Washington, DC – Filmmaker, Writer and Director Ava DuVernay has created a truly thought provoking film with her latest project “Origin” starring Aunjanue Ellis- Taylor, as author Isabel Wilkerson. The film screening was hosted by the Motion Picture Association, in partnership with NEON, the distribution arm for the film and ARRAY, DuVernay’s production company. The award winning filmmaker and former film executive sat down in conversation with lawyer and CNN correspondent Laura Coates to discuss her latest work. “This is a film about a women thinking”, says the filmmaker at The Motion Picture Association’s headquarters in Washington, DC this past Wednesday. The film, inspired by the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson, beautifully illustrates the author’s study, research, contemplation and writing – powerful visuals of a women engaged in serious work throughout the film is a rarity in today’s cinema landscape, but one that needs to be seen more. Viewers of the film will watch as Ellis-Taylor, playing Wilkerson, transverse across the globe from Germany, India and the Deep South to prove her book’s thesis that racism in America is built on a caste system, all while facing tragedies in her personal life along the way. The film “Origin” is a masterpiece and should be seen by many. “I have an idea that I want 10,000 young people to see this film,” says the filmmaker. And, DuVernay wants especially for young minds to see this film and she has established an initiative to make that possible. Visit www.seat16.com to donate $16 dollars to enable a teen the chance to see the film for free. “Origin” opens in theaters on Jan. 19th.
