Chris Paul and Karl-Anthony Towns Collaborate on Hollywood Venture in Ava DuVernay’s Bold New Movie

Filmmaker Ava DuVernay has achieved her dream of making a big screen version of the 2020 bestselling novel “Caste”. The controversial novel by Isabel Wilkerson received a lot of heat for taking a deep dive into taboo topics like the 2012 shooting of Trayvon Martin, the Holocaust, the mistreatment of Dalits in India, and slavery. Ava DuVernay was having a tough time receiving traditional funding for her bold idea, but that did not hinder her from working towards her goal.

Finally, DuVernay garnered some financial backing for her bold new Hollywood Venture, giving way to cinema’s new business model. NBA stars Chris Paul and Karl-Anthony Towns, along with other philanthropists, collaborated to make Ava’s dream a reality.

NBA stars to the rescue

Ava DuVernay successfully turned the non-fiction bestseller “Caste” into a big-screen motion picture by the name of “Origin”. According to The Washington Post, when Ava was unable to receive funding for her venture through traditional methods, she decided to go a different route. She sought support from multi-millionaire and billionaire philanthropists. The BAFTA Award-winning filmmaker received an overwhelming response from the community. Even NBA superstars Chris Paul, Karl-Anthony Towns, Malcolm Brogdon, and Kevin Love collaborated to provide social impact investments and grants for Ava’s bold new film.

Apart from these NBA superstars, many other foundations and donors came out in support of DuVernay’s Hollywood venture. She received financial backing from the Ford Foundation, 23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki, Melinda French Gates, Laurene Powell Jobs, and more. The film will open in New York and Los Angeles today and nationwide in January.

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Chris Paul’s reaction to Ava DuVernay’s “Origin”

Although “Origin” has yet to hit theaters for the entire world, it has already garnered immense appreciation and critical acclaim in various film festivals. The Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Jon Bernthal starrer movie received a nine-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival in September. Chris Paul was so overwhelmed with Ava’s creation that he wanted his entire team to watch the movie. “I am getting goosebumps now, just talking about it. It’s amazing. It stays with you and lights a fire under you… I want my team to see this,” CP3 said.

Most investors of the film are looking to make a social impact rather than making profits on their investment. Ava DuVernay might have brought in a fresh wave of investors into the filmmaking world. There are people with big money who might be interested in funding such projects, and “Origin” might also be the origin of cinema’s new business model.

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