Ava Duvernay Announces HBO Max Show ‘One Perfect Shot’

Legendary director Ava Duvernay will partner with HBO Max to develop a docuseries One Perfect Shot.

Based on the viral Twitter account highlighting some of the most perfect shots in film, this HBO Max collaboration has already been greenlit for production. The half-hour unscripted series will feature episodes of cinema’s favorite directors breaking down the process behind some of their most famous shots. Through ARRAY Filmworks and Warner Horizon Unscripted Television, DuVernay will serve as the show’s narrator, and executive produce alongside Neil Fischer, FilmSchool Rejects publisher and owner of the One Perfect Shot Twitter account. 

In a tweet celebrating the announcement, DuVernay wrote, “ Gonna be a fun ride with 

OnePerfectShot. Wait until you see the filmmakers break down their shots like you’ve never seen before.”

In a manner befitting a popular Twitter account, One Perfect Shot also celebrated the news on social media. 

According to HBO Max, “Each episode arms one acclaimed director with an arsenal of visual tools to pull back the curtain on their most iconic shots. Using state of the art technology, the directors will literally enter each shot, walking through the scene in 360 moments that allow viewers to join an immersive exploration of moviemaking. Filmmakers will share their obstacles, challenges, lessons, and triumphs as they detail how they created their crowning cinematic achievements. Each helmer will also present one shot from an auteur who deeply influenced them, outlining the inspiration that catalyzed their own imagination.”

This marks another noteworthy acquisition for HBO Max, who has recently announced several diverse projects from media favorites like DuVernay and Oscar winning director Matthew Cherry. The show “is sure to ignite and inspire film and television enthusiasts at every level. There is nothing more fascinating than witnessing the passion and creativity of a filmmaker discussing their craft and dissecting how they pulled off that jaw-dropping shot,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content at HBO Max. 

While the show has been green-lit, its exact length, featured directors, and premiere date have yet to be announced. 

Best known for her work on Selma and Emmy nominated Netflix
NFLX
series When They See Us, Ava DuVernay is one of the most diverse and accomplished directors in Hollywood. She has won multiple awards, including a BAFTA, a Peabody award, multiple Emmys, and the Sundance Best Director prize in 2012, making this HBO acquisition just another in a long line of creations celebrating the excellence of film. 

“I’ve long wanted to create a series about the art of directing. To chronicle the craft of great filmmakers is a dream come true for me and all of us at ARRAY Filmworks,” said DuVernay in a statement. “We’re thrilled that our partners at Warner Horizon Unscripted Television embraced this idea and look forward to fully geeking out over movies with our friends at HBO Max.”