Don’t miss Jordan Peele, Cord Jefferson, Courtenay Valenti, Jonny Sun, and others in conversation with Ryan Coogler, Sev Ohanian, and the rest of our Proximity crew. Follow IN PROXIMITY on your favorite podcast app to stay up-to-date on new episodes. Follow @ProximityMedia on all social media platforms for video exclusives including a new video trailer out now.

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Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Producer: Caitlin Plummer

Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Editors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan

Production Assistant: Isabella Miller

Design and Social Media: Alexandria Santana

On our season finale, we’re going all in on Stephen Curry: Underrated, an inspiring coming-of-age story documenting the rise of NBA superstar, Golden State Warrior, and Davidson legend Stephen Curry from Proximity Media and our partners at Unanimous, A24, and Apple TV+. The film’s creative minds team up for an intimate and epic conversation about movies, basketball, and more: Stephen Curry himself, director Pete Nicks, and producers Erick Peyton and Ryan Coogler. They talk about how the film came together (2:05) and how they each tackle some of the biggest themes in Stephen's basketball career as illustrated in the documentary (9:29): dealing with loss, believing in yourself, and wearing the idea of being “underrated” as a badge of honor. We end with Prox Recs and some important reminders before our season break (40:23).

We filmed this conversation for our very first video podcast. You can watch it now on our YouTube channel.

Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

Stephen Curry: Underrated is now streaming on Apple TV+.

Watch the music video for “Lil Fish, Big Pond” by Tobe Nwigwe on YouTube.

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Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube where we have a filmed version of this conversation. Watch it now!

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Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Design, Mix, and Additional Music: Ken Nana

Production Services: Amante

Production Assistant: Courtney Archerd

Artwork and Social Media: Alexandria Santana

Charles D. King is the founder and CEO of MACRO, a multi-platform media company representing the voice and perspectives of Black people, indigenous people, and people of color. Some of their projects include Dear Mama, Mudbound, Fences, and Judas and the Black Messiah, produced with Proximity Media and Warner Brothers. Formerly a partner/senior agent at William Morris Endeavor, Charles was the first Black partner in the company’s 100+ year history and the first ever Black partner at any major talent agency. In 2021, when Judas and the Black Messiah was nominated for Best Picture, Charles became part of the first ever all-Black team of producers nominated for an Academy Award alongside director Shaka King and Proximity founder Ryan Coogler. The team worked closely with an esteemed group of Black creatives, activists, and executives including Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. and Niija Kuykendall, then SVP of Production at Warner Brothers, now VP of Film at Netflix. Charles and Ryan talk about how they first met (2:40), the role of an agent (5:34), Charles’ transition to founding MACRO (10:27), Charles’ role in the launch of Proximity (23:30), the making of Judas the Black Messiah (26:00), and their Prox Recs for working in the entertainment business (40:03).

Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editor and Production Assistant: Polina Cherezova

Natalie Qasabian is an award-winning film producer who has worked on independent and studio films including Searching, Run, and Missing. She is a frequent collaborator of writing partners Aneesh Chaganty and Sev Ohanian. (Aneesh and Sev are previous guests on this podcast – be sure to check out their episode if you haven’t already.) Natalie and Sev are married and they are partners in work and life. They share their meet cute (2:20), how they started working together (6:00), their producing process (17:14), the power of a great email (23:17), and the secret to working successfully with your life partner (30:42).

Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editor: Cedric Wilson

Production Assistant: Polina Cherezova

When Proximity’s co-founder and head of nonfiction Pete Nicks and creative executive D’Angelo “D’Lo” Louis met through their friend Ryan Coogler, they connected as Bay Area creatives and through their shared experience of incarceration. Pete is a director and producer whose award-winning films The Waiting Room, The Force, and Homeroom serve as a trilogy of urgent and immersive documentaries that explore health care, criminal justice, and education in Oakland, California. His upcoming documentaries, produced with Proximity Media, include Stephen Curry: Underrated and Anthem. D’Lo is a filmmaker and music manager who got his start as an assistant on Space Jam: A New Legacy, Judas and the Black Messiah, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Most recently, he was an associate producer on Creed III. On this special episode, Pete and D’Lo sit down to talk about their experiences for the first time (2:44), including how they found their way to creative work (13:15) and why it’s important for them to share their stories (21:45).

Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

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Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editor: Cameron Kell

Production Assistant: Polina Cherezova

Proximity founder Ryan Coogler talks all about podcasts with Roman Mars, host and creator of 99% Invisible, a sound-rich narrative podcast about architecture and design. They discuss holding pandemic meetings about the business of podcasting (3:47), Roman’s journey from science to public radio to 99% Invisible (5:10), finding the balance between being an artist and business owner plus why Roman believes a producer is the highest form of worker (9:56), collaborating on the Judas and the Black Messiah Podcast (14:29), the read-to-tape system (18:42), and Prox Recs that include a good coffee table book that will impress your friends and how to make great radio (25:19).

Learn more, get links to the films and podcasts discussed, and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

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Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editor: Cedric Wilson

Production Assistant: Polina Cherezova

From assistant desks at Interscope Records to the Def Jam C-suite, Tunji Balogun and Archie Davis share their journey as music industry executives. Tunji is CEO and Chairman of Def Jam Recordings while Archie is Def Jam’s Chief Creative Officer and Proximity Media’s Co-Founder and Co-Head of Music alongside Ludwig Göransson. Tunji was a rapper before transitioning into music marketing and A&R, signing artists like Childish Gambino, SZA, and H.E.R. Archie was a leading architect on the Black Panther and Wakanda Forever soundtracks, the award-winning Wendy’s We Beefin? EP, and the Judas and the Black Messiah soundtrack and Academy Award-winning original song “Fight For You” by H.E.R. They explain what A&R really means (1:52) and discuss navigating careers in the music business (4:22), aspiring to be the greatest executive and rapper alive a.k.a. Jay-Z (23:10), the Black Panther soundtracks and Tunji’s Nigerian roots (27:06), their top 5 space albums (35:55), and Prox Recs (38:04).

Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editor: Cedric Wilson

Production Assistant: Polina Cherezova

Grab your Moleskine and spreadsheets! It’s time for a screenwriting masterclass with writer, director, and producer Aneesh Chaganty and writer, producer, and Proximity founder Sev Ohanian. Aneesh and Sev first broke out with the independent thriller Searching which premiered in 2018 at Sundance where it won several awards and was acquired by Sony Pictures. The film grossed $75 million worldwide and Sev and Aneesh went on to collaborate on the screenplay for Run (2020), the story for the Searching sequel Missing (2023), and an upcoming movie they talk a little bit about on the show. They break down their writing partnership (2:12) and process including the blue skies phase (8:00), outlining (12:21), feedback (15:30), and research (18:45). They end with Prox Recs for making movies and finding a writing partner (26:05).

Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editor: Judybelle Camangyan

Production Assistant: Polina Cherezova

Tessa Thompson has starred in television shows, independent films, and blockbuster Hollywood movies like Selma, Dear White People, Westworld, Thor: Ragnarok, Thor: Love and Thunder, and the Creed trilogy. She is also a producer and entrepreneur as the founder of the production company Viva Maude. She speaks with Proximity Media’s head of television Kalia King about navigating the ins and outs of the entertainment industry including attending general meetings (1:18), the importance of finding your people (7:50), career transitions from acting to producing (10:37), reality TV (13:47), authentic storytelling (19:10), and their Prox Recs (26:55).

Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

CREED III is in theaters now.

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Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editor: Shana Daloria

Production Assistant: Polina Cherezova

From Fruitvale Station to Black Panther to Creed III, Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler’s cinematic partnership has shaped culture and broken box-office records. They reflect on their first meeting for Fruitvale Station (2:41), going to their first boxing match to prep for Creed I (12:39), what they’ve learned from building and running their own production companies (16:14), and their Prox Recs (27:57).

Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

CREED III is directed by Michael B. Jordan and is now playing only in theaters.

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

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Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Editors: Shana Daloria, Paola Mardo

Production Assistant: Polina Cherezova

In Proximity is a podcast about craft, career, and creativity from Proximity Media, the production company whose credits include Creed III, Judas and the Black Messiah, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever podcast and soundtrack, and more. New episodes drop every Sunday starting March 12th.

Learn more  and read transcripts at ProximityMedia.com.

Follow @ProximityMedia on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

Fruitvale Station was released 10 years ago this month. This was Ryan Coogler’s first feature film and it’s how he met fellow Bay Area director Pete Nicks. On this episode, they discuss meeting on Fruitvale Station (1:35); directing fiction and nonfiction films, the idea of “naive audacity,” and Pete’s Oakland trilogy (16:35); and collaborating on Proximity’s latest releases directed by Pete and produced by Ryan and our partners: Anthem, a musical journey across the U.S. experimenting to reimagine the National Anthem, and Stephen Curry: Underrated, a remarkable coming-of-age story about one of the most influential and unexpected players in basketball history (26:00). At the end, they answer listener questions (33:25) and share their Prox Recs (40:21).

Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

Stephen Curry: Underrated is now streaming on Apple TV+ and playing in select theaters.

Anthem is now streaming on Hulu.

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editor: Judybelle Camangyan

With Production Assistance From: Courtney Archerd

Artwork and Social Media: Alexandria Santana

Have a seat at the executive table with Kalia King, Proximity’s head of TV, and Tara Duncan, president of Onyx Collective, a premium content brand under Disney Entertainment. At Onyx, Tara’s slate includes Reasonable Doubt, The 1619 Project Docuseries, the Academy Award-winning documentary feature Summer of Soul, and Anthem, produced by Proximity Media and directed by Pete Nicks. Previously, Tara served as president of Disney’s young adult TV network Freeform where she launched Cruel Summer and Single Drunk Female. She had a producing deal at Hulu where she developed projects like The Other Black Girl. She held executive positions at AMC and Netflix where she produced shows like Bosch, Narcos, and Orange is the New Black. She got her start at Section Eight, George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh’s production company. On this insightful episode, Tara and Kalia break down how they met and Tara’s executive journey (2:30), their community of Black women creatives in Hollywood (08:07), what it’s like to not have imposter syndrome (20:59), what goes into programming television for audiences (24:19), finding work-life balance as producers and executives (29:55), and their Prox Recs (34:07).

Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

Anthem is now streaming on Hulu.

Listen to the new song "We Are America" by Ruby Amanfu, Charity Bowden, Kris Bowers, Dahi, Joy Harjo, and Cecilia Peña-Govea out now.

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Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editor: Cameron Kell

With Production Assistance From: Courtney Archerd

Artwork and Social Media: Alexandria Santana

Anthem is an upcoming documentary streaming on Hulu on June 28th, produced by Proximity Media and our partners, and directed by our head of nonfiction Pete Nicks (Stephen Curry: Underrated, The Waiting Room, The Force, Homeroom). The film features acclaimed composer Kris Bowers (Bridgerton, When They See Us, King Richard), and Grammy-winning music producer Dahi (Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Drake) as they take a musical journey traveling across America to make a new sound, inspired by what our country’s national anthem might be if written in today’s time. On this episode, Pete sits down with Kris to reflect on their experiences making personal documentaries like The Wolf and A Concerto is a Conversation (2:44), on their collaboration on Anthem (14:57), and their Prox Recs (28:31).

Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editor: Cameron Kell

Production Assistant: Polina Cherezova

The second of a two-part conversation between Ta-Nehisi Coates and Ryan Coogler. Ta-Nehisi is a writer, journalist, and, most recently, host and writer of Proximity Media’s Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast. Ta-Nehisi and Ryan sat down for our show to discuss Ta-Nehisi’s writing career and process. In this second part, Ta-Nehisi shares his writing career and process (1:31) and Ryan breaks down a scene from Creed (22:52). They also discuss Ta-Nehisi's transition from journalism to fiction plus their shared experiences telling Black Panther stories (11:35) and their Prox Recs (26:22).

Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editor: Cameron Kell

Production Assistant: Polina Cherezova

The first of a two-part conversation between Ta-Nehisi Coates and Ryan Coogler. Ta-Nehisi is an author, journalist, and, most recently, host and writer of Proximity Media’s Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast. Ta-Nehisi and Ryan sat down for our show to discuss Ta-Nehisi’s writing journey and influences. In this first part, Ta-Nehisi shares a little bit about his production company Maceo-Lyn (2:30), his early dreams of becoming a rapper, and the impact of hip-hop, and artists like Nas and Tupac, on his and Ryan’s work (6:05), plus the power and criticism of impactful works of art like Illmatic, Wakanda Forever, A Prophet, Moonlight, and Get Out (24:12).

Learn more, get links to Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast, and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editor: Cameron Kell

Production Assistant: Polina Cherezova

Blitz Bazawule is a filmmaker, musician, visual artist, and author. Born in Ghana and based in New York, his directorial credits include The Burial Of Kojo, Beyoncé's Black Is King, and the upcoming The Color Purple Musical produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones, and Scott Sanders. Blitz speaks with Proximity founder Ryan Coogler about meeting at a TED conference (2:10), Blitz’ transition from musician to filmmaker (7:10), creative rotation (15:50), telling stories across the Black diaspora (19:30), and their Prox Recs (32:11).

Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editor: Cameron Kell

Production Assistant: Polina Cherezova

Step inside Proximity Media as our team members discuss topics and answer listener questions about working in film and television at our company. D’Angelo “D’Lo” Louis and Dezi Gallegos sit with Paola Mardo at our office to discuss breaking into the industry (1:40), working at a production company (12:19), and their day-to-day jobs as executives and producers (15:10). They also answer listener questions (19:28) and share their Prox Recs (31:40). Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com. Welcome to Proximity!

Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editor: Judybelle Camangyan

Production Assistant: Polina Cherezova

Before becoming a screenwriter and TV writer on HBO’s Succession, Jamie Carragher was a high school teacher turned graduate arts journalism student at USC Annenberg where he met Paola Mardo, then an aspiring film critic and podcast producer, now head of audio at Proximity Media, producer/executive producer of In Proximity, and host/creator of Long Distance, a narrative podcast and short documentary series about stories in the Filipino diaspora. On this episode, Jamie and Paola discuss navigating unorthodox creative careers including attending journalism school (2:59), how Jamie’s sole Hollywood connection led to a writer’s assistant job (8:14), how and why Paola created the podcast Long Distance (10:47), Jamie’s role as Succession writer’s assistant (16:29) then staff writer and story editor (20:23), and their Prox Recs (24:20). Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

NOTE: This episode features a conversation about television writing. We at Proximity Media want to acknowledge that the Writers Guild of America, the labor union representing writers of motion pictures, television, radio, and internet programming, is currently on strike. Our company works closely with writers and we have writers in the company as well. So we stand in solidarity with the WGA and support all writers – and workers – in getting fair treatment and pay. Thanks for listening to In Proximity. – Paola Mardo, Proximity Media Head of Audio and In Proximity Producer/Executive Producer

Learn more, get links to projects discussed, and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Producer: Paola Mardo

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editor: Cedric Wilson

Production Assistant: Polina Cherezova

Cord Jefferson’s directorial debut AMERICAN FICTION premiered at Toronto International Film Festival last year where it won the People’s Choice Award. The film grossed $23 million and won several accolades including the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. In his Oscar speech, Cord implored the industry to take more creative risks. Just weeks later, Cord and Ryan met over a video call to talk about their first films, Cord’s unique path to filmmaking, insights from the set of AMERICAN FICTION, and what Cord and Ryan are working on next – including tidbits from Ryan’s next movie which he was preparing to shoot at the time of recording. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

(02:30) Get Reel
(10:46) How Cord’s first writing job took GUTS
(19:28) On the set of AMERICAN FICTION and collaborating with Jeffrey Wright
(27:58) What they’re working on next and what keeps them going
(37:44) “You shouldn't be doing this if the end goal is to win an Oscar.”
(39:49) Prox Recs

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

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Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Producer: Caitlin Plummer

Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Editors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan

Production Assistant: Isabella Miller

Design and Social Media: Alexandria Santana

When Sev Ohanian first read a script by Tony Rettenmaier, he was blown away. Tony was then fresh out of film school and working as a PA for an indie film Sev was producing. Just a few years later, Tony and his writing partner Juel Taylor would go on to write the screenplays for CREED II and SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY. On this episode, Juel and Tony share their path from student filmmakers and gym buddies to one of the most in-demand screenwriting duos in Hollywood, their pitch process for Juel’s directorial debut THEY CLONED TYRONE, and their unique experiences writing short stories and building website for their projects. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

(01:53) Get Reel
(08:34) From gym buddies to writing partners
(13:43) Breaking into the industry
(17:59) Becoming screenwriters
(26:33) Pitching THEY CLONED TYRONE
(44:14) Prox Recs

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media.

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Producer: Caitlin Plummer

Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Episode Editors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan

With Production Assistance From: Isabella Miller

Artwork and Social Media: Alexandria Santana

GET OUT. US. NOPE. Jordan Peele is an award-winning writer, director, and producer of these groundbreaking films, and founder of Monkeypaw Productions. On this episode, Jordan walks Ryan Coogler through his early career, trading filmmaker dreams for comedy then finding his way to directing, genre filmmaking, how he wrote GET OUT but almost didn’t direct it, and the Batman actor who told him to use his fear.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
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(1:45) Get Reel
(13:36) Puppetry and creature effects
(21:53) Writing GET OUT
(34:18) Genre filmmaking
(41:43) Use your fear
(42:36) Prox Recs

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media
Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo
Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson
Producer: Caitlin Plummer
Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola
Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana
Editors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Design and Social Media: Alexandria Santana

Jon Else is an award-winning documentarian, cinematographer, and MacArthur Genius grant recipient. Over 40 years before Christopher Nolan’s OPPENHEIMER, Jon directed THE DAY AFTER TRINITY, a documentary film about J. Robert Oppenheimer. For almost two decades, Jon led the documentary program at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism where he met then journalism student, now collaborator and friend, Pete Nicks. On this episode, Jon and Pete deep dive into their careers in documentary film. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

(01:59) Get Reel
(09:04) Meeting at Cal and getting into documentary
(19:20) From FRUITVALE STATION to THE FORCE
(29:57) Advice for documentary filmmakers today
(34:30) From THE DAY AFTER TRINITY to OPPENHEIMER
(36:22) Prox Recs

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Producer: Caitlin Plummer

Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Editors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan

Production Assistant: Isabella Miller

Design and Social Media: Alexandria Santana

GMORNING, GNITE! everyone's a aliebn when ur a aliebn too. BOJACK HORSEMAN. GOODBYE, AGAIN. Jonny Sun is a film and TV writer, producer, author, and illustrator who has worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Damon Lindelof. His background is in architecture and engineering as a doctoral candidate at MIT and a creative researcher at the Harvard metaLAB. His writing career took off after he created the beloved alien Twitter persona Jomny Sun which earned him over half a million followers and a place on TIME Magazine’s 25 Most Influential People on the Internet in 2017. On this episode, Jonny sits with Proximity’s head of film Rebecca Cho to share what they’ve learned about collaborating as writer and producer while developing a feature screenplay together. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

(02:21) Get Reel
(10:24) Jomny Sun the Twitter alien
(14:31) The “Asian six-pack” and finding creativity in math and science
(21:20) What makes a great collaborator
(30:16) Developing their project from idea to screenplay
(34:23) Prox Recs

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Producer: Caitlin Plummer

Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Editors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan

Production Assistant: Isabella Miller

Design and Social Media: Alexandria Santana

We took a trip to Gardena Cinema, one of the last family-owned, independent movie theaters in Los Angeles, to try and answer a simple question: What’s it like to own and operate an indie movie theater today? Proximity’s Head of Audio Paola Mardo talks with owner Judy Kim about how her immigrant parents built their business after they bought the single-screen theater in 1976, why she had to pivot after the 2023 strikes, and the vital role her community plays in keeping the doors open. We also have a fun segment featuring our visit to a marathon of horror exploitation movies screened in 16mm film. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

(03:57) Inside the Horror-Exploitation-Thon at Gardena Cinema
(10:49) All in the family: Gardena Cinema’s origin story 
(15:41) How the 2023 strikes changed Gardena Cinema’s business model
(23:56) What it’s like to operate an indie theater today

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Episode Producer: Celine Mendiola

Episode Editors: Celine Mendiola, Judybelle Camangyan, Paola Mardo

Producer: Caitlin Plummer

Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola

Sound Designer, Mix Engineer, Additional Music: Ken Nana

Additional Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Editors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan

Production Assistant: Isabella Miller

Design and Social Media: Alexandria Santana

Veteran studio executive Courtenay Valenti began her career as an assistant at Warner Bros. in the 1980s, eventually rising to President of Production and Development. During her tenure, she championed major hits including BARBIE, THE COLOR PURPLE, and Proximity’s JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH. Today, Courtenay is Head of Theatrical and Streaming Films at Amazon MGM Studios where she oversees the company’s film slate and strategic direction. Courtenay sat down with her former colleague, Proximity’s head of film Rebecca Cho, for an empowering conversation about the role of a studio executive, lessons in leadership and mentorship, and the secret to making a sustainable and impactful Hollywood career. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

(2:09) Get Reel
(9:31) Difference between a studio exec vs. producer
(18:07) What makes a great leader
(23:42) Navigating industry changes
(33:42) Working with creatives
(37:17) Prox Recs

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Producer: Caitlin Plummer

Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Editors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan

Production Assistant: Isabella Miller

Design and Social Media: Alexandria Santana

From FRUITVALE STATION to BLACK PANTHER, Rachel Morrison and Ryan Coogler are longtime friends and collaborators. Rachel is a groundbreaking director and cinematographer who made history as the first woman nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for MUDBOUND and the first to lens a Marvel film with BLACK PANTHER_._ Her feature directorial debut, THE FIRE INSIDE, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and hits theaters this Christmas. Written by Barry Jenkins, THE FIRE INSIDE tells the inspiring true story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, the first American woman to win Olympic gold in boxing. Rachel spoke with Ryan about her trailblazing journey from photography to cinematography and directing. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.

(2:31) Get Reel
(12:29) Choosing the right film stock for Fruitvale Station
(15:36) Memories from the Fruitvale Station set
(21:31) From photography to cinematography
(34:13) Stepping into directing with The Fire Inside
(44:25) Prox Recs

CONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.

Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.

Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.

CREDITS:

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media

Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo

Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson

Producer: Caitlin Plummer

Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola

Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana

Editors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan

Production Assistant: Isabella Miller

Design and Social Media: Alexandria Santana

Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw sat down with director, writer, and producer Ryan Coogler at IMAX headquarters to discuss their collaboration as director and DP, how they called Christopher Nolan and Hoyte van Hoytema for advice, and how they brought this movie to life on the biggest screen possible.

With SINNERS, Autumn made history as the first woman to shoot a theatrical feature film in 65mm and IMAX. She is a visionary cinematographer known for her work on THE LAST SHOWGIRL, PALO ALTO, and BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER. She was nominated for an Emmy for her work on the first season of Marvel’s television series LOKI. She has also shot music videos for artists like Janelle Monáe and Solange Knowles, as well as Rihanna for the Oscar-nominated song "Lift Me Up" from the WAKANDA FOREVER soundtrack.

This episode is presented by IMAX.

SINNERS is produced by Proximity Media and Warner Brothers.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
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(2:34) Get Reel
(12:57) Advice for filming in IMAX
(17:07) Testing IMAX shots in Palmdale
(24:22) Scene breakdown: Opening scene
(31:16) Scene breakdown: Farmhouse scene
(44:27) Prox Recs

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media
Director: Paola Mardo
Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo
Film Score, Theme Song, and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson
Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola
Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana
Audio Editors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Sound Recordist: Marcelo de Oliveira
Video Producer: Bianca Catbagan
Director of Photography: Andrea Walter
Video Editors: Bianca Catbagan and Andrea Walter
Gaffer: Chris Boulos
Key Grip: Kevin “Chui” Chiu
Production Intern: Faith Wang

Composer and executive producer Ludwig Göransson spoke with director, writer, and producer Ryan Coogler at his studio to talk about how the Delta blues and their family history inspired the film’s story and sound. They also break down the song “I Lied To You,” written by Ludwig and Raphael Saadiq, and performed by Miles Caton as Sammie in the film. Stay until the end for a special musical demonstration by Ludwig himself.

SINNERS marks Ludwig’s fifth feature collaboration with Ryan Coogler, following BLACK PANTHER, CREED, and FRUITVALE STATION. A globally recognized composer and producer, Ludwig has earned multiple awards, including two Academy Awards for BLACK PANTHER and OPPENHEIMER. His film and TV credits include VENOM, THE MANDALORIAN, and TURNING RED. As a record producer and songwriter, he has collaborated with artists like Chance the Rapper, Adele, HAIM, and Childish Gambino. He is also a co-founder of Proximity Media.

SINNERS is produced by Proximity Media and Warner Brothers. To hear the songs that inspired the SINNERS score and soundtrack, including artists discussed in this episode, listen here. Listen to the first episode of this special SINNERS series with Ryan Coogler and cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw here.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
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Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
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(02:19) Get Reel
(07:44) Blues Music
(22:22) Writing & Composing “I Lied To You”
(32:17) The Hero Guitar
(35:42) Prox Recs

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media
Director: Paola Mardo
Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo
Film Score, Theme Song, and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson
Video Producer: Bianca Catbagan
Director of Photography: Andrea Walter
Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola
Video Editors: Bianca Catbagan and Andrea Walter
Audio Editors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan
Sound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana
Sound Recordist: Marcelo de Oliveira
Gaffer: Chris Boulos|
Key Grip: Kevin “Chui” Chiu
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Design and Social Media: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Faith Wang

From the Def Jam Poetry scene to the set of a major Marvel TV show, Oakland-raised writer, poet, rapper, actor, playwright, and screenwriter Chinaka Hodge knows how to tell an epic story. Her most recent project, the Marvel TV series IRONHEART, released to Disney+ in June. Starring Dominique Thorne, IRONHEART tells the story of “bad girl genius” Riri Williams on a mission to be the greatest inventor of her generation, which she says doesn't mean much without the resources to bring her ideas to life. Riri resorts to alternative means to get said resources, meeting a host of friends and foes, including an A.I. based on her best friend, N.A.T.A.L.I.E. (played by Lyric Ross), and Parker Robins, also known as “The Hood” (played by Anthony Ramos). To give us insights into pitching, writing, and running IRONHEART, Chinaka sits down with IN PROXIMITY host Paola Mardo and her longtime friend, Proximity Media founder and IRONHEART executive producer, Sev Ohanian.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
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((3:25) Get Reel
(5:31) Chinaka and Ironheart’s Origin Story
(21:14) Writing Ironheart Was Personal
(33:58) SUITS
(40:17) Unmatched Energy On Set and Beyond
(45:54) Into Chinaka’s Office
(48:09) Sev and Chinaka in Film School
(57:05) Chinaka as a Playwright
(1:00:10) The Ironheart Writer’s Room
(1:08:14) Prox Recs

In Proximity is a production of Proximity Media
Ironheart is a production of Proximity Media and Marvel Studios
Executive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola Mardo
Host, Director, and Producer: Paola Mardo
Editor, Sound Mixer, Sound Designer, and Mix Engineer: Ken Nana
Director of Photography: Jonathan Chung
Theme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig Göransson
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Design and Social Media: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Jun Sawada
Special Thanks: Patrick Epino, the Proximity Media team, and our listeners

A voice memo from Ryan Coogler to Paola Mardo – writer, producer, Proximity Media’s head of audio, and the new host of IN PROXIMITY podcast!

Starting Monday, September 22nd, catch weekly episodes with exciting guests pushing the boundaries of film, TV, music, art, and culture. Plus updates on Proximity’s latest projects like SINNERS, IRONHEART, EYES OF WAKANDA, and more. Available in video and audio on YouTube, all podcast platforms, and ProximityMedia.com.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
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Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Follow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com

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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Ben Caloza

Writer/Director Justin Tipping (KICKS, THE CHI) joins IN PROXIMITY podcast host Paola Mardo to break down the making of his new film HIM, produced by Jordan Peele and Monkeypaw Productions. He reveals how grief and greatness shaped his bold mix of sports and horror, how Hitchcock and Busta Rhymes inspired the film’s genre-bending score, and how growing up Filipino (Ilocano, Visayan) and Scandinavian (Danish, Swedish) in the Bay Area informed his perspective as a filmmaker.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
Shop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.org
Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
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(02:14) Being the G.O.A.T.
(04:00) Working with Jordan Peele on HIM
(08:38) How grief and greatness inspired HIM
(14:48) Filming the training scene, football, and body horror
(19:04) The invisible killer
(22:17) HIM Score: Sampling CAT scans and MRIs with Bobby Krlic, Guapdad4000, Busta Rhymes, and Hitchcock
(26:51) HIM Soundtrack: AIGHT? with Carl Angelo
(28:27) Voice Memo from Tyriq Withers: How does being from the Bay set you apart?
(31:12) Editing and setting the tone with a lookbook
(34:17) 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz
Production Assistants: Isabella Miller, Devin Saddler
Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Jun Sawada

How do you get a manager? What’s the difference between a manager and an agent? James Swoope, talent manager at M88, breaks it all down with IN PROXIMITY podcast host Paola Mardo. From Cleveland to Hollywood, Swoope has built a career managing talent like Dominique Thorne (IRONHEART), actor and singer Coco Jones, designer and entrepreneur Jeff Staple, and athlete and podcaster Matt Barnes. In this conversation, he shares his journey from casting intern to working on JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH with Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, his approach to talent management, what artists should really be working on, why it’s important to “have something to manage,” and why Swoope calls himself a unicorn.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
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Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
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(00:00) How does one get a manager?
(01:34) Voice Memo from Charles D. King (Founder & CEO, MACRO)
(05:25) Swoope’s unique sense of style and why he’s a unicorn
(08:06) From casting intern to working on JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
(12:55) How to get a manager
(14:35) What artists should be working on
(16:25) “I’m the 10%. You’re the 90%.”
(19:18) What does a manager do?
(21:31) What’s the difference between a manager and an agent?
(23:45) Rapid-Fire Questions and Advice
(25:20) Show & Tell: 3 NINJAS and FORREST GUMP
(30:07) 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, Andrea Walter
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz
Production Assistants: Isabella Miller, Devin Saddler
Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Jun Sawada

Are you a Hollywood assistant a.k.a. a rockstar with thick skin able to work in a fast-paced environment?! This is the episode for you! Assistants vs. Agents creator Warner Bailey joins IN PROXIMITY podcast host Paola Mardo to share how he turned his viral meme page into a community empowering the next generation of entertainment power players, and a business with a newsletter, job board, podcast, events, merch, creative projects, and partnerships with brands like Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, Apple TV+ and more. He also provides actionable tips for assistants and bosses alike, and reveals how he built a business that is helping redefine what success looks like in Hollywood today.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
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Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Follow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com

(00:00) The email he caan’t believe was sent
(01:58) Voice Memo from Kirk Sommer, WME Global Co-Head of Music
(06:15) Warner’s assistant journey at WME Music
(09:25) Building Assistants vs. Agents
(14:10) The Assistants vs. Agents business model
(15:30) Tools for young creatives and people breaking into the industry
(16:30) Is the assistant path still the way?
(19:00) Providing resources for a career roadmap in entertainment in today’s job market
(20:20) Being the boss
(24:08) Hard lessons learned about managing people
(27:56) Responsibility to the AvA community
(28:52) Crazy assistant stories and DMs
(29:40) Laughter, group therapy, community, and feeling like we’re not alone
(30:14) The Ari Emanuel story (a.k.a. the email you caan’t receive)
(32:12) The process a.k.a. the manila envelope that inspires AvA
(35:14) 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana
Production Assistants: Isabella Miller, Devin Saddler
Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Jun Sawada

How did a documentary and Ryan Coogler’s Chinese family ancestry lead to a role consulting on the blockbuster film SINNERS? Journalist, documentary filmmaker, and SINNERS cultural consultant Dolly Li joins IN PROXIMITY podcast host Paola Mardo to talk about her work on SINNERS, her documentary THE UNTOLD STORY OF AMERICA’S SOUTHERN CHINESE, and why Remmick’s (Jack O’Connell) iconic lines about licking to Grace Chow (Li Jun Li) were so integral to the story.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
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Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
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(00:00) These lines about licking
(01:30) How Dolly started working on SINNERS
(06:15) The Delta Chinese community's reaction to the film
(08:00) How the Delta Chinese felt about the grocery stores in the film
(08:35) Working with production design
(09:10) The role of Chinese-owned grocery stores in the segregated south
(09:50) What it was like for Dolly to see the film
(12:00) These lines about licking (the full story)
(14:36) Grace Chow (Li Jun Li) and the internet discussion around her role
(21:30) The Mississippi Delta Chinese and Dolly's documentary with AJ+
(29:42) Asian American representation in film today
(31:08) Voice Memo from Jun Stinson Yamagishi (journalist, supervising producer)
(35:06) The Process: "Are You Ornamental? Are We Always Foreigners?"
(40:14) The Process: Chinese in Mississippi in 1960
(41:55) The Process: Visual art, watercolor, and motion graphics
(45:21) Shifting from producer to on-camera host
(47:57) 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana
Production Assistants: Isabella Miller, Devin Saddler
Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Jun Sawada

What’s a crafty run? Why wear a chest vest? What would you do if you lost your boss’ ID? Ammar Mohamed – assistant to Ryan Coogler, SINNERS associate producer, and filmmaker – joins IN PROXIMITY host Paola Mardo to share what it’s really like supporting one of Hollywood’s busiest directors today. From locking in on set to hard lessons learned on the job, Ammar takes us behind the scenes of SINNERS and BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, while sharing his career journey and offering his perspective and thoughtful advice for other assistants.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
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Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
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(00:00) One of the things about Ryan
(02:00) Voice Memo from Hannah Beachler
(09:30) Working on BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
(11:00) Becoming Ryan Coogler’s assistant
(12:27) Everyday was like climbing Mt. Everest
(15:12) Scary moment on the job... a.k.a. ID story part 1
(19:30) The bag… and ID story part 2
(21:25) Advice for assistants
(24:17) Learning from Ryan and Hannah
(25:56) Working on SINNERS
(30:40) Understanding the moment, locking in, and being in step or a step ahead
(32:46) Locked in SINNERS scenes
(34:25) Craziest thing he saw on set
(36:03) 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Jun Sawada, Ben Caloza

When Ryan Coogler needed someone to track every detail on SINNERS – including Michael B. Jordan playing twin brothers Smoke and Stack – he called Steve Gehrke, the veteran script supervisor and longtime collaborator of Christopher Nolan. With credits that span MEMENTO, INCEPTION, THE DARK NIGHT, OPPENHEIMER, and the upcoming THE ODYSSEY, Gehrke shares what a Nolan set is like, how he keeps time straight in “Chris Nolan world,” meeting Coogler and working on SINNERS, what a scripty actually does, and why he still takes notes with an old school pencil.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
Shop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.org
Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Follow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com

(00:00) Meeting Christopher Nolan in 1989 for MEMENTO
(02:09) Voice Memo from producer Emma Thomas
(04:06) Why Steve “doesn’t care” about the words in a script
(05:10) Time and continuity in Chris Nolan world and MEMENTO
(06:57) “Every movie that we do makes you think”: INCEPTION, DUNKIRK
(07:55) Meeting Christopher Nolan (continued) and getting hired on the spot
(08:20) Process for collaborating with Nolan as a script supervisor
(09:42) THE ODYSSEY and the 25-year relationship
(11:14) What a Nolan set is like
(12:10) Preparing for a film, reading TENET
(14:04) Breaking down a nonlinear script and making “paper dolls”
(17:22) Story order vs. script order
(18:44) Why the script supervisor is the on-set editor and keeping track of kisses
(21:48) Continuity mental list, issues, eyelines
(24:29) Meeting Ryan Coogler and working on SINNERS
(28:11) Steve’s script supervisor toolkit and keeping it old school
(30:46) The Script Supervising Process: Smoke & Stack Scene
(35:03) The squiggles
(35:33) How Steve learned the job
(37:11) 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, A.J. Calomay
Production Assistants: Isabella Miller, Devin Saddler
Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Jun Sawada

After a family tragedy landed her in foster care, Angelica “Angie” Nwandu turned to writing and poetry. Her first screenplay, NIGHT COMES ON, co-written with director Jordana Spiro, made her a 2014 Sundance Fellow where her mentors included Quentin Tarantino and Kasi Lemmons. The film starred Dominique Fishback and premiered at the festival in 2018 where it won the NEXT Innovator Award.

But even as a Sundance darling, she faced setbacks including getting fired from two writing jobs. Today, Angie is the founder and CEO of The Shade Room, a leading media platform covering Black culture, entertainment, and news, with over 30 million followers and 43 billion annual impressions. Dubbed by The New York Times as “Instagram’s TMZ”, TSR is no stranger to controversy.

On IN PROXIMITY, Angie joins host Paola Mardo to share her side of the story, opening up about the failures that shaped her, the role of faith and purpose in overcoming rejection, and her journey from aspiring screenwriter to media mogul.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
Shop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.org
Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Follow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com

(00:00) From shame to “Instagram’s TMZ”
(02:00) Voice Memo from Dominique Fishback and filming NIGHT COMES ON
(07:56) From poetry slams to co-writing the screenplay for NIGHT COMES ON
(10:45) 2014 Sundance Lab and advice from mentor Quentin Tarantino
(12:25) The life-changing phone call before going onstage at Sundance
(14:25) Getting the $5,000 writing grant and pursuing her passion
(15:28) From Sundance grant to The Shade Room origin story
(17:50) 3,000 followers in 3 days
(20:30) “I’m about to be the biggest media company!”
(21:21) Being the 23-year-old CEO of what The NYT called “Instagram’s TMZ”
(23:00) George Floyd, audience feedback, investigative journalists, politics, social justice
(24:20) Pressure and what keeps her up at night
(26:00) A humbling writing career: “I’m done in this town!”
(32:00) Proximity and TSR, HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME
(34:00) “It took me a long time to get to a place where I was proud.”
(35:15) Celebrity reactions and crazy (scary) stories
(38:50) Depression, vices, finding God
(39:35) Relationship to “gossip” and pop culture news
(41:00) The good and the bad of TSR
(42:32) 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, A.J. Calomay
Production Assistants: Isabella Miller
Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Ben Caloza

Azie Tesfai was on track to become a lawyer until a breakup led to an audition and a new career in acting, writing, and producing. She’s appeared on JANE THE VIRGIN, MATLOCK, and DC’s SUPERGIRL, where she starred as The Guardian and became the first Ethiopian and Eritrean person to portray a superhero on screen. She also wrote an episode of SUPERGIRL, working with mentor and executive producer Greg Berlanti. On IN PROXIMITY, she talks with host Paola Mardo about navigating rejection, reframing, and the "tiara syndrome", transitioning from acting to writing and producing, sliding into DM’s (for work!), and bringing her Eritrean-Ethiopian heritage into her storytelling.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
Shop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.org
Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Follow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com

(00:00) Brutal audition, tiara syndrome, another first
(01:27) Voice Memo from 2 Chainz
(03:15) Growing up first generation Eritrean and Ethiopian American
(08:45) How a college break-up led to an acting audition
(10:30) First acting job working on Wicked Wicked Games with Tatum O’Neal
(12:17) Building a career in acting, telling immigrant parents
(15:30) An awful audition story, remembering why we make art
(17:58) Advice for actors today
(19:16) Being the first Ethiopian and Eritrean person to play a superhero on screen as The Guardian on SUPERGIRL
(23:30) Writing an episode of SUPERGIRL and navigating grief, the pandemic, and racism
(27:20) Supportive community + trauma = art
(28:42) Lessons in writing and asking for help, working with Greg Berlanti
(29:39) Superhero power poses
(30:42) The tiara syndrome and sliding into DMs for work
(33:45) Process for being a multi-hyphenate
(35:20) Writing a DC comic kids book
(36:30) Why it’s important to infuse her culture into her work
(39:08) Photos from the set of SUPERGIRL
(42:11) 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, A.J. Calomay
Production Assistants: Isabella Miller, Collin Gaja
Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Jun Sawada

What can a $100K riot-inducing sneaker teach us about storytelling, design, and creativity?

Jeff Staple’s 2005 Nike Pigeon Dunk didn’t just drop. It ignited a riot in the streets of New York City and helped rewrite the rules of streetwear, brand marketing, and storytelling through design. On IN PROXIMITY, Jeff joins host Paola Mardo to unpack how he built Staple into a global brand one shoe and collab at a time, what filmmakers and creatives can learn from design and brand building, “the power of the t-shirt” and marketing before social media and the internet, the wild story of his elevator pitch to Yasiin Bey (then Mos Def), and how to navigate hustle culture and find creative inspiration anywhere.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
Shop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.org
Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Follow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com

(00:00) The sneaker riot story
(02:40) Jeff Staple did for the pigeon what Walt Disney did for the “rat”
(03:15) Not Just Sneakers book and Jeff’s interest in brand design and sneakers at a young age
(06:30) Growing up in an immigrant Chinese family in New Jersey in the 1970s and 1980s
(09:20) The Staple Origin Story and Connie Chung
(13:14) Turning his art into a business
(14:50) “The power of the t-shirt” and marketing before social media and internet
(18:00) Seeing your art in the wild, streetwear as IYKYK
(19:02) Is streetwear still cool?
(21:15) Staple and hip-hop
(23:36) The Pigeon and trademarking pigeon poop
(26:40) Elevator pitching the collaborating with Yasiin Bey (Mos Def)
(31:20) Collaborations today
(34:00) How to stay connected to the creative, why he started a podcast
(35:50) Hacking hustle culture
(39:00) The Goods a.k.a. the shoes and the full sneaker riot story
(44:50) Jeff’s checklist for designing sneakers
(48:04) Jay-Z vs. Andre 3000 creative careers
(51:20) 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, A.J. Calomay
Sound Recordist: Isabella Miller
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Ben Caloza

You know that iconic SINNERS juke joint music montage? Todd Harris is the artist who helped bring that sequence to life. A veteran storyboard artist, Todd went from designing action sequences for blockbusters like BLACK PANTHER, AVENGERS, and JOHN WICK to creating, directing, and showrunning his own Marvel series and directorial debut, EYES OF WAKANDA.

On this episode of IN PROXIMITY, host Paola Mardo sits down with Todd to discuss his journey from storyboard artist to director. He reveals how he designed the music montage sequence in Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS, shares advice for aspiring filmmakers, and explains the art behind storyboarding action sequences. He also opens up about pitching EYES OF WAKANDA to Kevin Feige and Ryan Coogler, building new characters like Noni and The Lion, and weaving real history into Wakandan lore.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
Shop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.org
Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Follow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com

(00:00) SINNERS juke joint montage oner
(02:13) Voice Memo from Brad Winderbaum, Head of Marvel TV and Marvel Animation
(03:40) Advice for emerging directors, working with Taika Waititi on THOR: RAGNAROK
(06:00) Tips for presenting ideas to directors
(07:14) Storyboard artistry
(08:45) How Todd became a storyboard artist
(10:59) Process for breaking down script in storyboarding
(13:55) Pitching ideas, John Wick
(15:48) Storyboarding that iconic SINNERS juke joint montage oner
(18:00) The illusion of language, knowing your director’s taste
(20:30) Working with Ryan Coogler on BLACK PANTHER and BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (with a pitstop at AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR)
(22:45) Creating EYES OF WAKANDA and pitching Kevin Feige
(24:40) Real history meets Wakandans
(25:05) Memnon, fan reactions, Sea Peoples, Conan the Barbarian, James Earl Jones as inspiration for The Lion
(26:50) Working with Marvel, transitioning from storyboarding to directing
(29:15) EYES OF WAKANDA behind-the-scenes, creating original characters, Noni
(33:22) Iron Fist
(34:42) Todd’s Storyboarding Process
(40:30) 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza
Sound Recordist: Isabella Miller
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Ben Caloza

Step into the kitchen set with Courtney Storer, culinary producer and co-executive producer of FX's Emmy-winning series THE BEAR. In this special holiday episode of IN PROXIMITY, host Paola Mardo learns how to make Italian red sauce pasta while digging into what it takes to bring THE BEAR’S iconic food moments to life. Courtney shares exclusive behind-the-scenes stories from filming the intense holiday “Fishes” episode with Jamie Lee Curtis, training actors like Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, and Lionel Boyce on professional cooking techniques, and working alongside her brother, series creator Christopher Storer. From 4:30 a.m. call times to creating detailed culinary reference guides for Michelin-level plating, discover how food becomes a character in one of television’s most acclaimed shows.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
Shop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.org
Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Follow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com

(00:00) What does a culinary producer do? (clips)
(00:55) Storytime!
(03:13) Welcome to Courtney’s kitchen studio
(04:13) Ingredients for THE BEAR red sauce
(05:22) Start cooking
(07:16) Cooking on a TV set
(09:00) Culinary reference guide
(10:30) All the details, Carmy’s chef journey (Jeremy Allen White), TOMORROW episode, peas, chef mentors, Chicago, Ever, Chef Terry, is this the vibe?
(13:02) Is the sauce sticking??
(14:00) Training actors
(14:38) The FISHES episode and the Feast of the Seven Fishes
(16:29) Inspiration binder, pre-production, photos, visuals, Donna (Jamie Lee Curtis)
(20:20) It was like “art therapy” with the cast, crew, and her brother Christopher Storer
(22:00) What does a culinary producer do? (full segment)
(23:50) Having real chefs on the set of TOMORROW
(24:52) Voice Memo from Matty Matheson… and pasta beauty shot!
(28:50) Prox Recs… and plating the pasta!
(30:13) Cheers!

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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana
Production Sound Mixer: Mark Patino
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller, Joshua Flores
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Jun Sawada

From bookstore events to hosting the SINNERS Los Angeles premiere, what’s it like to start a film community from scratch? Armen and Mary Karaoghlanian, founders of Armenian Film Society, share how they turned their passion for cinema and community into a cultural hub that hosts major film festivals, galas, and premieres.

They discuss their recent 10-year anniversary gala featuring a conversation with Proximity founders Ryan Coogler and Sev Ohanian, where Sev was inducted into the Armenian Film Hall of Fame. They also reveal what it’s like to build your dream passion project while working full-time jobs and becoming new parents, the importance of consistency and authenticity in community building, and how they’ve spotlighted everyone from indie filmmakers to major Hollywood productions like SINNERS and ANORA.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
Shop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.org
Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Follow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com

(00:00) Ryan Coogler and Sev Ohanian in proximity at AFS
(00:55) From a small bookshop event to a widely-attended gala
(02:25) Voice Memo from Sona Movsesian (Conan O’ Brien Needs a Friend)
(04:02) Why Cher and Charles Aznavour are iconic
(04:42) What is the Armenian Film Society?
(05:00) First community event at Abril Books in in Glendale
(07:41) Screening Sean Baker’s TANGERINE and Alexander Payne’s SIDEWAYS
(09:23) Ryan Coogler and Sev Ohanian at the AFS 10th Anniversary Gala
(10:27) Videos from the night of the AFS gala
(12:35) Honoring ELIO director Madeline Sharafian & ANORA actor Karren Karagulian
(14:58) Steven Zaillian, Rouben Mamoulian, and the importance of Armenians in film
(16:17) How Armen and Mary built Armenian Film Society
(17:45) Building community takes consistency
(19:39) From university film professor to film society founder
(21:46) Armen and Mary’s meet cute story… and their AOL Messenger screen name
(23:16) Family inspiration: Armenian International Magazine and a vintage film camera
(28:17) 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana
Sound Recordist: Isabella Miller
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: 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.com
Shop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.org
Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Follow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com

We 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 Palmer

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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza, A.J. Calomay, Andrea Walter
Production Sound Mixer: Mark Patino
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz
Sound Recordist: Isabella Miller
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller, Devin Saddler, Joshua Flores, Collin Gaja
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Ben Caloza, Jun Sawada

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.com
Shop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.org
Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Follow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com

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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Interns: 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.com
Shop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.org
Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Follow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com

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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, A.J. Calomay, Ben Caloza
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz
Production Assistants: Isabella Miller, Devin Saddler
Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Jun Sawada, 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.com
Shop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.org
Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Follow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com

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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, A.J. Calomay, Andrea Walter
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz
Production Assistants: Isabella Miller, Devin Saddler
Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Jun Sawada, Ben Caloza

Essential filmmaking advice from industry pros: writer/director Justin Tipping breaks down the Tagalog needle drop in the Jordan Peele-produced sports horror film HIM and how Busta Rhymes' "Gimmie Some More" and Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO inspired the score (featuring "AIGHT?" by Carl Angelo and music by composer Bobby Krlic); EYES OF WAKANDA creator/director Todd Harris explains why directors should touch multiple departments; and SUPERGIRL actor, writer, and producer Azie Tesfai reveals how a bad audition made her better.

Learn more and read the transcript at ProximityMedia.com
Shop our Prox Recs at Bookshop.org
Watch/Listen to IN PROXIMITY on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Follow Proximity Media on Instagram, TikTok, ProximityMedia.com

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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, A.J. Calomay, Andrea Walter
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz
Production Assistants: Isabella Miller, Devin Saddler
Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Jun Sawada, Ben Caloza

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.

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE

(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 Recs

SHOP OUR PROX BOOKS RECS ON BOOKSHOP.ORG

LEARN MORE AND READ THE TRANSCRIPT AT PROXIMITYMEDIA.COM

WATCH/LISTEN TO IN PROXIMITY
YOUTUBE
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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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza
Sound Recordist: Isabella Miller
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz
Production Assistant: Isabella Miller
Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Ben Caloza

SINNERS lead actor Michael B. Jordan and writer/director/producer Ryan Coogler break down the Academy Award®-nominated film and their 10+ year collaboration in this exclusive conversation with IN PROXIMITY host Paola Mardo.

Michael dives deep into his acting process for playing dual roles as Smoke and Stack, sharing how he uses character journals, key phrases from archival recordings, and physical details to build his characters. Ryan reveals his screenwriting approach and his never-before-heard timeline mapping the Smokestack Twins’ backstory, including romances with Mary (Hailee Steinfeld) and Annie (Wunmi Mosaku), and their time in Chicago with Al Capone. Ryan also kicks off this very special episode by making lattes, sharing how his love for coffee connects to filmmaking and acts of service for the cast and crew. It's gonna be a real ring-a-ding-ding… so grab a cup of coffee (or Irish beer or Italian wine) and enjoy!

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(00:00) Smokestack Twins Lore
(00:30) Host Paola Mardo intro
(04:30) The boss today and Michael’s espresso life
(06:00) Ryan makes us coffee: Cannes, George Clooney, set coffee culture, abstract latte art
(09:30) Acts of service
(12:20) From FRUITVALE STATION to SINNERS
(14:35) 1A and 1B on the call sheet, why number 1 on the call sheet means leadership
(19:00) Questions Michael asked Ryan after reading the SINNERS script, the surreal juke joint montage, Stack and Mary
(23:16) Smokestack Twins Lore
(27:12) Stack does Smoke’s hair
(28:38) Smoke’s tremors
(30:55) Journals as part of Michael’s acting process
(32:55) When Smoke and Stack broke up, Ryan’s timeline spreadsheet, Mary, Annie, LORE (!), Chicago, Al Capone
(36:30) How much older Smoke feels from Stack
(38:00) Are you Smoke or Stack? Delta Slim, Mary, mystery, Ryan’s script to Michael’s acting performance
(40:00) “When the actor becomes the expert on the character… the twins are his now… then twins belong to the movie”
(40:25) Stack being a liar, Smoke telling the truth
(42:00) Mike’s improvised moments, Smoke versus Hogwood
(45:23) Preparing for the roles of Smoke and Stack, dialect coach, physicality, different sized shoes, chakra work, childhood trauma
(49:30) Key phrases
(50:35) “Made in Mississippi" documentary archival recordings (directors: William Ferris, Judy Peiser)
(51:51) Drawing from history and real people to bring characters and script to life, Michael’s and Ryan’s family history, sharecroppers, ancestry, Uncle James
(53:22) Scene Breakdown: Smoke teaching a young girl to negotiate, “numbers in conversation”
(56:11) Smoke as “a fun character to write but it was a really fun character to see Mike play”
(58:05) “These are very BAD men”
(58:59) Mike is “like a Tom Hanks!”
(1:00:30) “He never knifed nobody… that I know of!”
(1:04:00) Prox Recs

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LEARN MORE AND READ THE TRANSCRIPT AT PROXIMITYMEDIA.COM

WATCH/LISTEN TO IN PROXIMITY
YOUTUBE
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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
Editor: Patrick Epino
Production Sound Mixer: Mark Patino
Camera Operator: Josh Ortiz
Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola
Production Coordinator: Joy Woo
Production Assistant: Devin Saddler
Production Intern: Ben Caloza
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz
Barista: George Stevenson