Los Angeles, Nov 29 (PTI) Director Ava DuVernay was reluctant to work with rapper Common again on her criminal justice documentary "13th" so soon after the success of her movie "Selma."
Common previously teamed up with singer John Legend to create the Oscar-winning "Glory", the theme tune for 2014 film Selma, but he reveals it took some convincing before Ava agreed to use another of his tracks, "A Letter to the Free", on her latest project, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Commom recalled rapping the first verse of the tune in her ear as they attended a birthday party for US President Barack Obama in August, but his timing wasn't the best.
"She was listening, but with the President and the First Lady standing seven feet away, she was trying to pay attention to them, too," he said.
Ava wasn't too keen on the idea at first, but after paying closer attention to the lyrics of the tune, she had a change of heart.
"(She said), 'I don't want people to say we tried the same collaboration again'. I was like, 'Ava, (Selma actor) David Oyelowo's been in two of your films...'"
"After she sat with the song, she loved it. This film can change culture, especially when it's shown in places of education. My biggest desire is to be a part of work that has that kind of impact.
