Ep 18: ARRAY with Ava DuVernay

ARRAY with Ava DuVernay

Episode 18: Show Notes.

An amazing career path does not have a set shape or direction and the limitations that external expectations put on our hopes for ourselves can stunt the blossoming of the most unlikely of flowers. Ava DuVernay is a priceless example of this! She joins us on the podcast today to share her amazing and surprising story and all the twists and turns that have led her to the highly regarded position she currently occupies, and more importantly, where she is able to create her own definition of success — which looks quite different than it used to!

In our inspiring and honest conversation, Ava unpacks the important family relationships that shaped her world view, the impact of her college years at UCLA, and the formative experiences she had in the hip hop scene centered around the Good Life Cafe. After carving out an enviable career in publicity and building an agency, Ava began work on a side-project, exploring her childhood passion for story-telling, and this foray into filmmaking grew and grew — in ways that even Ava could not have expected.

We chat about the vital steps in this process of facilitating growth, accepting luck, and learning to create space for important truths. Ava comments on the damaging properties of desperation, the skills that pushed forward her journey and learning the hard way about balance, and a healthier lifestyle. With so many impressive and vital films under her belt already, we cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next, join us to hear it all.

Key Points From This Episode:

Ava's love of playing with Barbies with her sisters and the early form of world-building this fostered.
Family dynamics growing up and Ava's role as the oldest sibling.
Ava's early thoughts on careers and the gift that reflected these aspirations.
Childhood associations with Hollywood and the importance of arts and culture.
The first movie and music group that Ava fell in love with!
Ava's early connection to U2 and the amazing meetings and communications she has shared with Bono!
Family traits that Ava has inherited; storytelling, hard work, and responsibility.
Neighborhood politics and the radical action that Ava witnessed from a young age.
Ava's college years, her decision to attend UCLA, and her rap group, Figures of Speech.
The post-college period and the steps that Ava took into publicity business.
The reputation that Ava built up and what she became known for in her work.
Ava's journey towards a healthier sense of balance in her life.
The effect of the terminal diagnosis that Ava's aunt Denise received.
Ava's moment of realization on the set of Michael Mann's Collateral.
The beginnings of Ava's filmmaking career and how she started small.
Lifestyle changes, lane-switching, and doubling down on a career in filmmaking!
Ava's commitment to staying independent and the challenges this desire has posed.
The events that led up the making of Selma; coincidence, luck, and budgeting.
Ava's huge disappointment at losing her credit for the Selma script.
Passion and desperation; how people react differently to these two traits.
Offering value to people in positions of power instead of thinking of yourself.
Perspectives on success at this point — Ava's reflections on the pandemic.
Ava's experience of Light's book and the stand out moment for her while reading it.
Coming full circle in Ava's life and the wonder of having a Barbie Doll in her likeness!
Looking back at an unlikely story and why this keeps Ava grounded and grateful.