Style Sessions : Ava DuVernay (1.11.24)
11/11/24
As the days grow shorter and nights longer, we enter the winter holiday season, signaling the end of the year. In preparation for the year ahead, it’s time to reflect on the past twelve months and set our intentions for the future. My schedule has been completely full this year, but it has oddly brought me a sense of clarity and focus I’ve been striving to achieve for some time. By laying a solid foundation for the foreseeable future, I’ve been able to prioritize and organize my objectives, leading to improved workflow and productivity. I’ve also managed to simplify my ideas, giving myself the space to identify which projects truly deserve my time and attention. Rather than focusing on staying busy, the key is to be intentional in your endeavors and how you spend your time.
With the recent election still in our rearview mirror, I’ve been wanting to share this. As I thought about this footage prior to Election Day, a statement made that evening kept resonating with me. Now, as we look ahead, with the finality of the results, her words ring even louder.
Thursday, January 11th, 2024 - as this year got underway, I had the pleasure of attending “Style Sessions,” presented by The Washington Post at the Rubell Museum in DC. The evening’s guest was Ava DuVernay, a filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter known for her countless visual masterpieces in film and TV, all of which strongly highlight the experiences of African Americans. That night, we were given a brief glimpse into her journey as she and host Geoff Edgers, a National Arts Reporter for The Washington Post, discussed various topics, including her most recent achievement, the film Origin.
In this edited clip of their conversation, they discuss the writing process, the accountability of our nation, and share some advice for creatives. Earlier, I mentioned a statement she made that has lingered with me ever since. She spoke about being “just a filmmaker” and how she uses her craft to combat the “dangerous thoughts” and divisive statements that perpetuate racial stereotypes and outdated mentalities, which have plagued our country since its inception. As African Americans, we have no choice but to challenge the status quo for the sake of our safety, well-being, and future generations. She continued, saying, “I’m just a filmmaker; all I do is make movies. So I’m just gonna do what I can do, but the question is, what can you do?”
As we look ahead to the next four years, I believe we all need to answer this question. Regardless of which side you think you’re on, we are in this together.