories from their own perspectives. Ava DuVernay

Country, Lazy, Own

Loading...

Load more quotes

Related Authors

Quentin Tarantino

Steven Spielberg

Stanley Kubrick

BrainyQuote

BrainyQuote Desktop

BrainyQuote Mobile

Site

Quote Of The Day

Social

BQ on Pinterest

BQ on Instagram

Apps

iPhone/iPad app

Quote Of The Day Feeds

Javascript and RSS feeds

WordPress plugin

Quote of the Day Email

About

Copyright © 2001 - 2018 BrainyQuote

Language: Español | Français

Please disable your ad blocker

OK