Filmmaker Ava DuVernay discusses her creative adaptation of the book 'Caste' and the questions she hopes to pose in 2024. She reflects on her formative years as an underground emcee, the making of her first narrative feature, and the past year in Hollywood. She also shares her hopes for ARRAY and the words of Angela Davis that keep her moving forward.
'Origin' is an adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson's book 'Caste' that explores the global system of oppression and the cyclical hierarchy of human rankings based on race and gender.
Ava DuVernay emphasizes the danger of apathy towards social issues and urges individuals to push beyond their comfort zones, ask critical questions, and actively strive for change.
Ava DuVernay shares her personal experiences within the filmmaking industry, highlighting the importance of recognition, respect, and the ongoing struggle for representation and equal opportunities for black filmmakers and women.
Deep dives
The film 'Origin' reflects on the power dynamics and struggle faced by artists
The film 'Origin' is an adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson's book 'Cast' that explores the global system of oppression. It delves into the cyclical hierarchy of human rankings based on random attributes like race and gender that determine one's place in society. Through the emotional journey of a writer, the film highlights the struggle to uncover personal loss and create meaningful art. The director, Ava DuVernay, draws inspiration from her own experiences and the challenges faced by artists, especially women and people of color, within a predominantly white male-dominated industry.
Ava DuVernay discusses the necessity for people to take action and not be apathetic
Ava DuVernay emphasizes the danger of apathy and the need for people to take action in the face of various social issues. She expresses her concern over the widespread apathy towards issues like women's rights and racial injustice, and the tendency to avoid questioning the status quo. DuVernay urges individuals to push beyond their comfort zones, ask critical questions, and actively strive for change. She sees her role as a filmmaker in creating thought-provoking films like 'Origin' that challenge viewers' perspectives and inspire them to question their surroundings.
Ava DuVernay reflects on the challenges and frustrations of the filmmaking industry
Ava DuVernay shares her personal experiences within the filmmaking industry, highlighting the importance of recognition and respect in creative collaborations. She discusses instances where her ideas and expertise were dismissed or undervalued, despite her accomplishments as a filmmaker. DuVernay also reflects on the broader challenges faced by black filmmakers and women in the industry, as well as the ongoing struggle for representation and equal opportunities. Despite her frustrations, she remains determined to create meaningful and impactful films like 'Origin' that challenge societal norms and spark change.
Finding Inspiration on the Set
In the podcast episode, the speaker recounts a pivotal moment on the set of a movie directed by Michael Mann. Witnessing the use of digital cameras and the ability to shoot in familiar locations sparked a new energy and inspiration in the speaker. This experience led them to consider a different approach to filmmaking, with a focus on smaller, independent projects that align with their artistic vision and passion.
Building a Sustainable and Inclusive Film Community
The speaker discusses their involvement in creating and leading a distribution company called ARRAY, which supports women and filmmakers of color. ARRAY not only distributes films but also provides public programming and initiatives that combat law enforcement brutality. The speaker emphasizes the importance of developing systems and structures to foster a more inclusive and sustainable film industry. They express their desire to continue making films while also focusing on creating a positive impact and building community within the industry.
Over the past 15 years, filmmaker Ava DuVernay (Selma, Queen Sugar) has become something of an institution in Hollywood. As a writer, director, and producer she’s worked to make our industry more just and diverse—creating opportunities for voices that have historically been underrepresented both in front and behind the camera. In many ways her latest film, Origin, examines a hierarchy she’s worked to upend through a bold body of work.
And so we begin today’s episode discussing her creative adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s best-selling book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents(7:30) and the timely questions she hopes to pose as we begin 2024 (11:35). Then, Ava reflects on the influence of her Aunt Denise (17:42), what a typical Saturday looked like in the DuVernay household (21:56), her formative years as an underground emcee at UCLA (28:55), and how working on Michael Mann’s Collateral (34:33) inspired her to direct.
On the back-half, we talk about the making of Ava’s first narrative feature I Will Follow (38:46), a life-changing review from Roger Ebert (44:42) and the resulting decade as a director (49:15). We also wade through this past year in Hollywood (56:00), her hopes for ARRAY in the years to come (1:04:06), and the words of Angela Davis that keep her moving forward (1:06:00).
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