A lot of these interviews serve as painful reminders that 29 seems over the hill when it comes to breaking in. I mean these people are working in the industry in their early 20's. I had NO CLUE what I wanted to do at that age.

Scotty, I didn't break in until I was 33, primarily because I spent a decade wandering around the country playing music and doing stand-up comedy before discovering screenwriting. Even better check out my interview with Allan Durand, 2012 Nicholl winner who set up that script and landed a writing assignment. I didn't ask his age, but he has to be in his 50s [at least]. Here is Hollywood's requirement for a screenwriter: You know how to write a great story. Period. Plus this: Writers with more years behind them have more experience and experiences to draw upon. And oh yeah: David Seidler won an Academy Award for screenwriting in his 70s!

Big s/o to Ava's aunt Denise. I had a uncle who when I was young would take me and my brother down south to visit our cousins and on the drive down would tell us made up ghost stories. I loved the way he told stories. Funny how people around you help you choose your path and they dont even know it. Again s/o to aunt Denise for helping Ava find her muse

[…] a b c Myers, Scott (June 10, 2013). “Interview: Ava DuVernay — Part 1″. Go Into the Story. Retrieved November 24, 2014. […]