Ava DuVernay On The Shortage Of Black Female Directors
Female directors in Hollywood are taking a stance and voicing their discontent with the status quo of their lack of representation. Female directors are not only under-represented on the big screen, but the same holds true for television movies as well. Not only are women barely represented behind the camera, but did you know that Rotten Tomatoes, that critique movies have 168 female critics, and....get this...760 male critics! INSANE. Now how many of these (few) women represented do you think are black?
One prominent black female director, Ava DuVernay, believes that changing the current situation will require more than just talking, and thinks that the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) should get involved. Until then however, DuVernay has decided to work with those in Hollywood who have shown commitment to diversity, like Participant Pictures. They are financing her new film, starring David Oyelowo, about Hurricane Katrina.
Another company in favour of diversity DuVernay says is Netflix. They are working with on a different documentary project, in addition to partnering with her distribution venture Array. Array is dedicated to releasing films by minority and female filmmakers.
Ava DuVerany, is groundbreaking in more ways, having recently gone mainstream as she graces the cover of ELLE Magazine in 1 of 8 issues celebrating women in Hollywood. Monday night, October 20, Mary J. Blige helped honour DuVernay at ELLE's Women in Hollywood Awards. The annual event honours women for their achievements in the entertainment industry.
She is also the first African-American woman to be nominated for a Golden Globe in the "Best Director" category for her movie Selma. Something else she directed, is the Apple commercial, featuring Mary J. Blige, Kerry Washington, and Taraji P. Henson. She got the gig on recommendation from Oprah who told Jimmy Iovine, the head of Apple Music, "Get Ava to direct it, she will translate this for you."
[Related: Taraji P. Henson's Breakthrough And Take On Longevity]
Why do I share all this? Absolutely to applaud one of our own who is doing it well, and doing it big. But as I led in the beginning, there's a shortage of female directors, period. And part of the solution might just be that more females bring their projects to light. Don't think that your project isn't worth sharing. Even if it takes 100 no's, all you need is one yes, as screenwriter Gina Prince-Bythewood shared about her project "Beyond the Lights". If established names like Gina have challenges, even after writing Love & Basketball, then it's fair to assume that someone with no major project under their belt will have a few challenges too. All I'm saying is, don't up. Try distributions such as DuVernay's Array that are specifically looking for projects by black females. Be encouraged, and as always...
Be blessed!