We love Ava DuVernay around here, which is why we’re super stoked about the fact that she’s just become the first woman of color to command a $100 million budget in movie history. According to a report from Deadline, her feature film adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time has secured one heck of a hefty budget. We found out back in February that she’d be helming the movie, and have since learned that Oprah Winfrey will also be starring.
Historically speaking, DuVernay’s Wrinkle represents a pretty significant step regarding representation of women and women of color in Hollywood. It’s no secret that films helmed by female directors often have a hard time securing serious funding. There’s a deep-seated bias that female directors don’t earn nearly as much as their male counterparts, complicating the already difficult uphill battle of securing film funding. Add in the extra biases that come into play for women of color, and you find yourself suddenly facing a struggle that, frankly, nobody should have to deal with.
DuVernay’s certainly earned and fought her way to an accomplishment like this, having taken the traditional “work up” route that many directors often take. She started with low-budget indies (I Will Follow) and worked her way up to some Oscar-worthy films (Selma), developing and honing her style and reputation along the way.
At the risk of repeating myself: I am excited as heck for A Wrinkle in Time, and even more so because she’s committed to making the cast an incredibly diverse one. You can see for yourself in the character descriptions!
What about you? How do you feel about this news?
(via Women and Hollywood)
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