I financed and made my own films from the start. My path has been autonomous and independent, so I don't have any horror stories about glass ceilings and expectations and tense studio meetings.

The studios aren't lining up to make films about black protagonists, black people being autonomous and independent.

We're told that independent film lovers... folks that are used to watching art house films, won't come out and see a film with black people in it - I've been told that in rooms, big rooms, studio rooms, and I know that's not true.

There's something very important about films about black women and girls being made by black women. It's a reflection as opposed to an interpretation.

We know there needs to be diversity in storytellers telling their own stories. I think there's a beautiful forward movement in that direction with McQueen telling '12 Years A Slave,' with Coogler telling 'Fruitvale,' and with Daniels telling 'The Butler.'

'Queen Sugar' is a drama about family. It's something that allows us to be ourselves and see the ways that we interact with our own families.