This chapter explores the decision to fund the movie 'Origin' and the impact it had on their filmmaking process. They discuss the challenges of finding alternative funding for socially conscious films and highlight the success of their grassroots marketing efforts. The conversation also touches on the recognition and relevance of their previous films and the concept of history rhyming.
Today, our guest is acclaimed director and screenwriter Ava DuVernay, known for the Oscar-nominated films “Selma” and “13th.” Her latest film “Origin” is an adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s 2020 bestseller “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.” We explore how she adapted the ideas of a nonfiction book into a gripping narrative film and why – instead of major Hollywood studios – DuVernay secured funding for “Origin” from philanthropists, including the Ford Foundation, Melinda Gates, Laurene Powell Jobs and Anne Wojcicki.
Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on social media. We’re on Instagram/Threads as @karaswisher and @nayeemaraza
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