Dustin Lance Black | Entertainment News, Photos, and Videos

Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black is opening up about getting the chance to debut his limited series When We Rise on ABC.

“It was an opportunity to get these stories of diversity out to a different audience,” the 42-year-old director and producer expressed while attending his SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Conversations panel for When We Rise at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Screening Room held on Wednesday (April 12) in Los Angeles.

“If we can change minds, we can change the world. As we’re learning today, the hardest part of resistance is persistence,” Dustin added. “History is not nostalgia. History is power.”

Also in attendance at the screening was Caitlin Gerard, Austin P. McKenzie, Fiona Dourif, Charlie Carver and Kevin McHale.

Dustin Lance Black is already an Oscar winner and now the filmmaker is adding a new job to his resume – model!

The 42-year-old screenwriter, who won an Oscar for his work on the movie Milk, has signed with modeling agency Wilhelmina’s celebrity division.

“In a time when too many are using our differences to divide us, I want to help lift our differences up as what make us magnificent, what make us powerful,” Dustin said in a statement. “Fashion has the potential to help our individuality roar, and right now, we must use every tool in our arsenal to amplify that roar.”

The agency will be working with Dustin to secure editorial opportunities and fashion campaigns.

“Dustin Lance Black is a true visionary talent. He uses his artistry, voice and talent to give voice to individuals and ideas who need to be heard,” Wilhelmina CEO Bill Wackermann added in a statement.

Dustin is engaged to Olympic diver Tom Daley.

Dustin Lance Black has responded to the reports that his limited series When We Rise received low ratings in its first few days of airing on ABC.

When We Rise, which aired every weeknight except Tuesday last week, pulled in 2.95 million viewers during its Monday premiere. It fell to 2.05 million during its second installment Wednesday, and tracked 2.12 million on Thursday, according to Variety.

“First and foremost, our ratings aren’t in yet. Those numbers do not come in for another week or so, so the verdict on who’s watching When We Rise is not in yet,” Dustin expressed (via Advocate). “Listen, would I like more people to watch live? Sure. I would also love to own a pet unicorn. We’ve always known, and it’s always been our belief, that this show is going to excel in DVR and online, because that’s how people watch miniseries now. This is not the era of Roots, where there’s three networks and you have to watch live. So, we’re really hopeful, I have to say.”

“I do believe that the vast majority of viewers will watch on DVR. And if we can double our viewership on DVR, we’re considered a hit,” Dustin added. “I’ll tell ya, I’ve never had something so well received by an audience in my career. Watching the response on Twitter, on Facebook, and on social media, the notes that are coming in, the emails that are coming in, it’s been so incredibly humbling this past week to hear how people are receiving [it]. But I have to say, almost every single one says, ‘I can’t wait to watch the rest of it this weekend on my DVR.’ This has been created. It will live online for a good long time. I hope it will be utilized by schools and by folks in the middle of the country that might feel a bit alone for a very long time.”

Pictured: Dustin attending a special Q&A for When We Rise hosted by GLG on Tuesday (March 7) in New York City.

Mary-Louise Parker made the screening of her brand new limited series When We Rise a family affair by bringing her 13-year-old son William along with her as she hit the carpet at The Metrograph on Wednesday (February 22) in New York City.

The 52-year-old actress was joined at the screening by director and producer Dustin Lance Black, and co-stars T.R. Knight, Emily Skeggs, Maddie Corman, Fiona Dourif, Justin Sams and Charles Socarides.

When We Rise, which is set to premiere on Monday (February 27) chronicles the personal and political struggles, set-backs and triumphs of a diverse family of LGBT men and women who helped pioneer one of the last legs of the U.S. Civil Rights movement from its turbulent infancy in the 20th century to the once unfathomable successes of today. The period piece tells the history of the gay rights movement, starting with the Stonewall Riots in 1969 – Watch the trailer here!

15+ pictures inside of Mary-Louise Parker and others at the When We Rise screening…More Here! »

Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black has written every episode of the upcoming event series When We Rise in hopes of saving some lives!

“I think this is one of the first times a major, public network is pushing out stories the way it ought to get pushed out there,” the 42-year-old director and producer expressed while attending a special screening for When We Rise at the Castro Theatre on Monday (February 20) in San Francisco, Calif.

“It is brave and bold and life-saving because there are a lot of young people who feel alone tonight and two weeks from now, they won’t,” Dustin added (via ABC News).

Also in attendance at the screening was Dustin‘s fiance Tom Daley, stars of the series Rachel Griffiths and Austin McKenzie, as well as Charlie Carver and Kevin McHale.

When We Rise chronicles the personal and political struggles, set-backs and triumphs of a diverse family of LGBT men and women who helped pioneer one of the last legs of the U.S. Civil Rights movement from its turbulent infancy in the 20th century to the once unfathomable successes of today. The period piece tells the history of the gay rights movement, starting with the Stonewall Riots in 1969 – Watch the trailer below!

Emma Stone walks the red carpet at the 2017 BAFTA Nominees Party held at Kensington Palace on Saturday night (February 11) in London, England.

The 28-year-old actress was joined at the event by her La La Land director Damien Chazelle.

Emma‘s ex-boyfriend Andrew Garfield, who she is still friendly with, was also at the event to support his nomination for Hacksaw Ridge. Emma is up for Leading Actress while Andrew is nominated for Leading Actor.

The night before, Andrew stepped out for Harvey Weinstein and Burberry‘s pre-BAFTA dinner. Other celebs there included Holliday Grainger and engaged couple Dustin Lance Black and Tom Daley.

FYI: Emma is wearing a Chanel dress.

The Bachelor‘s Nick Viall brought his handsome self to the 2017 TCA last night!

The 36-year-old reality star suited up to attend Disney and ABC TV’s Winter TCA 2017 Party at the Langham Hotel on Tuesday (January 10) in Pasadena, Calif.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Nick Viall

Nick was joined at the party by Black-ish stars Tracee Ellis Ross, Anthony Anderson and Laurence Fishburne, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s Chloe Bennet, Clark Gregg and Elizabeth Henstridge, Scandal‘s Darby Stanchfield and Katie Lowes, and pregnant Grey’s Anatomy star Camilla Luddington.

Also in attendance at the celebration was The Catch‘s Mireille Enos, The Goldbergs‘ Wendi McLendon-Covey, Time After Time‘s Josh Bowman, Genesis Rodriguez and Freddie Stroma, and When We Rise‘s Mary-Louise Parker, Rachel Griffiths, Guy Pearce and director-producer Dustin Lance Black.

65+ pictures inside of Nick Viall, Tracee Ellis Ross and more at the TCA 2017…More Here! »