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