--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Roger Ebert was such a champion of…" description: "\"Roger Ebert was such a champion of underrepresented filmmakers. He was a very big deal to me. It shows the power of critics. People who write about fil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/ava-duvernay-4018_big-deal_roger-ebert-was-such-a-champion-of-under_1459031.jpg" --- # Roger Ebert was such a champion of underrepresented… ![“Roger Ebert was such a champion of underrepresented filmmakers. He was a very big deal to me. It shows the power of critics. People who write about film, like you, can really affect the confidence of a young filmmaker. He did that for me, so it was such a pleasure to have an opportunity to talk…” quote by Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/ava-duvernay-4018_big-deal_roger-ebert-was-such-a-champion-of-under_1459031.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/ava-duvernay-4018_big-deal_roger-ebert-was-such-a-champion-of-under_1459031.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb4/ava-duvernay-4018_big-deal_roger-ebert-was-such-a-champion-of-under_1459031.jpg) > “Roger Ebert was such a champion of underrepresented filmmakers. He was a very big deal to me. It shows the power of critics. People who write about film, like you, can really affect the confidence of a young filmmaker. He did that for me, so it was such a pleasure to have an opportunity to talk about Roger in the movie.” [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. Critics can profoundly influence emerging artists by validating their work and boosting confidence. **In simple terms:** Critics can lift new filmmakers. Key Takeaway Recognize and share supportive criticism. Themes influence validation film industry Mood appreciative inspirational Type testimonial reflective When to use this quote - film festivals - independent film production - media interviews - career mentorship Key Concepts critical power mentor impact confidence building Questions to Reflect On - How can critics responsibly empower new voices? - What other platforms can amplify emerging talent? A Different Perspective Critics’ influence may be limited without broader audience reach. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Filmmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaker/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [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 thing for female filmmakers a big issue is making their second and third films. You see the statistics, and the dropoff on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-thing-for-female-filmmakers-a-big-issue-is-making-their-second-and/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [Mani Ratnam was a favourite filmmaker because he did mainstream storytelling but always had a very real context or political backdrop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/mani-ratnam-was-a-favourite-filmmaker-because-he-did-mainstream/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [Fred Bumaye shows great promise as a young filmmaker with a passion for story and the cinematic language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malik-yoba/fred-bumaye-shows-great-promise-as-a-young-filmmaker-with-a-passion/) [Malik Yoba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malik-yoba/) > [It is hard for the young filmmaker not to envision immediate popularity, that being affected by the fact that his work will unlikely be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-dansky/it-is-hard-for-the-young-filmmaker-not-to-envision-immediate/) [Martin Dansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-dansky/) > [To be an original is probably the hardest quality to find if you're a young filmmaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jackson/to-be-an-original-is-probably-the-hardest-quality-to-find-if-you-re-a/) [Peter Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jackson/) > [Why do we tell stories? It's because we want to connect to people, we want to tell them who we are, we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/why-do-we-tell-stories-it-s-because-we-want-to-connect-to-people-we/) [Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/) > [I think that's the problem, when you're a young filmmaker and you're starting out, you don't know people, you're easily lead, you don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-think-that-s-the-problem-when-you-re-a-young-filmmaker-and-you-re/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [Being tied down to a pre-med or engineering track would have slotted me into a very narrow group. Being a young filmmaker allowed me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anand-mahindra/being-tied-down-to-a-pre-med-or-engineering-track-would-have-slotted/) [Anand Mahindra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anand-mahindra/) > [The National Association of Theater Concessionaires reported that in 1986, 60% of all candy sold in movie theaters was sold to Roger Ebert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/the-national-association-of-theater-concessionaires-reported-that-in/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [I think reviewers have become particularly venomous because, in a way, the power has been sucked from them. A 15-year-old can write a review…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/i-think-reviewers-have-become-particularly-venomous-because-in-a-way/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [Every bad decision I've made has been based on money. I grew up in the projects and you don't turn down money there. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-murphy/every-bad-decision-i-ve-made-has-been-based-on-money-i-grew-up-in-the/) [Eddie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-murphy/) > [But I still have him in the form of the finest and highest standard of what it means to be a journalist and critic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-ihnatko/but-i-still-have-him-in-the-form-of-the-finest-and-highest-standard/) [Andy Ihnatko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-ihnatko/) > [What's happening to movie critics is no different from what has been meted out to book, dance, theater, and fine-arts reviewers and reporters in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/what-s-happening-to-movie-critics-is-no-different-from-what-has-been/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [“I have entered the New Yorker's Cartoon Caption Contest almost weekly virtually since it began and have never even been a finalist. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mankoff/i-have-entered-the-new-yorker-s-cartoon-caption-contest-almost-weekly/) Bob Mankoff ## 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 Big deal quotes > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“But in the parent department, he had won the lottery. So, he'd always known that when he finally told them, they'd make him feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corey-whaley/but-in-the-parent-department-he-had-won-the-lottery-so-he-d-always/) [John Corey Whaley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corey-whaley/) > [“Perspective is everything. If your “why” is big enough, you can deal with almost any “what.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-searcy/perspective-is-everything-if-your-why-is-big-enough-you-can-deal-with/) [Nelson Searcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-searcy/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [“You weren't out there that long, were you? I can't bear to think that no one found you right away." Noah shook his head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-weren-t-out-there-that-long-were-you-i-can-t-bear-to-think-that/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Everyone's just laughing at me. I hate it. Big breasts, big ass, big deal, Can't I be anything else ? Gee, how long can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/everyone-s-just-laughing-at-me-i-hate-it-big-breasts-big-ass-big-deal/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [“Eventually, Edgard said, “She doesn’t know anything about me. Not even that we were roping partners. Not that we were…” He looked at Trevor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/eventually-edgard-said-she-doesn-t-know-anything-about-me-not-even/) [Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/) > [Humility simply means that you do a great job at everything and it isn't really a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/humility-simply-means-that-you-do-a-great-job-at-everything-and-it/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Being responsible for someone’s childhood is a big deal. We not only create our own memories, but we create our child’s memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-macy-stafford/being-responsible-for-someone-s-childhood-is-a-big-deal-we-not-only/) [Rachel Macy Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-macy-stafford/) > [I've never been truly closeted on the air; it's just something I never really made a big deal out of because I never felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/i-ve-never-been-truly-closeted-on-the-air-it-s-just-something-i-never/) [Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/) > [Tom Stafford was an odd character, you know - a brilliant guy. 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