Black History Month
Black History Month
This week’s pioneers for Black History Month are individuals who are talking over the film industry behind the scenes. You might have seen some of their films or even...
Black History Month
This week’s pioneers for Black History Month are individuals who are talking over the film industry behind the scenes. You might have seen some of their films or even watched some of their Netflix series. They have been paving the way for others who might consider a career in directing and film-making. Ava DuVernay and Ryan Coogler are both successful and talented directors and filmmakers who work within an industry where they are not the majority in terms of their demographic background.
Ava DuVernay has had an array of successful films from Selma, When They See Us and the 13th to other music documentaries. She is the first African American to have won the Best Director Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. She is only one of 2 African American women to have been invited to join the director’s and writer’s branch of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science and was merited a place in the TIME magazine “The 100 Most Influential People” issue with a homage written by Venus Williams.
Ryan Coogler is someone you will already have heard of if you are a Marvel fan. Director of one of the biggest Marvel films in box office history (Black Panther) as well as a few others to mention (Creed, Creed II Space Jam: A New Legacy and Judas and the Messiah). He made a name for himself early on with his directorial debut film Fruitvile which went on to win the top audience and grand jury awards at the Sundance Film Festival. He has also been named as one of Time magazine’s top 100 most influential people in the world right now and is also one of the youngest Marvel Studios filmmakers.
Overall, 2 fantastic pioneers who are inspiring others to pursue a career in directing or film-making. Maybe after reading this, they have inspired you to take on the world of film-making, either way 2 people who raising the bar for others to follow in their footsteps.
