We’re Elated to Announce that We’re Hosting Our Second Annual Blackout Black Friday. Last Year, the Potent Power of the People Was on Full Display for #BlackoutBlackFriday. The Time Has Come Once Again For All of Us to Stand United Against Police Brutality, Racist Policies and Racial Terrorism. Join Us on Black Friday for a Nationwide Boycott and Day of Action to Spark Change. In the Coming Weeks, We’ll be Announcing Free Blackout Events for Black Friday and Our Featured Partner Organizations. Check Out These Captivating Articles on #BlackoutBlackFriday 2014 and Stand With Us in 2015!
#BlackoutBlackFriday: A National Call To Boycott Black Friday For Ferguson And Beyond: http://huff.to/1Mlsqcm via The Huffington Post
How #BlackoutBlackFriday Boycott Fared on Social Media During Black Friday: http://bit.ly/20euz46 via TheWrap
Selma and Fruitvale Station Directors lead Black Friday Protest Over Ferguson with #BlackoutBlackFriday: http://bit.ly/1M40y0F via The Gurdian
“‘We’ve got to fight the powers that be!’ proclaimed Public Enemy’s Chuck D in 1989. With the embers of Ferguson still smoldering, it is clear that the struggle continues. But by taking their purchasing power away on retailers’ favorite day of the year, the voice of blacks in America, and their allies, may echo more loudly in its absence from shopping malls and big box stores.” Read CNN’s Article Here: http://cnn.it/1MwS3gU
“There’s a generation of filmmakers of color and women whose primary concern is that no one will see their work. And that is a huge barrier. They’re asking, ‘Why make something if no one will see it?’ Right now, there is a fundamental disrespect inherent in the distribution and amplification of films. There is a cinema segregation in how films are seen and not seen. What we’re saying is, we’re not going to depend on those things anymore.” Ava DuVernay Discusses Diversity in Hollywood and ARRAY: http://lat.ms/1UL8slq
Watch Highlights From Our Blackout Festival Storytelling Panel Featuring Tessa Thompson, Nate Parker, Justin Simien, Tracie Thoms and More: http://bit.ly/1VUhfyT
“After five years of providing a platform for independent African-American filmmakers through her grassroots film distribution association, African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM), Ava DuVernay announced on Tuesday that it will relaunch as ARRAY in order to expand its focus for filmmakers she sees as too often overlooked. Inspired by her experiences meeting filmmakers across the globe while promoting ‘Selma,’ the Oscar-nominated director says she will apply the same tactics from AFFRM into ARRAY.” Continue Reading The Huffington Post’s Article on Ava and ARRAY: http://huff.to/1Nw4Akf
MUST WATCH: Highlights From Our First Annual Blackout Music & Film Festival Featuring Live Musical Performances by Lalah Hathaway, V. Bozeman and More, Spoken Word Performances by Amandla Stenberg, Donté Clark and More, and Panel Discussion Highlights with Tracie Thoms, Justin Simien, Nate Parker, Rahiel Tesfamariam, Patrisse Marie Cullors-Brignac, David Johns and More: https://youtu.be/ba_J5iCKQDk
Check Out the Excellent Articles Below on the Best and Most Powerful Moments From Blackout Music & Film Festival:
How the Blackout Music & Film Festival is Encouraging Emerging Voices to Break Out - http://bit.ly/1JHmERd via Indiewire
The Responsible Celebrity: Actors, Filmmakers Talk About Art, Activism at Blackout Festival - http://bit.ly/1O4eiXH via The Root
Blackout Music & Film Festival Talks Artists and Social Justice - http://bit.ly/1UnXJIr via Variety
Blackout Music & Film Festival Celebrates Community, Creativity and Culture - http://bit.ly/1JHU86a via The Root
Chris Rock, Tessa Thompson, Justin Simien And Others Talk Celebrity Advocacy at Blackout Festival - http://bit.ly/1PSyWdY via Colorlines
Nate Parker, Tessa Thompson Speak Out About Human Rights At Blackout Festival - http://bit.ly/1NUoSDK via Hip Hollywood
#BlackoutFestival Partner AFFRM Released Tina Mabry’s ‘Mississippi Damned’ on Netflix Today! The Award Winning Film Features Blackout Festival Storytelling Panelist Tessa Thompson! Watch the Official Trailer for ‘Mississippi Damned’: https://youtu.be/bA5f47ihycs and See the Movie Today on Netflix: http://nflx.it/1Uln0Is
“Tina Mabry’s ‘Mississippi Damned’ Is Now Streaming on Netflix, Courtesy of AFFRM + Array” Read Indiewire’s Article on the Film here: http://bit.ly/1KFqbV7
“I’m Interested in the Conversations About the Characters that We Imagine” Tessa Thompson at Blackout Festival: http://bit.ly/1O4eiXH
The Power of Storytelling in Art, Film, Music & Spoken Word Was on Full Display at Blackout Festival this Past Saturday. Check Out the Captivating Articles Below on the Festival that Featured 3 Panels, 3 Live Musical Performances, 3 Spoken Word Performances, 2 Film Screenings and a Signature Artist Showcase. Thank You to Everyone Who Came Out on Saturday, Thank You to Our Amazing Partners and Thank You to All the Talent that Took Part in Blackout Music & Film Festival:
“Whether the discussion was about representation, development or recognition of artistic talent, voices in the black community were front and center on Saturday. And while they were eager to share their own experiences, they were also speaking on behalf of the voices that don’t often make it to the majority of American households.” Continue Reading Steve Green’s Article on Blackout Festival Here: http://bit.ly/1JHmERd via Indiewire
“Attendees at the first annual Blackout for Human Rights Festival included Chris Rock, Tessa Thompson, Nate Parker, director Justin Simien and many others” Continue Reading Danielle C. Belton’s Article on Blackout Festival Here: http://bit.ly/1O4eiXH via The Root
“Moderated by ASCAP’s Mir Harris, the panel discussed the history of music and its connection to human rights, especially within the African-American community. The panel begun with the quote: “An artist’s duty is to reflect the times.” Referring back to the civil-rights era, the panel agreed that music was a catalyst to the movement” Continue Reading Mannie Holmes’ Article on Blackout Festival Here: http://bit.ly/1UnXJIr via Variety
“At the first-ever Blackout Music & Film Festival, held Saturday at the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles, artists, activists, celebrities and everyday citizens convened to highlight and explore the ways in which artists are using their art to address human rights violations and injustices. The daylong festival featured screenings of 3 ½ Minutes, Ten Bullets and Dear White People, a #SayHerName Voices for the Cause music showcase, an artists showcase and three panels that addressed topics ranging from the importance of diversity in media to criminal-justice reform” Continue Reading Akilah Green’s Article on Blackout Festival Here: http://bit.ly/1Q6D0rL via The Root
The potent power of inclusive storytelling can not be expressed enough. For people privileged enough to see themselves reflected on TV, movie screens and magazine covers in a positive and nuanced light, it is easy to dismiss the impact of media representation. Shout to Ava DuVernay and her Company AFFRM for promoting voices from all backgrounds and seeing the beauty and value of diversity in storytelling. We’re honored to have them as an official partner of Blackout Music & Film Festival. Join at Blackout Music & Film Festival this Saturday: http://bit.ly/1NviXBK and Read the Articles Below:
“Long before “Selma” came along, its director, Ava DuVernay, was working to help distribute films with black themes through the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement. As she said in 2011, explaining why independent black artists needed the organization, “No one is ever going to care about their film except the people it’s made for, which is, black folks.” On Wednesday, hoping to raise awareness of AFFRM’s distribution label, Array, Ms. DuVernay enlisted more than 40 black filmmakers to share insights and advice via Twitter. Using the hashtag #ARRAY, the “Rebel-a-Thon” began in the morning with Debbie Allen, among others, and has progressed throughout the day with veteran and newcomer directors alike taking turns every hour or so” Continue Reading The New York Times article: http://nyti.ms/1JbRfLA
“And that is just so important, not only because she called out Hollywood for a status quo that refused to give such complex roles as that of Annalise Keating to women of color, but that she called out Hollywood for a status quo that refused to give such complex roles to a woman who is almost in her 50’s. Ageism and racism still run rampant in America today, something that has come to the forefront of American consciousness in the wake of the controversy surrounding the 2015 Oscars nominees, and for Davis to call that out in her speech was truly beautiful. How To Get Away With Murder does something that very few other shows are doing on TV right now, and to have a lead like Davis makes it even better.” Continue Reading Bustle’s Article Here: http://bit.ly/1MO0thB
“The auteur, and Paste’s 2014 Film Person of the Year, invites you to join her community of film artists, film advocates and film lovers who want to experience true diversity both in front of and behind the camera.” Continue Reading Paste Magazines Article Here: http://bit.ly/1KkPzzz
“I started writing this movie some 10 years ago as an impulse because I didn’t really my story out there in the culture. I didn’t see myself reflected back at me in the films I love or the stories that resonated for me. I tried to put myself in the culture. That can be difficult when, along the way, there’s really nothing there to tell you that you belong there. If you don’t see yourself in the culture, please put yourself there, because we need you. We need to see the world from your eyes” Justin Simien Wins the Award for Best First Screenplay at the Spirit Awards. Watch His Full Speech Here: https://youtu.be/JpBPTVejG2w
“I am keenly aware of how we as women (and most specifically women of color) are presented and portrayed in media and how we present ourselves. And here was my mama from almost 30 years ago on the surface doing something that often snags me in videos today but why did I feel differently about it?” Continue Reading Tracee Ellis Ross’ Article Here: http://bit.ly/1hB34Qz
“Black Women Are Leading a Cultural Movement through TV” For Harriet:http://bit.ly/1h4JAmq
“We need stories for and about black youth. We need stories where they are painted in the same light as their white counterparts. “I turned to books to figure out how to navigate life and relationships,” said I.W. Gregario, a founding member of the We Need Diverse Books campaign. As a result of not seeing her identity as an Asian woman represented in the literature she loved, she says she became self-hating. We live in a society that sees black kids as both less innocent and older than white children. A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that “black boys can be seen as responsible for their actions at an age when white boys still benefit from the assumption that children are essentially innocent.” The U.S. Department of Education revealed in a report that black children face discrimination as early as pre-school. This systemic dehumanization has life-altering results in the case of, say, Dajerria Beckton who was tackled at a pool party, or the life-ending case of Tamir Rice” Continue Reading For Harriet’s Article Here: http://bit.ly/1MHfHWX
“Even before his tragic death at the hands of Officer Darren Wilson, though, Brown’s chances of being seen—or seeing himself—as a hero were already limited. The image of a young black man, prostrate in the street, is one we’re much more accustomed to seeing in Hollywood movies than we are a black man working to save humanity. Marvel Studios, the folks behind Iron Man and The Avengers, recently announced they’d be releasing Black Panther—their first black superhero movie—in 2017. It’ll be the kind of film Michael Brown saw very little of in his lifetime. It’s hardly a surprise that many people of color were thrilled by Marvel’s announcement, or that the Internet recently erupted in jubilant conversation around the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer—which opens on a black man dressed as a stormtrooper. There are huge portions of society, including the more than 50 percent that are women, who are starved for this kind of representation in our grandest forms of entertainment” Continue Reading Bright Ideas Magazine’s Article Here: http://bit.ly/1EFp4hU
“I am a storyteller. I write movies, short stories, and poems. I’ve spent years trying to understand the ways that narratives underscore society, how the stories we create, retell, and amplify influence our thinking, our actions, our ways of life. I cannot tell you how many times someone has had a pre-packaged idea of me before I even opened my mouth or entered a room. These people had a “black woman narrative” already constructed and were waiting for me to fulfill it. When I didn’t, they appeared confused. I just breathed and existed. But sometimes, even doing that is cause for violence and brutality. Because narratives of black beasts, black demons, of black criminals are so strong, that just breathing, and existing, might get you killed” Continue Reading Indiewire’s Article Here: http://bit.ly/1E8nyKC
Ava DuVernay is a force in Hollywood, having made a name for herself not only as a director, producer and screenwriter, but as a champion of change. Now, more than ever, media representations that we see daily in print, on television, and in films are being called into question. But, for the past decade, Ava DuVernay’s mission has been to push for more inclusivity on sets and on screen. “Diversity is not just a box to check. It’s a reality that should be deeply felt and held and valued by all of us,” DuVernay said in an interview with Fast Company.
How did DuVernay become a Hollywood game changer?
Her story isn’t a straight line — it’s a series of pivots based on strong determination and the willingness to take chances to forge her own path. Born in Long Beach, California, DuVernay was raised in a matriarchal environment with lots of women who always encouraged her to follow her heart. She grew up near the Compton neighborhood of Los Angeles and was the first African American student body president at her high school. Film wasn’t her dream from the get-go. As an undergrad at UCLA, she pursued a major in African American studies, then shifted into the world of public relations after spending time as a journalist.
Ava DuVernay gave the commencement speech at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television in 2017. Photo credit: UCLA
At 27, she started her own public relations firm, The DuVernay Agency. As a film publicist, she was able to get close to different filmmakers, seeing how movies were made firsthand. This proximity to the world of film enamored her. While on a film set in East Los Angeles for the 2004 crime thriller, “Collateral,” DuVernay had an aha! moment when she realized that she wanted to be the one telling the stories, the one making the movies. “Javier Bardem was on set, and something about the scene with Javier and Jamie, this brown man and this black man: It was this gritty place in East L.A. at night, with a digital camera, and I just loved it,” she shared with Rolling Stone. “I started writing a script that weekend.“
In 2011, she self-financed “I Will Follow,” her first feature film she wrote and directed, after a few years of learning the film trade while working on shorts and documentaries. Just three years later, she directed the acclaimed “Selma,” a film about Martin Luther King Jr. and the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march. Following the release of “Selma,”DuVernay was the first African American female director to be nominated for an Academy Award for best picture. With the upcoming release of “A Wrinkle in Time,” boasting a budget exceeding $100 million, DuVernay is now the first African American woman to direct a live-action film with a budget of that size.
Ava DuVernay on her journey to become the first black woman to direct an Oscar nominated film. Credit: TIME
Beyond her notable accomplishments and series of “firsts,” she’s hoping to create a larger shift in Hollywood, one with varied voices and stories in cinema. Just three years ago, she expanded her film distribution company to become ARRAY, where female filmmakers and people of color are at the forefront. “It comes down to who gets to tell the story? If the dominant images that we have seen throughout our lifetime, our mother’s lifetime, our grandmother’s lifetime, have been dominated by one kind of person, and we take that, we internalize it, we drink it in as true, as fact. It’s tragic,” DuVernay wrote in Timemagazine. “It goes beyond the film industry. These are the images of ourselves we consume. It affects the way we see ourselves and the way other people see us.”
The world of film in the United States has been built and defined by the predominately white patriarchy. But with her courageous streak and fearless creativity, DuVernay is opening doors for women, people of color and those who have been underrepresented in the film industry for so long. By advocating for a diverse set of at least 50 percent people of color and women, DuVernay has put her own politics in action: “Inclusion is really half — half of the cast, half of the directors, half of the writers are women or girls, half of the room, more than half of the room is of color,” she shared with Ellemagazine. “I think we get really satisfied with less.” And she’s just getting started. For “A Wrinkle in Time,” DuVernay warned the each of the department heads on her crew not to submit the same list of hires unless they could prove they had considered others. In making inclusion a key nonnegotiable in her creative process, DuVernay is changing the narrative for how stories are told and who gets to tell them.
