2013 Independent Film Forum: Keynote Speaker Ava DuVernay

For its 9th annual schedule of events, the 2013 Film Independent Forum, a nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards as well as the Los Angeles Film Festival, wrapped up over the last weekend of October with an inspirational address from keynote speaker Ava DuVernay. An excellent selection for the delivery as the Filmmaker Keynote speaker (Ted Sarantos, Chief Content Officer of Netflix delivered the Executive Keynote speech), the gracious and indefatigably articulate DuVernay began with an ice-breaking aside that she was not present to deliver an earth-shattering or newsworthy address. Instead, she announced the speech she had been preparing for two weeks she dropped at the last minute, her new approach inspired by watching Janelle Monae’s performance on SNL the night prior.

Ever the humble and warm presence, DuVernay related the most important lesson she’d learned as an aspiring filmmaker was letting go of one’s own desperation, which she described as something she had worn like a musty jacket up until about three years ago, an aura that preceded her in every interaction. In other words, DuVernay’s sound and helpful advice to those attempting to accomplish their goals and dreams is to stop looking for the help you need from others. Instead of using your time chasing down others in an attempt to be given access to the secret of their success, spend that time working, crafting, writing, creating that passion, of which desperation is the nadir. As per usual for those in attendance of a DuVernay presentation, warm applause and standing ovations resulted in that rarity of happenings; a beneficial Q&A.