Ava DuVernay talks her new mini-series When They See Us... and reveals why she didn't cast anyone as Donald Trump
Director Ava DuVernay stylishly graces the cover of the new print edition of The Hollywood Reporter, with the filmmaker promoting her new Netflix mini-series When They See Us.
The 46 year old filmmaker takes on the story of the Central Park Five in the upcoming series, the 1989 murder case that galvanized New York City.
Donald Trump insert himself into the case by taking out ads in four daily New York newspapers, calling for the death penalty, but the filmmaker did not cast anyone to play him in her four-part series.
Ava's way: Director Ava DuVernay stylishly graces the cover of the new print edition of The Hollywood Reporter, with the filmmaker promoting her new Netflix mini-series When They See Us
The director was wearing an elegant red dress for her THR cover shoot, with sleeves that were tied off below the elbow.
DuVernay also posed with Niecy Nash (Delores Wise) Jharrel Jerome (Korey Wise) and Michael K. Williams (Bobby McCray), wearing a black top and a long green skirt.
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Despite Trumps shadow looming large over the case, where five young black and Hispanic men were arrested for the assault and rape of Trisha Meili, a white Wall Street analyst, DuVernay revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter why she did not cast anyone to play Trump in her four-part series.
Elegant Ava: The director was wearing an elegant red dress for her THR cover shoot, with sleeves that were tied off below the elbow
'I decided I was telling the story of the men,' DuVernay says. 'They knew a rich, kind of bloated, flamboyant guy who owned buildings across town had said something about them.'
'They were much more concerned with their families and their lives than some guy in a golden tower,' she added.
Trump is mentioned in the mini-series, but in the same context that the Central Park Five experienced him, such as a scene where a reporter asks the families how they feel about Donald Trump wanting to give them the death penalty.
Director and cast: DuVernay also posed with Niecy Nash (Delores Wise) Jharrel Jerome (Korey Wise) and Michael K. Williams (Bobby McCray), wearing a black top and a long green skirt
DuVernay added that she felt Trump spoke his mind about the case because, 'it made him feel like a player and important.'
'Press conferences ensued. He was on CNN. Those are all the things that we know he wanted at that time. By doing this, he got quite a bit of attention, and still is getting it for doing the same kinds of things,' she said.
'I don't think it was for any real desire to seek justice for Trisha Meili, because if he did feel that way he would have sought it for [Brett Kavanaugh accuser] Christine Blasey Ford. It was an opportunity, and he's an opportunist,' she added.
Speaking out on Trump: DuVernay added that she felt Trump spoke his mind about the case because, 'it made him feel like a player and important'
DuVernay writes and directs all four episodes, with the Central Park Five played by Jovan Adepo (Antron McCray), Chris Chalk (Yusef Salaam), Jharrel Jerome (Korey Wise), Freddy Miyares (Raymond Santana) and Justin Cunningham (Kevin Richardson).
The Central Park Five were arrested and convicted for the rape and assault of Trisha Meili, four of the five having confessed but they were later ruled false and coerced.
They served between six and 13 years for the crime they did not commit, which serial rapist Matias Reyes confessed to in 2002.
The Central Park Five collectively sued New York City in 2003 for malicious prosecution, racial discrimination and emotional distress, and were awarded a $41 million settlement in 2014.
