One of TFE's cinematic heroes Ava DuVernay -- she made our top ten list with both of her recent films in 2012 & 2014 respectively -- had a tremendous year in 2015. She kicked it off with a Golden Globe Best Director nomination, a hit film in theaters (Selma) and she ended it immortalized in collector Barbie doll form via Mattel. The Mattel doll sold out in less than an hour earlier this month. And when Amazon briefly offered more of them they sold out just as quickly.
So any little girl or girlie boy or grown ass person who received one under the tree or in their stocking this morning got the year's best Christmas gift.
Ava's rise this past few years has been quite meteoric. Publicist turned indie director with critical raves but no media or public attention to speak of until 2014.
Selma gave her name recognition and more leverage -- she famously turned down Marvel's Black Panther which has to be the right move given the beauty of her more personal films to date -- and we're anxious to see what she does with it. She spent the year promoting Array, her distribution company and artistic collective intent on releasing indie films by women and people of color... and she's got two new projects in the works, an untitled Hurricane Katrina feature film with one of her regular muses David Oyelowo and the tv series Queen Sugar (based on the book of the same name) with Oprah Winfrey. We're impatient for something to actually watch but they'll get there.
And before we do what a treat to see such a beautiful news story develop this month.
Representation matters. So does response to representation. And her story and career has been beautiful to watch develop.
For my daughter. #AvaBarbie @AVAETC @DIRECTHER @Barbie pic.twitter.com/X90aJN2ZRf
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) December 16, 2015
Just a wonderful story I've been thinking of this holiday week.