So much of it impacted me and made me the filmmaker that I am today, theBlack Pantherdirector adds.
Without question, and in ways I could have anticipated.
Thats what Forest decided to do when he sat down and said I want to make something significant.
‘Fruitvale Station’Everett
DEADLINE:Its been 10 years sinceFruitvaledropped and dominated Sundance 2013 long time.
Looking back, who was Ryan Coogler back then in Park City?
COOGLER:I was just green, man, in terms of the industry.
I was very green.
I didnt know really anything outside of like how to make a movie, you know what Im saying?
I didnt know much about what was to come next.
Its kind of like the fourth and fifth stage of filmmaking.
We got to find the financing and all of that stuff.
But then youve got preproduction, production, and post.
I didnt know anything about what comes after.
Like having your film shown and reviewed.
So, I was just kind of slamming myself into it blind.
DEADLINE:But wasnt 2013 actually your second Sundance?
COOGLER:Yeah, but I was really a wide-eyed kid, man.
DEADLINE:Had the labs prepared you for any of that?
COOGLER:They did but that wasnt their focus.
The focus for the labs was really based on your project and you build a community.
They did a little bit of what I call industry preparation.
But it ended up being impactful, being real potent.
They would introduce you to whatever you needed.
DEADLINE:Like who?
One of them was Craig Kestel, who ended up becoming my agent.
They introduced us to lawyers because I needed a lawyer because my project was advancing.
COOGLER:I had no idea, bro!
You know, I spent a lot of money at film school.
Film school kind of shows you how to make a movie.
Its really showing you how to make shorts, which is like a super important steppingstone.
And its introducing you to people who are going to become your collaborators in the future.
That youve got to sell the movie and how film festivals work and all of that.
I mean …
COOGLER:I mean its amazing, man.
I feel very fortunate.
Its a blessing, bro, to be able to transition and have personal transformation.
Ten years ago, I was a kid in his 20s, didnt know anything.
I cant wait for everybody to see it.
It feels special, man.
All I can say is I feel a deep sense of gratitude, man.
Thats what weve been able to do in our production company.
DEADLINE:I didnt know that.
His film was in competition at the 2013 festival.
He had a film calledNewlyweeds.
So, he and I met at Sundance.
Didnt know each other before, spent time together at the festival, and made a friendship.
Through proximity, we were able to bring his second film to the world.
Now Shakas on a tear.
I met a lot of people through Sundance who I went to work with.
There wasDaniel Kaluuya, who is Fred Hampton inJudas.
Daniel Kaluuya was the star of that movie.
That was my first time ever seeing him act was sitting down looking at that.
LaKeith Stanfield was in Destin Daniel Crettons short film.
I believe that went to Sundance.
Destin was at Sundance in 2012 withIm Not a Hipster.
I was there in the labs.
I met Destin when our films came out in 2013.
I introduced Shaka to LaKeith at like a FilmIndependentAwards.
All this stuff ends up coming together.
Sundance kind of ends up being the place for it.
So, Im in a position now that Forest was in with me when I was coming out.
I feel fortunate to still be in the business.
Then aside fromFruitvaleand knowing Oscars story, I mean look at Kobe.
Look at Chadwick, John Singleton.
I mean nothings promised.
For me to even still be here.
Its a profound blessing, bro, a profound one.
It fills me with gratitude and just it makes me want to keep going.
We still talk to each other, support each other, root for each other.
We still feel a sense of ownership when we see the other succeed.
I cant tell you how proud of these folks I am every time they do something.
Like a lot of us, we knew each other before kids and were parents now.
Its just crazy to think about.
So, it just means a ton, man.
COOGLER:Dominic, you know, Ive got to reflect on this Visionary Award.
Its a blessing to have worked that much, but it has come with certain sacrifices.
DEADLINE:Such as?
COOGLER:One of them is its very hard to be present and reflect.
The schedule doesnt always allow for it, but I can feel things like slowing down just enough now.
It could be like my mind maturing and kind of having a little bit of an understanding.
You know, I was an athlete growing up.
The games happening too fast.
Okay, this is what my life is going to be kind of thing.
Its making it easier to reflect, and its actually making me more appreciative.
COOGLER:I was fortunate to have Forest as a producer in the process.
DEADLINE:Never bad to have Forest Whitaker in your corner.
But how did that play out for you, especially onceFruitvalewas picked up?
I was protected by him.
I didnt get pushed around at all really.
I had him as like a godfather in the process.
DEADLINE:I was going to ask what does that feel like?
COOGLER:You know, its interesting.
I remember we won the Audience Award, and I figured it was over.
COOGLER:Yeah, I figured I was so excited to get that.
I had never been to something like that before.
I have been to a couple things like that for short films.
I went to ABFF, which is a brilliant festival by Jeff Friday.
The last short film I made in film school had won an award.
They had an awards night where you go and you dont know which film wins.
It was an HBO award they gave that was really, really helpful for me.
So, that was the last time I had experienced something like that.
I remember I was standing with Rachel Morrison, who was our cinematographer.
She just directed a beautiful movie calledFlint Strong.
She directed that, but she was our DP onFruitvale.
She was the DP on the firstBlack Panther.
So, I remember talking with her.
We both liked David Lowrys film and thought it had a good chance to win.
Then Rothman came out and he started talking about the movie, and Im like wait a second.
Is he talking about our movie?
Then he called us back up, so it was crazy.
I remember that just like it was yesterday, bro.
It is, man.
Its a part of me.
I hope to be a part of it for as long as I have been.
It is, man.
So much of it impacted me and made me the filmmaker that I am today.
Without question, and in ways I could have anticipated.
DEADLINE:How do you mean, Ryan?
Hes starring inMagazine Dreams, a movie thats in competition.
I havent seen this movie.
I dont know the filmmaker, but it feels like Im a distant cousin of this movie.
The cinematographer Adam Arkapaw shot it.
Hes married to Autumn Arkapaw, whos our cinematographer onWakanda Forever.
So, his debut film was at the festival before he got the job to directCreed II.
DEADLINE: I stand convinced.
I havent totally processed it, but obviously it means a lot.
The festival means a lot to me.
The institute means even more to me.
Im out there now, still wanting to do them proud with the work.
