In Proximity

This February, we’re celebrating the 8th anniversary of the release of BLACK PANTHER! We dug deep into the In Proximity archives to re-release this iconic conversation with BLACK PANTHER director Ryan Coogler and Ta-Nehisi Coates. Ta-Nehisi is a journalist and the bestselling author of books like BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME and THE MESSAGE. He has also written successful comic book runs for CAPTAIN AMERICA and BLACK PANTHER, and hosted the WAKANDA FOREVER podcast back in 2023. On this special re-release episode, we combine the two parts of Ryan and Ta-Nehisi’s original conversation, where they dive deep into their experiences telling T’Challa’s story for BLACK PANTHER, the impact of hip-hop music and art, Ta-Nehisi’s decades-long writing career, and their mutual friendship with the late Chadwick Boseman.

CHECK OUT THE ORIGINAL EPISODES
Ryan Coogler and Ta-Nehisi Coates Episode 1
Ryan Coogler and Ta-Nehisi Coates Episode 2
WAKANDA FOREVER: THE OFFICIAL BLACK PANTHER PODCAST

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(00:00) Celebrating the anniversary of BLACK PANTHER the film

IN PROXIMITY IS A PRODUCTION OF PROXIMITY MEDIA

What does it take to build a successful TV writing career in comedy, procedurals, and drama? Executive producer, showrunner, and author Kimberly Ann Harrison reveals how she landed an internship on FRIENDS, wrote 78 episodes of CRIMINAL MINDS over 12 years, and made the leap to showrunner (DEPUTY, THE CROSSOVER, WASHINGTON BLACK). On this episode of IN PROXIMITY, Kim talks to host Paola Mardo about her transition from comedy to drama, the importance of finding a character's “why”, tips on pitching episodes and applying for writing jobs, lessons on loneliness and leadership, writing her debut novel BEYOND THE PADDOCK, and why her advice for new writers is to keep blinders on and just write.

(00:00) Just write!

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IN PROXIMITY IS A PRODUCTION OF PROXIMITY MEDIA

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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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

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
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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, 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.

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(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

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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

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

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

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

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

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(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

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