Bags Quote by Ava DuVernay
“Usually, you have two people in a scene, and in the history of cinema the hero is most likely going to be the white guy. And the other guy is his friend who is carrying the bag or whatever, and you're not going to light for that guy.”
About This Quote
Source Film: Interview on Representation, 2020
Notes the recurring pattern of white male heroes and supporting characters of other races in cinema.
In simple terms: White men dominate hero roles; others are sidekicks.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for diverse casting in lead roles.
Themes
representation
film industry
racial dynamics
Mood
critical
hopeful
Type
analytical
advocacy
When to use this quote
- casting decisions
- scriptwriting
- film criticism
- studio policy
Key Concepts
typecasting
hero archetype
industry bias
Questions to Reflect On
- What stories could be told with non‑white leads?
- How can audiences demand more diversity?
A Different Perspective
Changing entrenched casting norms is slow and market‑driven.
![“Back in 2007, I met this white guy [director Peter Byck] with a lot of hair and a video camera, at a conference that I happened to be attending for the launch of an organization called Blacks in Green. I had never heard of him and Peter had never heard of me. We just started talking; he liked what…” quote by Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/244/van-jones-984_attending_back-in-2007-i-met-this-white-guy-direct_2563243.jpg)
![“[ Hollywood] is a patriarchy, headed by men and built for men.” quote by Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/845/ava-duvernay-4018_built_hollywood-is-a-patriarchy-headed-by-men_308720.jpg)
