Be true. Be beautiful. Be free. In the midst of segregation and racism Mamma raised us to be independent and free. We saw ourselves as citizens of the world, not of a block.

The radio for these women is like television is for us today, which is really like looking at the radio.

I design my shots. I walk the rehearsal as the camera and say 'this is where I want to be... I want this look.

Fame is fleeting, honey. Fame is fleeting and it changes.

The first thing that goes into shooting a scene is understanding whats on the page.

It's kind of dangerous to cut in the camera, but that's the only way I know how to direct.

I didn't need the insurance. I do it again if my DP tells me it didn't look good in the camera or if the actors didn't hit their marks. But if everything was working why do it again?