In Proximity

Mike Carson is a multidisciplinary creative director and designer. Last year, he co-creative directed and production designed Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, which drew over 133 million live viewers, making it the most-watched halftime performance ever and one of 2025’s biggest cultural moments.On this episode, Mike talks to IN PROXIMITY host Paola Mardo about his journey from filming music videos at 19 with Big Sean (including the iconic millennial bop “Dance (A$$)” Remix featuring Nicki Minaj) and working alongside mentor Virgil Abloh, to becoming one of the most sought-after creative directors today. He also shares his creative process behind the Super Bowl Halftime Show, filming a documentary on Kanye West and Jay-Z on their 2011 Watch the Throne tour, his approach to production design for live experiences, why his laptop is essential to every project, and the art and business of the music video.Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.comShop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.orgWatch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, SpotifyFollow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com(00:00) The 12-minute music video(02:00) Director first, designer second(03:00) Creative directing and production designing Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show(08:30) The process of creative directing(10:13) How the LA fires impacted rehearsal; shout out choreographer Charm La'Donna(13:05) How being multidisciplinary helps his work(13:37) Working with Virgil Abloh(17:30) What he learned from Virgil(18:30) Filming Kanye West and Jay-Z on the Watch the Throne(19:54) Voice Memo from the “muse” Big Sean(25:19) Directing music videos(27:12) First big budget video, Big Sean’s “Dance (A$$)” Remix ft. Nicki Minaj(29:40) Bringing back the delusion, childlike curiosity – just create!(31:15) Mike’s design process(36:28) Prox RecsIN PROXIMITY IS A PRODUCTION OF PROXIMITY MEDIAHost, Director, Producer: Paola MardoExecutive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev OhanianTheme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig GöranssonCo-Director and Director of Photography: Patrick EpinoSound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken NanaEditors: Patrick Epino, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, Ben CalozaSound Recordist: Isabella MillerMotion Graphics Designer: Apollo BaldozProduction Assistant: Isabella MillerPost-Production Coordinator: Celine MendiolaSocial Media Coordinator: Alexandria SantanaProduction Intern: Ben Caloza

Kick off the new year with advice from industry pros: manager James Swoope on why you need “something to manage” before getting representation, actor/writer/producer Azie Tesfai on asking for what you want and crowning yourself, and designer Jeff Staple on balancing art with business. Part of our special "Prox Gems" holiday mini episodes.Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.comShop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.orgWatch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, SpotifyFollow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.comIN PROXIMITY IS A PRODUCTION OF PROXIMITY MEDIAHost, Director, Producer: Paola MardoExecutive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev OhanianTheme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig GöranssonCo-Director and Director of Photography: Patrick EpinoSound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken NanaEditors: Patrick Epino, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, A.J. Calomay, Andrea WalterMotion Graphics Designer: Apollo BaldozProduction Assistants: Isabella Miller, Devin SaddlerSound Production Assistant: Isabella MillerPost-Production Coordinator: Celine MendiolaSocial Media Coordinator: Alexandria SantanaProduction Intern: Jun Sawada, Ben Caloza

Highlights from this season’s SINNERS episodes including: cultural consultant Dolly Li on Remmick’s infamous “licking” line, script supervisor Steve Gehrke on tracking continuity with Michael B. Jordan’s Smokestack Twins, and storyboard artist and EYES OF WAKANDA creator/director Todd Harris on storyboarding the surreal juke joint musical montage scene. Part of our special "Prox Gems" holiday mini episodes.Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.comShop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.orgWatch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, SpotifyFollow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.comIN PROXIMITY IS A PRODUCTION OF PROXIMITY MEDIAHost, Director, Producer: Paola MardoExecutive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev OhanianTheme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig GöranssonCo-Director and Director of Photography: Patrick EpinoSound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken NanaEditors: Patrick Epino, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, A.J. Calomay, Ben CalozaMotion Graphics Designer: Apollo BaldozProduction Assistants: Isabella Miller, Devin SaddlerSound Production Assistant: Isabella MillerPost-Production Coordinator: Celine MendiolaSocial Media Coordinator: Alexandria SantanaProduction Intern: Jun Sawada, Ben Caloza

Ammar Mohamed, filmmaker and assistant to Ryan Coogler, on how he broke into the industry, his infamous ID story, and a never-before-released story about a special day with Spike Lee. Part of our special "Prox Gems" holiday mini episodes.Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.comShop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.orgWatch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, SpotifyFollow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.comIN PROXIMITY IS A PRODUCTION OF PROXIMITY MEDIAHost, Director, Producer: Paola MardoExecutive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev OhanianTheme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig GöranssonCo-Director and Director of Photography: Patrick EpinoSound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken NanaEditors: Patrick Epino, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, Ben CalozaMotion Graphics Designer: Apollo BaldozProduction Assistant: Isabella MillerSound Production Assistant: Isabella MillerPost-Production Coordinator: Celine MendiolaSocial Media Coordinator: Alexandria SantanaProduction Interns: Jun Sawada, Ben Caloza

Celebrate the holidays with IN PROXIMITY! Kicking off our series of holiday mini episodes, host Paola Mardo shares the best Prox Recs of 2025. Whether you’re looking for new books to read, films to watch, or advice to fuel your creative journey, this episode gathers this year’s pro recommendations on our podcast from Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Sev Ohanian, Steve Gehrke, Dolly Li, Ammar Mohamed, and more.Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.comShop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.orgWatch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, SpotifyFollow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.comWe earn a small commission when you shop through our links at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!(00:00) Happy holidays!(03:04) Autumn Durald Arkapaw: Photographs by Eudora Welty(04:28) Ryan Coogler: Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez(05:35) Sev Ohanian: Save the Cat by Blake Snyder and other screenwriting books(06:28) Chinaka Hodge: The Elements of Style by E.B. White and William Strunk Jr.(07:42) Justin Tipping: La Haine by Mathieu Kassovitz(09:21) James Swoope: “Always remember what got us to these places.”(12:02) Dolly Li: The Wager by David Grann(14:07) Warner Bailey: “Don’t wait for permission.”(15:42) Ammar Mohamed: Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore(16:52) Steve Gehrke: “Learn your craft before getting too deep into it.”(17:35) Angelica Nwandu: Leadership Pain by Samuel Chand(19:01) Azie Tesfai: UCLA Extension classes(20:33) Jeff Staple: Obsessing over something outside your field (sourdough bread!)(22:56) Todd Harris: Constructive Anatomy by George Bridgman, Tuesday Tips by GRIZandNORM, Kill the Dog by Paul Guyot(23:59) Courtney Storer: Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan(25:41) Mary Karaoghlanian: The Mel Robbins Podcast(26:15) Armen Karaoghlanian: The Color of Pomegranates by Sergei Parajanov(27:52) Ludwig Göransson: Working with incredible musicians, getting new instruments(28:55) Ryan Coogler: Deep Blues by Robert PalmerIN PROXIMITY IS A PRODUCTION OF PROXIMITY MEDIAHost, Director, Producer: Paola MardoExecutive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev OhanianTheme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig GöranssonCo-Director and Director of Photography: Patrick EpinoSound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken NanaEditors: Patrick Epino, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza, A.J. Calomay, Andrea WalterProduction Sound Mixer: Mark PatinoMotion Graphics Designer: Apollo BaldozSound Recordist: Isabella MillerProduction Assistant: Isabella Miller, Devin Saddler, Joshua Flores, Collin GajaPost-Production Coordinator: Celine MendiolaSocial Media Coordinator: Alexandria SantanaProduction Intern: Ben Caloza, Jun Sawada