Ava DuVernayEvery podcast appearance, updated as new ones drop

This afternoon, I had the pleasure of a long and wide-ranging conversation with Ava DuVernay—a producer and director whose work has consistently helped Americans see themselves and their history more clearly. We spoke about many things: where we are as a country, what history can still teach us, and what democratic coalitions have looked like when they have succeeded—and when they have failed. But we also spoke about the present moment, which has a way of intruding on even the most reflective conversations. In particular, we discussed the arrest of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort while they were doing their jobs—documenting events of public importance. These arrests are not isolated incidents. They are signals. And history teaches us that when journalists, especially African American journalists, are treated as criminals for observing power, democracy itself is being tested. Ava and I talked about responsibility. History does not move on its own. It moves when people decide to act within it. The First Amendment does not enforce itself. It survives because citizens insist that it matters—not only when their own speech is threatened, but when someone else’s is. Today is a good day to talk about the First Amendment. Not abstractly, and not nostalgically, but concretely. Who is being prevented from speaking? Who is being punished for witnessing? Who benefits when journalists are made afraid? It is also a good day to celebrate journalists. Not because they are perfect—they are not—but because their work makes self-government possible. Journalism is how power becomes visible. It is how facts enter public life. It is how a society argues with itself without tearing itself apart. Ava reminded me, in her own way, that storytelling is a form of civic care. Journalists practice that care every day, often at personal risk. When we defend them, we are not taking sides in a culture war. We are taking sides with democracy. So I encourage you to talk about the First Amendment today. Talk about it with friends, students, colleagues. Ask what it requires of us now—not in theory, but in practice. And take a moment to thank a journalist. Thinking about... is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit snyder.substack.com/subscribe

In this supersized episode, Lena reunites with someone who has known her and watched her grow for a long time -- the incredible, inspirational director and filmmaker Ava DuVernay, known for films from Selma to Middle of Nowhere to 13th. The two old friends have a lot to catch up on, from how Ava learned to work magic on a shoestring budget, Lena's memories of seeing the world premiere of Selma (and how that film changed Ava's life), the power of reaching a global audience, and how Ava discovered the privilege of learning and evolving her perspective on the world while making documentaries. Throughout the conversation, it's clear that both Lena and Ava share a deep reverence for history -- and the stories we can find to tell from our pasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In advance of her JFK Jr. Forum talk , Untying Knots sat down with Ava DuVernay, Academy Award nominee and Emmy award winner, to talk about her pioneering work as a filmmaker and cultural arts leader. Her films, including the latest Origin , 13th , and When They See Us , disrupt false narratives of American history and cultivate a detailed view of the individual people impacted by large oppressive and racist systems. In the episode we discuss her films as an ongoing conversation with the audience, the power of ARRAY (the non-profit narrative change collective she founded), and the inspiration she takes from the life and work of filmmaker Haile Gerima. Through DuVernay’s gorgeous filmmaking, viewers are confronted with our societal past as well as the fullness of humanity required for reckoning and repair. Notes: Untying Knots, co-hosted by Nikhil Raghuveera and Erica Licht, explores how people and organizations are untying knots of systemic oppression and working towards a more equitable future. Each episode features special guests and a focus on thematic areas across society. This podcast is published by the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project in collaboration with the Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center. Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ About the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project The Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project believes in working at the intersection of community, academia, and policy to address intellectual and practical questions as they relate to antiracism policy, practice, and institutional change. In order to create and sustain change, the goal of this project is to promote antiracism as a core value for organizations by critically evaluating structures and policies within institutions. The project aims to analytically examine the current field of antiracism with a lens on research and innovation, policy, dialogue, and community involvement. Our vision is to be a leader in institutional antiracism research, policy, and advocacy, and propose structural change in institutions and media centered on antiracism work in the public, private, non-profit sectors and digital space. This work will focus on researching existing organizations that conduct antiracism training and development while analyzing their effectiveness and promoting best practices in the field. Additionally, we will study the implementation of antiracism work among institutions that self-identify as antiracist and promote accountability structures in order for them to achieve their goals. About the Ash Center The Ash Center is a research center and think tank at Harvard Kennedy School focused on democracy, government innovation, and Asia public policy. AshCast, the Center's podcast series, is a collection of conversations, including events and Q&As with experts, from around the Center on pressing issues, forward-looking solutions, and more. Visit the Ash Center online , follow us on Twitter , and like us on Facebook . For updates on the latest research, events, and activities, please signup for our newsletter. Notes: Untying Knots, co-hosted by Nikhil Raghuveera and Erica Licht, explores how people and or

In this week’s segment, Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder reviews ‘Origin,’ a film directed by Ava DuVernay that delves into Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson's pursuit to write ‘Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.’ Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor delivers a magnificent performance in the film, portraying Wilkerson's curiosity and courage as DuVernay weaves personal trials into the narrative, challenging perceptions of oppression. ‘Origin’ sparks discussions on race, class and the human experience, making it a must-see. "The Reel Critic" is hosted and produced by Reggie Ponder. Follow Reggie on Twitter and Instagram @TheReelCritic, and on Facebook @ReggieTheReelCritic.

Synopsis: From Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay, ORIGIN explores the mystery of history, the wonders of romance, and a fight for our future. While investigating the global phenomenon of caste and its dark influence on society, a journalist faces unfathomable personal loss and uncovers the beauty of human resilience. Ava DuVernay | Director , Writer, Producer Ava DuVernay is an Academy Award nominee and winner of the Emmy, BAFTA, Sundance, Image and Peabody Awards. Her feature film directorial work includes the historical drama Selma , the criminal justice documentary 13th and Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time , which made her the highest grossing Black woman director in American box office history. Her latest project is the feature film ORIGIN, based on the best-selling book “Caste: The Origin of our Discontent” by Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson. She amplifies the work of directors of color and women of all kinds through her narrative change collective, ARRAY. DuVernay sits on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, representing the directors branch in her second term. She is also a Vice-President of the Directors Guild of America and an advisory board member of the American Film Institute. Show Notes: Some Thoughts on the Oscar Nominations

Director Ava Duvernay engages in an in-depth conversation with Alex Stapleton about her filmography and her philosophy regarding craft. Ms. Duvernay discusses her directing process using examples from When They See Us, Selma, and Queen Sugar.

Cinematographer Kira Kelly had years of experience before director Ava DuVernay approached her to shoot her documentary, 13th. For 13th, DuVernay was interested in creating artful, composed shots rather than the typical “talking heads” of most documentaries, and pushed Kira and the team to get creative about how it was framed. The film examines the 13th Amendment, which outlawed slavery, yet the mass incarceration of African-Americans continues to this day as its own kind of slavery. 13th was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2017. Kira collaborated with DuVernay again on the second season of the critically-acclaimed series, Queen Sugar. When she was first starting out, Kira worked as a gaffer before moving into the camera department and establishing herself as a cinematographer, shooting a small independent film called Were the World Mine. Producer/director Carlos Portugal noticed her work and hired her to shoot four seasons of Hulu's Emmy-nominated series, East Los High. Kira Kelly's latest show is a limited series for Netflix called Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame C.J. Walker, starring Octavia Spencer. The series is based on the real-life story of an African American washerwoman who builds a hair product empire to become the first female self-made millionaire. Self-Made is on Netflix beginning March 20. https://www.netflix.com/title/80202462 Find out even more about this episode, with extensive show notes and links: http://camnoir.com/ep67/ LIKE AND FOLLOW US, send fan mail or suggestions! Website: www.camnoir.com Facebook: @cinepod Instagram: @thecinepod Twitter: @ShortEndz Brought to you by Hot Rod Cameras: Find your next camera, lens, light or accessory at https://hotrodcameras.com/ Hot Rod Cameras is giving away TWO professional, cinema quality Aputure MC lights! One for you AND a friend you tag! Go to http://hotrodcameras.com/giveaway to enter. Contest ends March 30, 2020.

This unique conversation brings together the global media leader and Oscar-nominated filmmaker for a discussion about their creative partnership as executive producers on their critically-acclaimed OWN television show Queen Sugar , as well as their approach to leadership, both on set and within the industry. Speakers: Bruce Cohen; American Beauty, When We Rise Ava DuVernay; Founder, Array; A Wrinkle In Time, Queen Sugar Oprah Winfrey; CEO, OWN and Harpo Films; Queen Sugar, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks