At Monday night’s Gotham Independent Film Awards, director Ava DuVernay took home the Breakthrough Series – Long Form award for When They See Us, which told the true story of the Exonerated Five.

The Oscar-nominated director gave several tips on directing. “Don’t be afraid to say, ‘I don’t know the answer,’” she told the audience. “You don’t have to know all the answers. More than half the people’s job on the set is to help you find the answers.”

DuVernay, who also directed Selma and A Wrinkle In Time, advised the audience to pay clear attention to the intention behind telling stories. She also threw in some other tips such as changing socks, hydrating and moisturizing.

“Remind yourself why you’re telling the story every morning on the way to set,” she said. “Why it’s important to you, what you want to say. Every single morning.”

Ava DuVernay shares her list of tips and tricks to remember while directing: “Change your socks at lunch” https://t.co/B9JjQ2tHnE #GothamAwards pic.twitter.com/yRN2PC6gWX

— Variety (@Variety) December 3, 2019

READ MORE:

The Ava Effect: OWN Anthology Drama ‘Cherish The Day’ Successfully Reaches Full Gender Parity

After ‘When They See Us,’ The Exonerated Five Are ‘Still Surviving,’ And Fighting Back [INTERVIEW]

Ava DuVernay And The ‘When They See Us’ Cast On Why There Should Be No Hesitation To Watch The Powerful Series From Harlem to Hollywood, get the Black entertainment news you need in your inbox daily.

Gotham Independent Film Awards

Get relevant content delivered to you once a week