In Proximity

Proximity Media
  • 4.9 (150)
  • VISUAL ARTS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
In Proximity

A podcast about craft, career, and creativity from Proximity Media, the production company that helped bring you Creed III, Judas and the Black Messiah, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever podcast and soundtrack, and more. New episodes every Sunday.

  1. Rachel Morrison and Ryan Coogler on cinematography, directing, and THE FIRE INSIDE

    DEC 15

    Rachel Morrison and Ryan Coogler on cinematography, directing, and THE FIRE INSIDE

    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

    49 min
  2. How to make it in Hollywood with Courtenay Valenti and Rebecca Cho

    DEC 1

    How to make it in Hollywood with Courtenay Valenti and Rebecca Cho

    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

    43 min
  3. SPECIAL EPISODE: How to Run a Movie Theater in 2024

    NOV 17

    SPECIAL EPISODE: How to Run a Movie Theater in 2024

    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

    29 min
  4. How Writers and Producers Work Together with Jonny Sun and Rebecca Cho

    NOV 3

    How Writers and Producers Work Together with Jonny Sun and Rebecca Cho

    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

    39 min
  5. Jon Else and Pete Nicks on Documentary, Truth, and Oppenheimer

    OCT 20

    Jon Else and Pete Nicks on Documentary, Truth, and Oppenheimer

    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

    43 min
  6. Jordan Peele and Ryan Coogler on Genre, Fear, and Filmmaking

    OCT 6

    Jordan Peele and Ryan Coogler on Genre, Fear, and Filmmaking

    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 of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com. Watch the trailer for SINNERS directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan on our Instagram @ProximityMedia or on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKGxHflevuk (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

    48 min
  7. Breaking into Screenwriting with Juel Taylor, Tony Retteinmaier, and Sev Ohanian

    SEP 22

    Breaking into Screenwriting with Juel Taylor, Tony Retteinmaier, and Sev Ohanian

    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

    49 min
  8. Cord Jefferson and Ryan Coogler on Writing, Directing, and What They’re Doing Next

    SEP 8

    Cord Jefferson and Ryan Coogler on Writing, Directing, and What They’re Doing Next

    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 (35:48) “You shouldn't be doing this if the end goal is to win an Oscar.” (39:49) Prox Recs

    45 min
See All (27)

Trailers

4.9
out of 5
150 Ratings

About

A podcast about craft, career, and creativity from Proximity Media, the production company that helped bring you Creed III, Judas and the Black Messiah, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever podcast and soundtrack, and more. New episodes every Sunday.

Information

  • Creator
    Proximity Media
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Proximity Media
  • Show Website
    In Proximity

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