Get ready to hear a lot about Ava DuVernay because after years of publicity work, she started making movies of her own and now her second narrative feature, Selma, is a major awards contender.  In fact, the film already earned her a Golden Globe nod making her the very first black female director to be nominated in the Best Director category.  Selma focuses on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s (David Oyelowo) effort to secure voting rights for all people and specifically the events leading up to the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in the 1960s.

With Selma due for a nationwide expansion on January 9th, I got the opportunity to sit down with DuVernay to discuss the process of making the movie including her personal connection to the location, what happened when she took over for Lee Daniels, the use of profile shots and more.  Hit the jump to check it out.

Ava DuVernay

• What gave her the confidence to direct this movie.
• Taking over the project from Lee Daniels.
• On Selma being the first movie to make Martin Luther King, Jr. the protagonist.
• Her shot selection, and particularly her use of profile shots.