FROM THE ARCHIVES: Cord Jefferson and Ryan Coogler on Writing, Directing, AMERICAN FICTION, and SINNERS (sort of)

We’re going back into the IN PROXIMITY archives for the next several weeks, rereleasing masterclasses on filmmaking and screenwriting. On this episode, we’re rebroadcasting a conversation between Ryan Coogler and Cord Jefferson, writer/director/producer of the award-winning feature film AMERICAN FICTION. A few weeks after winning the 2024 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Cord hopped on a call with Ryan to discuss their first films, his unconventional path to filmmaking, and his experience as a first-time director. They also talk about their upcoming projects, and Ryan teases a little bit about SINNERS. He recorded this conversation from New Orleans as he was just about to go into production on the film.

CHECK OUT THE ORIGINAL EPISODE
Cord Jefferson and Ryan Coogler on Writing, Directing, and What They’re Doing Next

SHOP OUR PROX BOOKS RECS ON BOOKSHOP.ORG

LEARN MORE AND READ THE TRANSCRIPT AT PROXIMITYMEDIA.COM

WATCH/LISTEN TO IN PROXIMITY
YOUTUBE
APPLE PODCASTS
SPOTIFY

FOLLOW PROXIMITY MEDIA
INSTAGRAM
TIKTOK

(01:45) From the archives… Ryan Coogler and Cord Jefferson!
(02:30) Get Reel
(10:46) Cord’s first writing job took GUTS 
(19:28) How Cord learned to collaborate with Jeffrey Wright on AMERICAN FICTION
(27:58) Ryan and Cord’s next projects (hint: SINNERS) 
(35:48) “You shouldn’t be doing this if the end goal is to win an Oscar.”
(39:49) 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, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza, Cedric Wilson, Judybelle Camangyan 
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz
Producer: Caitlin Plummer
Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola
Production Coordinator: Joy Woo
Production Assistants: Isabella Miller, Polina Cherezova
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Ben Caloza