Lessons from Filmmaker Ryan Coogler
The interview between Carter and Coogler was informative and inspiring. Check out some of the pertinent points below!
Ryan Coogler acted in High School and had a Black theater arts teacher who was one of the few Black teachers, so he wanted to make him proud. This speaks to the importance of Black boys seeing Black male teachers.
Black boys need to see strong Black male role models, and spending 6-7 hours a day in school and not seeing any does more harm than good. In 2020-2021, 1.3% of public school teachers in the United States were Black males. It is understood that the education system isn't perfect, but sometimes one great teacher can have a great effect.
"Success can alienate you from what got you here," Coogler spoke on how important community is to him and how keeping certain people around him keeps him grounded. Success can cause people to lose themselves and it is important to keep people around you who truly know you. These people will hold you accountable, give you wise counsel, and always remind you to stay focused.
One important thing mentioned was making sure your ideas don't go stale. In the film industry, it is essential to note that from the time of inception of an idea until the time the public sees the film could be anywhere from months to years. In the time frame, the world may have changed dramatically. Cultural norms, economic state, political climates, and people's tastes all then determine how the movie will perform. Essentially, as Coogler puts it, "it's a moving target."
Time affects his filmmaking in another way as well. A film may be the best thing when it comes out. How does the audience feel about it 5 or 10 years from now? Does the film stick with the audience? Does it go away? These are some of the considerations going through Coogler's mind as he's creating and sometimes moments will happen during the process that alert him to the film being something that will be special.
See the full conversation below!