Let’s Talk About Movies:

Black Female Film Director in Hollywood

Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. (1993) directed by Leslie Harris

“My idea of success is not to go out and direct a film that has white characters in it. My vision of success is to go out and direct a film that has good characters in it and a story that’s good.”

A Dry White Season (1989) directed by Euzhan Palcy

“People say it is very difficult to do films. Yes. And more difficult when you are a woman. Yes, that is true. But if a woman loves film, if a woman wants to be a director, she must fight hard, very hard, to do that, because I think that women have another point of view, un autre regard, than men. It is very important, urgent, that women make movies.”

Let’s Talk About Sex (1998) directed by Troy Beyer

“I think the main thing I hope everyone will realize is that, although we experience things in our life alone, we’re not alone in our experiences. As unique and original as we may think they are, they’re really quite universal.”

Eve’s Bayou (1997) directed by Kasi Lemmons

“I wanted to create a piece that was visual and lyrical with characters speaking in the rhythms that I remember from my childhood… . since it was personal … I could be totally free with the questions I was asking myself … like: what is reality? What is the nature of memory?”

I Like It Like That (1994) directed by Darnell Martin

“I love directing, but I hate the business end; hate’s not even a strong enough word… . Studios are very important, they buy and sell films, but they’re not filmmakers… . I don’t like it when executives tell me, ‘‘I’ve made a number of successful films.’’ If they haven’t made your film, they can’t help you.”

Down in the Delta (1998) directed by Maya Angelou

Betye Saar, Rainbow Friendship, 1976, collage