13th Amendment as the beginning of a conversation
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, but did not end the story. It is simply a chapter in a book that continues.
Ava DuVernay
American film director, screenwriter and producer known for films about racial justice and social movements.
All moments: Ava DuVernay
- Stories as an act of resistance — Ava DuVernay
When I film, I fight. I fight against oblivion, against inertia, against untruth. Cinema is a weapon.
- Path as recognition of calling — Ava DuVernay
Life leads you where you need to be. I did not choose cinema, cinema chose me.
- Origins as the key to understanding — Ava DuVernay
Origin is an attempt to understand the roots of systemic oppression. You cannot heal what you do not understand.
- Money as an instrument of justice — Ava DuVernay
If we control budgets, we control stories. And if we control stories, we control the future.
- Persuasion as a means of creativity — Ava DuVernay
To make a film, you must convince people of your vision. And this is harder than making the film itself.
- Fiction as a path to truth — Ava DuVernay
Sometimes truth requires fiction. A feature film can reveal what a documentary cannot.
Related moments
- Documenting History — Questlove
As a documentarian, I feel a responsibility to preserve the history of Black music and culture
- Birth of a Legend — Paul McCartney
The Beatles were about growth. We changed every single day.
- Alien Artist — David Bowie
I never tried to fit in. I prefer to be myself, even if it's alien.
- Compromise and Conscience — Bob Dylan
I'll never sell my soul for money or fame. It's my only true asset.
- Always Be a Good Human — Louis Armstrong
I've always tried to be a good human being. That's what matters.
- The Drum Tells a Story — Questlove
The drum is the heartbeat of music. It's what keeps everyone together