--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wish I could be the black woman…" description: "\"I wish I could be the black woman Soderbergh, and put the camera on my shoulder and shoot beautifully while I directed.\" — Ava DuVernay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/ava-duvernay-4018_black_i-wish-i-could-be-the-black-woman-soderb_2823027.jpg" --- # I wish I could be the black woman Soderbergh, and put the… ![“I wish I could be the black woman Soderbergh, and put the camera on my shoulder and shoot beautifully while I directed.” quote by Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/ava-duvernay-4018_black_i-wish-i-could-be-the-black-woman-soderb_2823027.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/ava-duvernay-4018_black_i-wish-i-could-be-the-black-woman-soderb_2823027.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/ava-duvernay-4018_black_i-wish-i-could-be-the-black-woman-soderb_2823027.jpg) > “I wish I could be the black woman Soderbergh, and put the camera on my shoulder and shoot beautifully while I directed.” [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire to capture authentic perspective through personal camera work while directing. **In simple terms:** Want to film directly while directing. Key Takeaway Embrace hands‑on visual storytelling. Themes authenticity representation filmmaking Mood inspired determined Type motivational practical When to use this quote - documentary projects - indie film sets - personal vlogs - creative workshops Key Concepts camera work directorial voice gender perspective Questions to Reflect On - How can directors integrate personal camera work without compromising leadership? - What tools help maintain vision while filming? A Different Perspective Balancing directorial control with personal immersion can be technically challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beautifully Directed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautifully-directed-3254791/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-women/) [Camera Shoulder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera-shoulder-1194619/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Shoot Beautifully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoot-beautifully-3604754/) [Shoulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoulders/) [Soderbergh Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soderbergh-camera-2006808/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Woman Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman-soderbergh-3604755/) ## Related quotes > [I was paying attention to where Steven Soderbergh had the camera and his shots. I was blown away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-holmes/i-was-paying-attention-to-where-steven-soderbergh-had-the-camera-and/) [Katie Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-holmes/) > [Mum always had a camera with her on her shoulder, so I just thought everyone took pictures. Sometimes shed set her camera for us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccartney/mum-always-had-a-camera-with-her-on-her-shoulder-so-i-just-thought/) [Mary McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccartney/) > [My Brilliant Career was beautifully directed, but I had a bit of trouble with myself in it. It was a silly script, based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-davis/my-brilliant-career-was-beautifully-directed-but-i-had-a-bit-of/) [Judy Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-davis/) > [When I got the camera on the shoulder, they give me a nickname. They call me 'the tripod' because I'm kind of short and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-besson/when-i-got-the-camera-on-the-shoulder-they-give-me-a-nickname-they/) [Luc Besson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-besson/) > [It was so satisfying for me - a great reward, just to see it done well. And it was beautifully directed by my daughter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-wray/it-was-so-satisfying-for-me-a-great-reward-just-to-see-it-done-well/) [Fay Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-wray/) > [Some black filmmakers will say, "I don't want to be considered a black filmmaker, I'm a filmmaker." I don't think that. I'm a black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/some-black-filmmakers-will-say-i-don-t-want-to-be-considered-a-black/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [As a Black woman filmmaker I feel that’s my job: visibility. And my preference within that job is Black subjectivity. Meaning I’m interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/as-a-black-woman-filmmaker-i-feel-that-s-my-job-visibility-and-my/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I make films about black women and it doesn't mean that you can't see them as a black man, doesn't mean that he can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-make-films-about-black-women-and-it-doesn-t-mean-that-you-can-t-see/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I think it's a wonderful time to be a black woman who makes films. It's a good time to be an artist period. Traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-think-it-s-a-wonderful-time-to-be-a-black-woman-who-makes-films-it/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [ It wasn't \[Barack\] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the-feeling-on-the-ground-it-was/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [When black women are down with you and in your corner, you have an ally that will move Heaven and Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/when-black-women-are-down-with-you-and-in-your-corner-you-have-an/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [“As a Black Woman, I define self-care as the ability to safely and comfortably exhale.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethanee-epifani-j-bryant/as-a-black-woman-i-define-self-care-as-the-ability-to-safely-and/) [Bethanee Epifani J. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethanee-epifani-j-bryant/) > [Black women's intersectional experiences of racism and sexism have been a central but forgotten dynamic in the unfolding of feminist and antiracist agendas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/black-women-s-intersectional-experiences-of-racism-and-sexism-have/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) ## More by Ava DuVernay > [We're living based on laws and ideas that we, as a society, embraced back in the days of slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/we-re-living-based-on-laws-and-ideas-that-we-as-a-society-embraced/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [All the traditional models for doing things are collapsing; from music to publishing to film, and it's a wide open door for people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/all-the-traditional-models-for-doing-things-are-collapsing-from-music/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [Don't wait for permission to do something creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/don-t-wait-for-permission-to-do-something-creative/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [Netflix represents, as well as all the streaming services, something that I've been talking about being so important to inclusive voices around films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/netflix-represents-as-well-as-all-the-streaming-services-something/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I didn't go to film school. I got my education on the set as a niche publicist in the film industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-didn-t-go-to-film-school-i-got-my-education-on-the-set-as-a-niche/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [Hollywood needs more women directors, and Mama Ava needs a carafe and a half of that sweet vino divino.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/hollywood-needs-more-women-directors-and-mama-ava-needs-a-carafe-and/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I've been to Sundance eight times as a publicist and thought I was very prepared. I mean, who could've been more prepared for me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-ve-been-to-sundance-eight-times-as-a-publicist-and-thought-i-was/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I think it's a wonderful time to be a black woman who makes films. It's a good time to be an artist period. Traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-think-it-s-a-wonderful-time-to-be-a-black-woman-who-makes-films-it/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I think for female filmmakers a big issue is making their second and third films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-think-for-female-filmmakers-a-big-issue-is-making-their-second-and/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I make films about black women and it doesn't mean that you can't see them as a black man, doesn't mean that he can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-make-films-about-black-women-and-it-doesn-t-mean-that-you-can-t-see/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [The documentaries were something that I could do for a small amount of money, and then I felt like as long as I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/the-documentaries-were-something-that-i-could-do-for-a-small-amount/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [ \[ Hollywood\] is a patriarchy, headed by men and built for men. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/hollywood-is-a-patriarchy-headed-by-men-and-built-for-men/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I know that sounds a little bit corny, but I've found some solace in that. I hope art can continue to do that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-know-that-sounds-a-little-bit-corny-but-i-ve-found-some-solace-in/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [We have to find new ways to work without permission, new ways to turn corners and go through doors that are closed off to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/we-have-to-find-new-ways-to-work-without-permission-new-ways-to-turn/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [We're a new world and it's not pretty. It's going to be for the brave to figure out how to survive in this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/we-re-a-new-world-and-it-s-not-pretty-it-s-going-to-be-for-the-brave/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) [Explore all 117 Ava DuVernay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) [Frank B. Wilderson III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-b-wilderson-iii/) > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) [Browse all 11,655 Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wish I could be the black woman Soderbergh, and put the camera on my shoulder and shoot beautifully while I directed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ava DuVernay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-wish-i-could-be-the-black-woman-soderbergh-and-put-the-camera-on-my/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Black" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-wish-i-could-be-the-black-woman-soderbergh-and-put-the-camera-on-my/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/ava-duvernay-4018_black_i-wish-i-could-be-the-black-woman-soderb_2823027.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/ava-duvernay-4018_black_i-wish-i-could-be-the-black-woman-soderb_2823027.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/876/ava-duvernay-4018_black_i-wish-i-could-be-the-black-woman-soderb_2823027.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I wish I could be the black woman Soderbergh, and put the camera on my shoulder and shoot beautifully while…” — Ava DuVernay", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ava DuVernay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I wish I could be the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-wish-i-could-be-the-black-woman-soderbergh-and-put-the-camera-on-my/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-wish-i-could-be-the-black-woman-soderbergh-and-put-the-camera-on-my/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```