Every episode of Ava DuVernay’s family drama “Queen Sugar” has been directed by a woman. Her film collective, ARRAY Alliance, is dedicated to supporting and showcasing films from women, people of color, and other underrepresented communities. She has been celebrated for her commitment to activism and social justice. Obviously, fighting for equality and inclusion on-screen and off is a huge part of DuVernay’s life — so it’s no surprise that her next project, romantic anthology “Cherish the Day,” has achieved full gender parity behind the scenes.
Deadline confirms that the upcoming OWN series “has achieved full gender parity with a production crew of over 50% women, including 18 female department heads.” Women were hired for directing, writing, production design, camera, set design, casting, key craft service, costume, hair, makeup, editing, medical, set decoration, sound, grip and best boy grip, transportation, accounting, locations, stunts, and reshoot cinematography. The post-production supervisor, property master, and script supervisor are all women as well.
“Ava DuVernay has been a groundbreaking leader in the entertainment industry,” stated Susan Rovner, Peter Roth, and Brett Paul of Warner Bros. Television, which produces “Cherish the Day.” “By achieving gender parity on her first chapter of ‘Cherish the Day’ she continues to provide invaluable opportunities for new creative talent. It’s this kind of conviction and commitment to inclusion that will have a long-lasting and positive effect on our industry and beyond.”
“Ava continues to break down barriers as a trailblazer,” said Oprah Winfrey, CEO of OWN. “Achieving a production crew of over 50% women is an incredible accomplishment and we are so proud that Ava has a space at OWN to provide opportunity for new voices and faces in the entertainment industry.”
DuVernay created and exec produces “Cherish the Day.” Each season traces one couple’s love story, with every episode taking place over one day. Expected in winter 2020, the first season centers on Gently James (Xosha Roquemore, “The Mindy Project”) and Evan Fisher (Alano Miller, “Underground”) and spans five years.
Winfrey and Tanya Hamilton (“Night Catches Us”) are also exec producing.
“I’ve just tried to make sure that I’m not the only person in a given room who looks like me,” DuVernay has said of her hiring practices. “The idea is that we are correcting past errors and that if we have the opportunity to make sure there are more kinds of people invited to this table called Hollywood that we do what we can to make it so.”
DuVernay’s adaptation of DC’s “DMZ” comics recently received a pilot order at HBO Max. Set in the not-so-distant future, it focuses on a female medic working during an American civil war. DuVernay is directing the pilot and serving as EP. “When They See Us,” the Exonerated Five miniseries she created and directed, won best casting and best lead actor in a limited series (Jharrel Jerome) at the Emmys. “Queen Sugar” will return for Season 5 sometime next year.
DuVernay’s features include “A Wrinkle in Time,” “13th,” and “Selma.” She became the first woman of color to direct a $100 million-plus film with the former.
