About this episode

Ryan Coogler discusses his latest film 'Sinners' and its historic Oscar nominations, reflecting on his filmmaking journey and personal experiences.

When it comes to the theatrical experience, director Ryan Coogler is in rarified air these days. From Creed to Black Panther to Wakanda Forever, his movies arrive as seismic commercial and cultural events. His latest, Sinners, was no exception when it came out in IMAX last spring. And with 16 Oscar nominations, Coogler’s blues-steeped vampire epic has now become the most-nominated film in Academy history. Watch this conversation on YouTube. Together, we trace how the seeds of Sinners were planted during the making of Wakanda Forever (5:36), the family history interwoven throughout the movie (9:00), and a formative memory seeing John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood with his father (15:20). Then, we talk about his pivot from football to filmmaking (17:30), the early belief and partnership of his wife, Zinzi (22:00), and why his debut Fruitvale Station stands the test of time (26:07). On the back-half, Coogler reflects on a piece of advice that shaped how he leads a set (31:18), the “Faustian bargain” he confronted as an artist (34:00), and the uncle whose encouragement carried him through moments of doubt (35:50). To close, a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman (37:30), Coogler’s…

People in this episode

Host: Sam Fragoso

Guest: Ryan Coogler

Topics covered

• film direction
• Oscar nominations
• cultural impact
• personal history
• filmmaking journey
• moviegoing experience

Keywords

• Ryan Coogler
• Sinners
• Oscar nominations
• filmmaking
• cultural events
• moviegoing
• Black Panther
• Fruitvale Station

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Sinners, Creed, Black Panther, Wakanda Forever, Fruitvale Station, Boyz n the Hood

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