Thread by @ava

Reflecting on the decade.

In 2010, I got a call from @BET. They heard I’d made an indie documentary about LA hip hop the year before. They offered me a doc on women in hip hop. It was my first paying directing job. I remember crying with joy. And hope.

With momentum from BET, got a job from @Essence to direct the 2010 ESSENCE MUSIC FEST. Had no clue what I was doing, but did it. 16 cameras in the Superdome. Still one of my faves.

That year, I also made a short doc about Katrina survivors for @tvonetv.

All along, I was taking a script I’d written to studios with the help of Gina + Reggie Bythewood. No one bit.

Started studying indie scripts. Wrote I WILL FOLLOW, used my savings, bartered equipment, distributed within my community, Ebert championed it.

Used the small profits from I WILL FOLLOW to make the script that the studios had denied: MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

Partnered with my neighbor Howard and made it in 19 days in South Central LA. I remember every day with David, Emayatzy, Omari and the crew. I treasure them. 2011.

If there was a moment that changed things, it was getting into + winning at @sundancefest.

I wish it didn’t take this to give myself - and everyone else - confidence in me. But it did.

The next day, I left my job to try to be a full-time filmmaker. 2012.

MIDDLE OF NOWHERE was distributed by hand via a community model I founded called AFFRM.

We launched with three nights of dinners at Sundance to discuss the state of black film. Remember that @BarryJenkins?

AFFRM was the seed for what is now @ARRAY. Now, 9 years strong.

After winning Best Director at Sundance, my phone rang 3 times.

No movies. But three opportunities that were a big deal for me. And for which I am immensely grateful.

The first was @Prada. They offered me the chance to make a fashion film. I called friends. We made THE DOOR.

The second was given to me by the legend @shondarhimes and the talented director @tomverica. I got to direct an episode of my very favorite show at the time: SCANDAL.

@kerrywashington @tonygoldwyn + the cast were kind. The experience made me want to give it to others.

The third post-Sundance gig came from the good folks at @ESPN Films. A documentary for their women-centric spin-off of @30for30.

I pitched them a story most didn’t know involving the great Venus Williams.

VENUS VS was born. I love this film. 2013.

The next film came because my friend David Oyelowo wanted to play Dr. King.

He convinced the producers to try me after many directors had left the project. I wrote a script for the budget they had, which got it greenlit. And we began.

SELMA. 2014. ✊🏾

After SELMA, I was trying to figure out my next move and spent some lovely time making a series of three commercials with a few superstars thanks to #JimmyIovine.

Mary J. Blige.
Kerry Washington
Taraji Henson
For @AppleMusic
2015

Then, I got to give the experience I had directing SCANDAL to other women who the industry was not calling.

@Oprah encouraged me to create my own show. Warner Bros supported me producing it the way I wanted.

QUEEN SUGAR.
2016.
Still going strong.

While making QUEEN SUGAR, I was also making a secret documentary with @Netflix.

It was never announced. No one knew it existed until Kent Jones selected it as the @NYFF Opening Night film. First doc to ever open the fest.

13TH
2016

Then, Disney invited me onto A WRINKLE IN TIME. I jumped at the chance to work on a film with a black girl saving the universe.

Based on Madeleine L'Engle's 1962 novel. Crew + cast were stellar, especially the exquisite @stormreid.

Tesser Well! ✨
2018

The Smithsonian invited me to create a film installation for the National Museum of African-American History and Culture that would live at @NMAAHC for the next decade.

I pitched a little known black history fact, called friends and “AUGUST 28” was born.

I made a short film with Jay-Z for his 4:44 album called FAMILY FEUD.

Called many pals to appear in this project, which imagines a world where the Constitution has been rewritten by women. The story spanned 400 years.

My first + only music video. 2018.

And over the past four years, I worked on the story of 5 boys of color and their families. People who had been demonized and labeled criminals. People who were innocent.

Once known as The Central Park 5. Now, The Exonerated 5.

WHEN THEY SEE US
2019

So many beautiful professional moments over the past decade.

A Barbie doll.

Being a part of the Cannes jury.

The cover of Time.

And the most beautiful of all, buying our @ARRAYNow campus and building the @AmandaCinema.

Thanks to anyone who rooted for me this decade. Who encouraged me. Who worked by my side as crew, exec or cast. Who came to see one of my films or watched an episode. Who shared a kind word in public or smiled at me from afar. Who prayed for me. I’m eternally and deeply grateful.