"I am not a window dresser. I'm a storyteller."
This quote by Ava DuVernay signifies her role as a creator of narratives, rather than merely arranging elements for aesthetic appeal. She considers herself a storyteller who uses cinema to convey meaningful tales, as opposed to someone who simply dresses up a narrative with decorative elements. In essence, she is articulating the importance and purpose of her craft, emphasizing its power to inform, inspire, and move audiences.
"Don't wait until you've reached your destination to start enjoying your journey."
This quote encourages embracing joy and satisfaction along the way, rather than solely focusing on the final outcome or destination. It underscores the importance of living in the present moment, finding happiness and fulfillment throughout life's journey, not just when one has achieved their goals.
"The more we see of each other, the less we fear one another."
Ava DuVernay's quote suggests that increased exposure to different people, cultures, or perspectives helps diminish fear and fosters mutual understanding. By engaging with diversity, we can break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and form connections, leading to a more empathetic and inclusive society.
"When you're in the driver's seat, there's no room for fear."
This quote suggests that when one takes control or responsibility for a situation (as represented by being the "driver"), they effectively eliminate space for fear to thrive. Taking control empowers individuals, allowing them to focus on action rather than apprehension. It encourages boldness, determination, and confidence in one's abilities, helping to overcome obstacles and achieve success.
"I want to tell stories that help people feel connected instead of separated."
Ava DuVernay's quote emphasizes her desire to create narratives that foster a sense of unity and empathy rather than division among people. By telling engaging, heartfelt stories, she aims to promote understanding and connection between individuals, thus bridging gaps, promoting harmony, and challenging prejudice or misunderstanding.
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
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
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
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
You gotta follow the white guys. Truly. They've got this thing wired. Too often, we live within their games, so why would you not study what works? Take away the bad stuff - because there's a lot - and use the savvy interesting stuff and figure out how they can apply. It's a good one for the ladies.
- Ava DuVernay
If you walk into a room, and there is no one that's not like you there, whether it's a woman or a person of color, anyone that's different from you, you should be able to say this is a problem. We need allies in that room to say that video, this room, this company, these ideas, this film, this whatever, this is not right - this is not good enough.
- Ava DuVernay
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
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
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
There's been no major motion picture released by a studio, no independent motion picture, in theaters, with King at the center, in the 50 years since these events happened, when we have biopics on all kinds of ridiculous people. And nothing on King? No cinematic representation that's meaningful and centered.
- Ava DuVernay
There was a time when I was knocking on doors and concerned with being recognized in dominant culture. I've found a space where the terrain is different, where I'm embraced by people like me, and where I'm building new ways of doing things, as opposed to trying to insert myself in a place that might not be welcoming.
- Ava DuVernay
With the Black Lives Matter movement, a lot of the focus is on the protest and dissent. I'm hoping to dismantle the public notion - for folks outside of the community - of what Black Lives Matter means. It's really about saying that black lives matter: that humanity is the same when you go inside people's homes.
- Ava DuVernay
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