Thread by @Variety

Ava DuVernay decided that she would hire only women to direct #QueenSugar. In total, 42 women directed the episodes, 39 of whom had never helmed an episode of TV before, despite directing independent films, music videos or works of theater and art. wp.me/pc8uak-1lBxIo

Oprah Winfrey on deciding to hire women directors for #QueenSugar: “I remember getting the call from Ava saying, ‘I have this idea: What if we just have all women directors?’ I go, ‘All women directors? Can we do that?’ Ava goes, ‘Yeah, we can do that.’” wp.me/pc8uak-1lBxIo

When some in the entertainment industry learned of Oprah and Ava’s pledge, they reacted with skepticism. “These were all real things that we heard: ‘It won’t last.’ ‘There aren’t enough women directors to do it.’ ‘This is just a fluke,’” DuVernay recalls. wp.me/pc8uak-1lBxIo

“There’s no way it would have happened if there was not a network to support it,” Ava DuVernay says. “Being on a Black, woman-owned network allowed us to not just let hiring all women be an idea, but a real movement.” wp.me/pc8uak-1lBxIo

“But seven seasons later, this has become a real movement in episodic directing that will reverberate through our industry for many years to come.” wp.me/pc8uak-1lBxIo

“Every show in town, from ‘Ozark’ to ‘Lovecraft Country’ to ‘Westworld,’ called...about these women. To be a ‘Queen Sugar’ director is basically a mark of distinction, and they’re hired so rapidly that we can’t even hire them for a second and third round.” wp.me/pc8uak-1lBxIo

Despite the number of #QueenSugar alums, statistics are abysmal for women directors — a problem that Ava DuVernay says is systemic. “In any of our lifetimes, this won’t be fixed. But it’s about what steps you took while you had the power to do something.” wp.me/pc8uak-1lBxIo

“Until other networks are just as open to having this kind of radical reimagining of who could be in charge, it’ll continue to grow at a snail’s pace.” wp.me/pc8uak-1lBxIo