Talk about using the power of #FilmTwitter for good.
On Thursday, director Ava DuVernay and her film collective ARRAY unleashed the power of Twitter to educate and inspire the film community with a 10-hour tweet-a-thon event for cinephiles to ask their favorite filmmakers all about how and why they make the movies they’ve made.
More than 60 directors participated in the day-long event, answering questions marked with the hashtag #ARRAYNow and dishing out candid advice and valuable industry knowledge
The full lineup of directors included blockbuster helmers Patty Jenkins (“Wonder Woman 1984”) and Jon M. Chu (“In the Heights”), breakthrough artists with buzzy upcoming projects Nia DaCosta (“Candyman”) and Radha Blank (“The 40 Year Old Version”), recent Oscar winners Matthew A. Cherry (“Hair Love”) and Peter Ramsey (“Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse”), and industry legends Mira Nair, Julie Dash, Malcolm D. Lee and Guillermo del Toro.
“I wanted this to feel like a virtual hug from filmmakers to film lovers. Hope it did,” DuVernay tweeted to her 2.3 million followers as she closed out the event.
Sharing her own advice in response to a question about using social media to break through “industry red tape,” DuVernay wrote, “That theory assumes that someone is going to help you. Very few of the directors in today’s event took that posture. They committed to their vision and found a way. On the journey, help will come, will be attracted to you. But don’t start from that place of need.”
In honor of DuVernay’s Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning documentary “13th,” Variety selected 13 takeaways from the event to share with our readers. For more highlights, check out the Twitter moment or the @ArrayNow account.
Matthew A. Cherry (“Hair Love”)
“Find ways to create your own opportunities. Social media has made it easier than ever to connect with like minded creatives & to raise money so if you build it, they will come. And if not build again & again till they do.”
Some advice I would give is you have to find ways to create your own opportunities. Social media has made it easier than ever to connect with like minded creatives & to raise money so if you build it, they will come. And if not build again & again till they do. #ArrayNow https://t.co/ck5X4d8U4p
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) May 1, 2020
Lulu Wang (“The Farewell”)
“Let your work and passion drive you, rather than waiting for the industry to change. Be the thermostat, not the thermometer.”
It's understandable to be discouraged, but you must keep doing the things within your control. Write. Shoot. Make things. Let your work and passion drive you, rather than waiting for the industry to change. Be the thermostat, not the thermometer. #ARRAYNow https://t.co/XzSya5AGAb
— Lulu Wang (@thumbelulu) April 30, 2020
Mira Nair (“Salaam Bombay!,” “A Suitable Boy”)
“Learn your craft. Prepare to be lonely. Cultivate stamina”
Learn your craft. Prepare to be lonely. Cultivate stamina #ARRAYNow https://t.co/x9CjwzZAl9
— Mira Nair (@MiraPagliNair) April 30, 2020
Patty Jenkins (“Wonder Woman 1984”)
“I was a camera person for 9 years. At the time I was frustrated I wasn’t directing, but I am SO grateful for the training and grounding it gave me now. Be patient with yourselves everyone! You want to make great things. Not fast things. It takes time.”
Theo, my friend! I was a camera person for 9 years. At the time I was frustrated I wasn't directing, but I am SO grateful for the training and grounding it gave me now. Be patient with yourselves everyone! You want to make great things. Not fast things. It takes time. #ARRAYNow https://t.co/bs42sRwY0Z
— Patty Jenkins (@PattyJenks) April 30, 2020
Nia DaCosta (“Candyman”)
“The biggest thing for me was finding my voice visually and defending my voice.”
https://twitter.com/niadacosta/status/1255956093064208384?s=21
Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water”)
“Writing is rewriting. The first draft is always draft zero. You should not show it to almost anyone. The third draft starts getting in shape. I never stop writing – even in the shoot – the main thin is to put “everything” you want in that first draft and then … one by one, kill your darlings if they get in the way of the story. I always say: “Less plot, more story”
#ARRAYNow writing is rewriting. The first draft is always draft zero. You should not show it to almost anyone. The third draft starts getting in shape. I never stop writing – even in the shoot- the main thin is to put "everything" you want in that first draft and then…
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) April 30, 2020
Cathy Yan (“Birds of Prey”)
“I think it’s good to have both. You want to understand how a movie is physically made and be able to confidently collaborate with your dept. heads. But as a director your job is literally to have a vision. They’re not mutually exclusive!”
I think it's good to have both. You def want to understand how a movie is physically made and be able to confidently collaborate with your dept heads. But as a director your job is literally to have a vision. They're not mutually exclusive!#arraynow
— Cathy Yan (@CathyYan) April 30, 2020
Jon M Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians, “In the Heights”)
“Don’t worry about getting recognized. Make great TRUTHFUL stuff and if it’s resonating with people they will come to you. Make stories ONLY YOU can tell…then they will NEED U not the other way around.”
Don’t worry about getting recognized. Make great TRUTHFUL stuff and if it’s resonating with people they will come to you. Make stories ONLY YOU can tell…then they will NEED U not the other way around. No need to wait to get into that director’s chair. Make stuff now. #ArrayNow https://t.co/dr7RBuuazm
— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) April 30, 2020
Victoria Mahoney (“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” “Lovecraft Country”)
“Biggest challenge was waiting for the industry to catch up to my hunger. Relegated to the sidelines, watching people with less talent, less experience, less skill, less love of the game, get the ball time & again.”
Biggest challenge was waiting for the industry to catch up to my hunger. Relegated to the sidelines, watching people with less talent, less experience, less skill, less love of the game, get the ball time &again. Then hear how Vets came in to fix their work😁 #ARRAYnow https://t.co/b2mU8GPG6v
— Crown Vic (@VictoriaMahoney) April 30, 2020
Lee Daniels (“Precious,” “Empire”)
“Relevance begins with yourself. What is relevant to you, what rings true to you, will resonate with the world ultimately.”
Relevance begins with yourself. What is relevant to you, what rings true to you, will resonate with the world ultimately. #ARRAYNow https://t.co/Wz2mS36u6j
— Lee Daniels (@leedanielsent) May 1, 2020
Nisha Ganatra (“Late Night,” “The High Note”)
“Before starting production, my mom always does a prayer for us for good luck for the production and to Ganesh for obstacles to be removed. It’s pretty common in the Indian film industry — and it is always such a special and grounded way to start a new production”
Hi! Before starting production, My mom always does a prayer for us for good luck for the production and to Ganesh for obstacles to be removed. It's pretty common in the Indian film industry – and it is always such a special and grounded way to start a new production #ARRaynow https://t.co/S8IXsFtBXH
— Nisha Ganatra (@NishaGanatra) April 30, 2020
Gina Prince-Bythewood (“Love & Basketball,” “The Old Guard”)
“Your first film/script should announce to the world who you are. So write a story that is personal, write a story only you can tell. And make sure it is dope.”
Your first film/script should announce to the world who you are. So write a story that is personal, write a story only you can tell. And make sure it is dope. Write, re-write and keep re-writing. Good work will find its way. #ARRAYnow https://t.co/aGTsr9ZpJR
— Gina Prince-Bythewood (@GPBmadeit) April 30, 2020
Steven Caple Jr. (“Creed II”)
“Know the difference between your instincts and your ego (everyone has both) instincts = your creative sensibilities. Who you are. Ego = self esteem. you need a little bit of an ego to pull that s— off. But making decisions based on your ego = negligence”
know the difference between your instincts and your ego (everyone has both) instincts = your creative sensibilities. Who you are. Ego = self esteem. you need a little bit of an ego to pull that sh** off. But making decisions based on your ego = negligence #ARRAYNow
— Steven Caple Jr. (@stevencapleJR) April 30, 2020