In Proximity

We’re going back into the IN PROXIMITY archives for the next several weeks, rereleasing masterclasses on filmmaking and screenwriting. On this episode, we’re rebroadcasting a conversation between Ryan Coogler and Cord Jefferson, writer/director/producer of the award-winning feature film AMERICAN FICTION. A few weeks after winning the 2024 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Cord hopped on a call with Ryan to discuss their first films, his unconventional path to filmmaking, and his experience as a first-time director. They also talk about their upcoming projects, and Ryan teases a little bit about SINNERS. He recorded this conversation from New Orleans as he was just about to go into production on the film.

CHECK OUT THE ORIGINAL EPISODE
Cord Jefferson and Ryan Coogler on Writing, Directing, and What They’re Doing Next

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(01:45) From the archives… Ryan Coogler and Cord Jefferson!

(02:30) Get Reel

(10:46) Cord’s first writing job took GUTS 

(19:28) How Cord learned to collaborate with Jeffrey Wright on AMERICAN FICTION

(27:58) Ryan and Cord’s next projects (hint: SINNERS) 

(35:48) “You shouldn’t be doing this if the end goal is to win an Oscar.”

(39:49) Prox Recs

IN PROXIMITY IS A PRODUCTION OF PROXIMITY MEDIA

Host, Director, Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Co-Director and Director of Photography: Patrick Epino

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Editors: Patrick Epino, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza, Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan 

Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz

Producer: Caitlin Plummer

Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola

Production Coordinator: Joy Woo

Production Assistants: Isabella Miller, Polina Cherezova

Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana

Production Intern: Ben Caloza

We’re celebrating docs and nonfiction series with Proximity’s Nonfiction department! IN PROXIMITY host Paola Mardo sits down with Kelli Dunson Buchanan (VP, Head of Nonfiction) and Gaby Arvizu (Creative Executive, Nonfiction), whose projects include the award-winning series HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME, STEPHEN CURRY: UNDERRATED, ANTHEM, and HOMEROOM. They share their career stories and what their day-to-day is like developing and producing nonfiction projects at Proximity Media. They also answer listener questions about selecting stories and subjects, editing hours of footage, advice for first-time filmmakers, and how to ethically document stories and engage with communities around traumatic events. Kelli and Gaby drop a lot of gems here… watch, listen, and take notes!

CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS Q&A EPISODE
Inside Proximity: Working in Film & TV

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(00:00) These questions are FIRE!

(02:18) Meet Proximity’s Nonfiction department

(05:18) The day-to-day of development and production

(10:55) Career stories

(17:10) Question #1: How to choose your doc’s subject

(19:52) Shoutout director Pete Nicks!

(20:46) Making HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME with Traci Curry

(22:45) Question #2: How to ethically document stories and engage with communities around traumatic events

(27:57) Question #3: Tips for first-time filmmakers

(30:07) What makes first-time doc filmmakers stand out

(32:16) How Kelli and Gaby find and cultivate new talent 

(33:11) Question #4: Editing hours of footage into a film|

(37:40) What is cinéma vérité?

(39:21) Prox Recs

IN PROXIMITY IS A PRODUCTION OF PROXIMITY MEDIA

Host, Director, Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Co-Director and Director of Photography: Patrick Epino

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Editors: Patrick Epino, A.J. Calomay, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza

Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz

Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola

Production Coordinator: Joy Woo

Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana

Production Intern: Ben Caloza

For this special episode of IN PROXIMITY, we’re celebrating the artisans who brought SINNERS to life. Relive the insightful conversations with Academy Award winners Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, and Ludwig Göransson, and more.

CHECK OUT THE ORIGINAL EPISODES
AUTUMN DURALD ARKAPAW AND RYAN COOGLER
DOLLY LI
STEVE GEHRKE
LUDWIG GÖRANSSON AND RYAN COOGLER
MICHAEL B. JORDAN AND RYAN COOGLER

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(00:00) Celebrating SINNERS!

(01:41) IMAX filmmaking with Autumn Durald Arkapaw and Ryan Coogler

(07:23) Delta Chinese history with Dolly Li

(11:04) Script supervisor conversation with Steve Gherke

(14:38) Blues music with Ludwig Göransson and Ryan Coogler

(18:53) Acting with Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler

IN PROXIMITY IS A PRODUCTION OF PROXIMITY MEDIA

Host, Director, Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Co-Director and Director of Photography: Patrick Epino

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Editors: Patrick Epino, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza, A.J. Calomay, Brittani Brown, Andrea Walter, Bianca Catbagan

Video Producer: Bianca Catbagan

Director of Photography: Andrea Walter

Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola

Production Coordinator: Joy Woo

Camera Operator: Josh Ortiz

Production Sound Recordists: Mark Patino, Marcelo de Oliveira

Gaffer: Chris Boulos

Key Grip: Kevin “Chui” Chiu

Production Assistants: Devin Saddler, Isabella Miller

Production Interns: Ben Caloza, Jun Sawada, Faith Wang

Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana

Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz

Barista: George Stevenson

Luke Matheny is a writer, director, and showrunner who won the Academy Award for Best Live-Action Short Film in 2010 for GOD OF LOVE. Luke sat down with IN PROXIMITY host Paola Mardo to talk about what makes an Oscar-winning short film, how he prepared for his speech, and how he built a career in comedy and children’s programming writing, directing, and running shows like MARON, GORTIMER GIBBON’S LIFE ON NORMAL STREET, and, most recently, the animated series CHARLOTTE’S WEB on HBO Max starring Amy Adams, Elijah Wood, Jean Smart, and Randall Park.

CHECK OUT THE FILMS
GOD OF LOVE
AWESOME ASIAN BAD GUYS

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(00:00) Guest intro

(02:21) About GOD OF LOVE

(04:59) The Oscar trophy — live in the studio!

(06:42) Winning an Oscar

(10:05) Making GOD OF LOVE at NYU film school

(12:10) Using a short film to showcase your talents

(16:20) Working with the crew to execute your vision

(18:51) What makes a great short film? Imply a sense of structure!

(23:54) Remember: time is finite!

(28:11) Launching a career after the Oscars, working with Marc Maron

(32:13) Showrunning the animated series CHARLOTTE’S WEB 

(33:10) The cast: Amy Adams, Jean Smart, Elijah Wood, Cynthia Erivo, Randall Park

(37:28) Children’s programming

(39:05) Make something, keep going!

(41:49) Prox Recs

IN PROXIMITY IS A PRODUCTION OF PROXIMITY MEDIA

Host, Director, Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Co-Director and Director of Photography: Patrick Epino

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Editors: Patrick Epino, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza

Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz

Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola

Production Coordinator: Joy Woo

Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana

Production Intern: Ben Caloza

Before his debut animated feature GOAT claimed the #1 spot at the box office, director Tyree Dilihay joined IN PROXIMITY host Paola Mardo for an in-depth conversation about the animated sports film. Tyree breaks down his directing process including building the film’s “Brooklyn meets Brazil” world, designing roarball plays with basketball stars Andre Iguodala and Stephen Curry, and working with an all-star cast that includes Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Jenifer Lewis, and Curry (who makes his voice acting debut in the film and produces through Unanimous Media). Tyree also reflects on growing up in Inglewood, California where he was inspired by filmmakers like Spike Lee and John Singleton, and how his supportive mother helped him pursue a career in animation.

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(00:00) Running plays with Andre Igoudala

(02:49) Stephen Curry’s voice acting debut 

(04:22) How GOAT came together

(07:12) Worldbuilding “Brooklyn meets Brazil”

(10:31) Costume design

(12:04) From local Angeleno to seasoned animator

(14:22) Spike Lee’s SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT and John Singleton’s BOYZ N THE HOOD

(16:03) How Tyree started his animation journey

(19:20) Running plays with Andre Igoudala (full story)

(22:20) “Roots run deep!”

(25:05) The inspo: SPACE JAM I & II, HOOSIERS, MAJOR LEAGUE, MIGHTY DUCKS, ROCKY, RUDY…and more!

(28:48) The cast: Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Jenifer Lewis, Steph Curry

(30:54) Creating and directing diss tracks, “GOAT TEARS” 

(33:31) The seven-year journey to the “right version” 

(35:44) Collaborating with studio execs to make the best movie

(38:08) Prox Recs

IN PROXIMITY IS A PRODUCTION OF PROXIMITY MEDIA

Host, Director, Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Co-Director and Director of Photography: Patrick Epino

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Editors: Patrick Epino, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza

Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz

Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola

Production Coordinator: Joy Woo

Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana

Production Intern: Ben Caloza