Ava DuVernay’s reach continues to change the entertainment industry with her OWN anthology drama series Cherish the Day. Created and executive produced by DuVernay, the series reached full gender parity in its debut season, with over 50 percent of women employed in production, including 18 female department heads.
The show’s gender parity stretches across a wide variety of divisions behind the scenes, including writing, directing, production design, set design, set decoration, camera, casting, costume, hair, makeup, key craft service, medical, sound, electric, grip, transportation, accounting, stunts and locations. Parity also includes women serving as post-production supervisor, script supervisor and property master.
“Ava DuVernay has been a groundbreaking leader in the entertainment industry,” said Warner Bros. Television’s Peter Roth, Susan Rovner and Brett Paul in a statement. “By achieving gender parity on her first chapter of Cherish the Day she continues to provide invaluable opportunities for new creative talent. It’s this kind of conviction and commitment to inclusion that will have a long-lasting and positive effect on our industry and beyond.”
Oprah Winfrey, OWN’s CEO also commented on DuVernay’s effect on the industry.
“Ava continues to break down barriers as a trailblazer,” she said in a statement. “Achieving a production crew of over 50% women is an incredible accomplishment and we are so proud that Ava has a space at OWN to provide opportunity for new voices and faces in the entertainment industry.”
The first chapter of Cherish the Day will premiere on OWN during winter 2020. The series will star Xosha Roquemore, Alano Miller and Cicely Tyson. Chapter one will span eight episodes, detailing five years of a couple’s life. Roquemore will play Gently James and Miller will play Evan Fisher, two people who fall in love in Los Angeles. Tyson will play Miss Luma, who Gently lives with and provides care for.
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Photo: OWN
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