Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Friday 16 February 2018
At 31, Ryan Coogler ascends to the top with 'Black Panther'

By LINDSEY BAHR decisions to be made." some thin T-shirt or shirtless
AP Film Writer "I had to learn to be more or in the elements, he's go-
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) efficient," he added. "I got ing to take his shirt off too
— Ryan Coogler was feel- to learn how to do in 30 and be right there with his
ing overwhelmed by "Black minutes what it took me actor," Jordan said. "He's
Panther." two hours to do on the last willing to do whatever it is,
It was only his third feature movie." whatever the actor is going
film and, at just 30-years- To help, Coogler surround- through so we can do it to-
old, he was making it with ed himself with a handful gether. That's a testament
Hollywood's most powerful of constants, like his muse to him, man, teamwork, just
studio under enormous cul- Michael B. Jordan, cine- being there for each oth-
tural expectations and with matographer Rachel Mor- er. I think that's rare. And
$200 million to get it right. rison, production designer it makes you want to fol-
And he really didn't want it Hannah Beachler and edi- low him even more. He's a
to "suck" (his word). tor Michael Shawver, and great leader."
The Oakland, California, got used to trusting those Even recruits to the Coogler
native got into filmmak- he hired to go off and do universe like Daniel Kaluuya
ing almost on a lark when In this Jan. 30, 2018 photo, filmmaker Ryan Coogler poses for a their jobs while he did his, and Letitia Wright felt part
a creative writing profes- portrait at the "Black Panther" press junket at the Montage Bev- knowing that he couldn't of the “family.”
sor at St. Mary's College in erly Hills in Beverly Hills, Calif. Associated Press get hung up on details “I don’t have the work, the
Moraga, California, where like what color someone's credentials such as my oth-
he was attending on a the final 24 hours of Os- punch that made people shoes would be. That's what er cast mates,” said Wright.
football scholarship, sug- car Grant III, put him on who didn't even know him Oscar-nominated costume “I’m still piecing my career
gested he look into screen- the map after winning the at the time, like actress Da- designer Ruth E. Carter was together. But he never
writing. He had thought he Sundance Grand Jury and nai Gurira, feel proud. there for, after all. made me feel less than, he
would play football and be Audience prizes in 2013, "I had been at Sundance And Jordan, who starred in never made me feel like
a doctor, maybe, to help a handful of critics groups the same time he was there both "Fruitvale Station" and I’m a newcomer.”
his community. But this idea awards and a Film Inde- with 'Fruitvale Station.' I "Creed," said Coogler han- Kaluuya felt similarly.
of being a filmmaker took pendent Spirit Award. His had so much respect and dled the pressure well. “He sees people. He sees
hold, and after making a second, the "Rocky" spin- pride," Gurira said. "I had "I didn't have as much time the content of their char-
splash at the USC School of off "Creed," put him on an- never met him but I was as I usually have with him. acter. And he’s smart, he’s
Cinematic Arts, he had so- other level. proud of him, of what he'd He had so many other deeply intelligent. You can
lidified himself as one of the The $35 million film grossed done and how he'd moved things to tackle," Jordan see it in his films. Not every
most promising and vibrant over $173 million worldwide forward in the world and said. "But other than that 30-year-old could do this,”
young directors to watch. and reinvigorated a fran- told stories that needed to he's the same guy and Kaluuya said. “He’s a spe-
His first feature, the indie chise for Warner Bros. be told." that's what makes Ryan cial, special director.”
"Fruitvale Station," about It's the kind of one-two Still, "Black Panther" was Ryan. He's unapologetical- Coogler ultimately began
going to be a huge leap, ly who he is 24-7. And he's to trust that the Marvel
even if odds that it would consistent. A lot of people Studios execs actually did
"suck" were slim. Coogler, can't say that about them- want him to make his own
31, was used to making selves. We're still blasting decisions and the deliver
personal films at his own music in between set-ups the film he always wanted
speed. This was a different and takes and everybody to. Now he just hopes what
beast — with visual effects, on the crew was feeling like he’s made isn’t going to
a huge ensemble cast and a big family. It was awe- fade.
set pieces that would make some." “The fear I have is that you
any veteran filmmaker On "Black Panther," Jordan make something that’s
wake up in a cold sweat. just wanted to be there to like dispensable, dispos-
"This is the first project that support his friend when he able, something some-
I ever did that I felt like I needed it — Coogler al- body watches and forgets.
had to make peace with ways did it for him. I like movies that you can
the fact that I would never "Every movie that we've go back to. Movies that
be caught up in my work," done I've been in some feel like they were always
Coogler said. "I had to physically uncomfortable around, as soon as you see
figure out how to let my- situations whether it's be- it, it feels like it was always
self rest. You could work ing freezing cold out some- there,” Coogler said. “The
24 hours a day and it still where or taking a punch or worst thing in the world is
wouldn't be enough on a being in some extreme situ- to make this movie and be
film like this. There's so much ation. Ryan? If I'm cold he's like, “Oh that was ok and
happening and so many going to be cold. If I'm in on to the next.” q

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