By Kristy Puchko | Film | April 25, 2019 |
By Kristy Puchko | Film | April 25, 2019 |
Remember when you were a kid and you’d watch a movie or TV show and think, “I want to be JUST like that!” Maybe you were looking at a cowboy, a superhero, or a teen girl thriving in the fashion business while caring for her younger siblings at home. The point is, our dreams are fed by representation. With that in mind, activist and acclaimed filmmaker Ava DuVernay asked female directors to step into the spotlight by sharing photos of themselves proudly at the helm.
On Twitter, she used the hashtag #DirectHer and kicked things off with this tweet.
Hello, hello to all my fellow women directors around the world. Wanna see you on set shooting your perfect shot. Share a pic of yourself at the helm. Show @Twitter how we make our magic, ladies! #DirectHer pic.twitter.com/tgi1ey4h23
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 24, 2019
The replies are good for the soul.
First up, writer/director Julia Hart shared pics from the production of her female-fronted superhero movie Fast Color, which she helmed with her baby on her hip.
— Julia Hart (@juliahartowitz) April 24, 2019
Amber Tamblyn shared shots from making Paint It Black.
Thank you, Ava! Direct my first feature Paint it Black (now on @netflix ) was one of the best experiences of my entire life. Here’s the crew as well as the incredible Janet Mcteer and @ShawkatAlia with our DP Brian Rigney Hubbard. I can’t wait to direct my next one. pic.twitter.com/vNdUeG5VFO
— Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) April 24, 2019
UnREAL’s Constance Zimmer offered pics from the ep she directed.
.@ava proud to be a part of this message. The first shot is me acting and directing checking my shots in between takes on the playback monitor! #DirectHer @Twitter pic.twitter.com/8xkeh91zP8
— Constance Zimmer (@ConstanceZimmer) April 25, 2019
Canadian filmmaker Danishka Esterhazy shared a glimpse behind-the-scenes of her stellar, feminist sci-fi drama Level 16.
Here I am shooting my feminist dystopian thriller! #DirectHer #Level16film @level16film pic.twitter.com/S0MVHt0KRE
— Danishka Esterhazy (@DEsterhazy) April 25, 2019
And there were many more from filmmakers you might not know (yet).
#DirectHer Shooting fight scenes for my fellow friends pic.twitter.com/gLSJBNiC96
— Nikita Francois (@NikitaFrancois) April 25, 2019
On set for my short film, Italian 101 #DirectHer pic.twitter.com/hOGlyaHJgR
— Emily Gutierrez (@emiliana_g) April 25, 2019
I got the chance to write and direct my first short last summer. Currently writing my first feature now! #DirectHer pic.twitter.com/DbpLuJcjz1
— Jamie Righetti (@JamieRighetti) April 25, 2019
So cool!! #DirectHer #hireher pic.twitter.com/oU9DcHN4xL
— Erica Ayisi (@Akosua0906) April 24, 2019
#DirectHer #LatinWomenAreMadStrong pic.twitter.com/fqylCQfGHX
— Ashton Avila (@Ashysmash8) April 25, 2019
ðŸ“½ï¸ directing in heels 🎬ðŸ¸#DirectHer pic.twitter.com/VgbMVxhhlB
— Carmen Kartini (@theseweakarms) April 25, 2019
I’am a Brazilian cinema student. These are from the last two shorts I’ve directed! #DirectHer on set for Mare Alta, on September last year, and Deserto last month ✨🎥 pic.twitter.com/M5rlcmqpeU
— mariquito (@LulisReis) April 24, 2019
Setting up shots with AC @PhoenixxFlix DP @OnTheRocksFilms and Producer @ldonmallreeve for @TransmissionDNC still can’t believe my #shero @msdebbieallen is a part of my first feature. 😱 #ifshecanseeitshecanbeit #directher #thanksava #womeninfilm #plusmatt pic.twitter.com/12WuIsqZlr
— Khadifa Wong (@KhadifaWong) April 24, 2019
If you can see it, you can be it. Or as Claws actress turned director Niecy Nash put it:
Check out the hashtag #DirectHer and share your favorite responses in comments.