In Proximity

5d ago

Celebrate the holidays with IN PROXIMITY! Kicking off our series of holiday mini episodes, host Paola Mardo shares the best Prox Recs of 2025. Whether you’re looking for new books to read, films to watch, or advice to fuel your creative journey, this episode gathers this year’s pro recommendations on our podcast from Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Sev Ohanian, Steve Gehrke, Dolly Li, Ammar Mohamed, and more. SHOP BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: Bookshop.org/shop/InProximity LEARN MORE AND READ THE TRANSCRIPT: ProximityMedia.com We earn a small commission when you shop through our links at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! (00:00) Happy holidays! (03:04) Autumn Durald Arkapaw: Photographs by Eudora Welty (04:28) Ryan Coogler: Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez (05:35) Sev Ohanian: Save the Cat by Blake Snyder and other screenwriting books (06:28) Chinaka Hodge: The Elements of Style by E.B. White and William Strunk Jr. (07:42) Justin Tipping: La Haine by Mathieu Kassovitz (09:21) James Swoope: “Always remember what got us to these places.” (12:02) Dolly Li: The Wager by David Grann (14:07) Warner Bailey: “Don’t wait for permission.” (15:42) Ammar Mohamed: Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore (16:52) Steve Gehrke: “Learn your craft before getting too deep into it.” (17:35) Angelica Nwandu: Leadership Pain by Samuel Chand (19:01) Azie Tesfai: UCLA Extension classes (20:33) Jeff Staple: Obsessing over something outside your field (sourdough bread!) (22:56) Todd Harris: Constructive Anatomy by George Bridgman , Tuesday Tips by GRIZandNORM, Kill the Dog by Paul Guyot (23:59) Courtney Storer: Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan (25:41) Mary Karaoghlanian: The Mel Robbins Podcast (26:15) Armen Karaoghlanian: The Color of Pomegranates by Sergei Parajanov (27:52) Ludwig Göransson: Working with incredible musicians, getting new instruments (28:55) Ryan Coogler: Deep Blues by Robert Palmer IN PROXIMITY Now playing in video on YouTube and in audio on all podcast platforms. For transcripts and more information: ProximityMedia.com PROXIMITY MEDIA Follow us @ProximityMedia on Instagram and TikTok . 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza, A.J. Calomay, Andrea Walter Production Sound Mixer: Mark Patino Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz Sound Recordist: Isabella Miller Production Assistant: Isabella Miller, Devin Saddler, Joshua Flores, Collin Gaja Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana Production Intern: Ben Caloza, Jun Sawada

Dec 8

From bookstore events to hosting the SINNERS Los Angeles premiere, what’s it like to start a film community from scratch? Armen and Mary Karaoghlanian, founders of Armenian Film Society, share how they turned their passion for cinema and community into a cultural hub that hosts major film festivals, galas, and premieres. They discuss their recent 10-year anniversary gala featuring a conversation with Proximity founders Ryan Coogler and Sev Ohanian, where Sev was inducted into the Armenian Film Hall of Fame. They also reveal what it’s like to build your dream passion project while working full-time jobs and becoming new parents, the importance of consistency and authenticity in community building, and how they’ve spotlighted everyone from indie filmmakers to major Hollywood productions like SINNERS and ANORA. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com . (00:00) Ryan Coogler and Sev Ohanian in proximity at AFS (00:55) From a small bookshop event to a widely-attended gala… (02:25) Voice Memo from Sona Movsesian (Conan O’ Brien Needs a Friend) (04:02) Why Cher and Charles Aznavour are iconic (04:42) What is the Armenian Film Society? (05:00) First community event at Abril Books in in Glendale (07:41) Screening Sean Baker’s TANGERINE and Alexander Payne’s SIDEWAYS (09:23) Ryan Coogler and Sev Ohanian at the AFS 10th Anniversary Gala (10:27) Videos from the night of the AFS gala (12:35) Honoring ELIO director Madeline Sharafian & ANORA actor Karren Karagulian (14:58) Steven Zaillian, Rouben Mamoulian, and the importance of Armenians in film (16:17) How Armen and Mary built Armenian Film Society (17:45) Building community takes consistency (19:39) From university film professor to film society founder (21:46) Armen and Mary’s meet cute story… and their AOL Messenger screen name (23:16) Family inspiration: Armenian International Magazine and a vintage film camera (28:17) Prox Recs IN PROXIMITY Now playing in video on YouTube and in audio on all podcast platforms. For transcripts and more information: ProximityMedia.com PROXIMITY MEDIA Follow us @ProximityMedia on Instagram and TikTok . 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana Sound Recordist: Isabella Miller Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz Production Assistant: Isabella Miller Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana Production Intern: Ben Caloza

Dec 1

Step into the kitchen set with Courtney Storer, culinary producer and co-executive producer of FX's Emmy-winning series THE BEAR. In this special holiday episode of IN PROXIMITY, host Paola Mardo learns how to make Italian red sauce pasta while digging into what it takes to bring THE BEAR’S iconic food moments to life. Courtney shares exclusive behind-the-scenes stories from filming the intense holiday “Fishes” episode with Jamie Lee Curtis, training actors like Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, and Lionel Boyce on professional cooking techniques, and working alongside her brother, series creator Christopher Storer. From 4:30 a.m. call times to creating detailed culinary reference guides for Michelin-level plating, discover how food becomes a character in one of television’s most acclaimed shows. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com . (00:00) What does a culinary producer do? (clips) (00:55) Storytime! (03:13) Welcome to Courtney’s kitchen studio (04:13) Ingredients for THE BEAR red sauce (05:22) Start cooking (07:16) Cooking on a TV set (09:00) Culinary reference guide (10:30) All the details, Carmy’s chef journey (Jeremy Allen White), TOMORROW episode, peas, chef mentors, Chicago, Ever, Chef Terry, is this the vibe? (13:02) Is the sauce sticking?? (14:00) Training actors (14:38) The FISHES episode and the Feast of the Seven Fishes (16:29) Inspiration binder, pre-production, photos, visuals, Donna (Jamie Lee Curtis) (20:20) It was like “art therapy” with the cast, crew, and her brother Christopher Storer (22:00) What does a culinary producer do? (full segment) (23:50) Having real chefs on the set of TOMORROW (24:52) Voice Memo from Matty Matheson… and pasta beauty shot! (28:50) Prox Recs… and plating the pasta! (30:13) Cheers! IN PROXIMITY Now playing in video on YouTube and in audio on all podcast platforms. For transcripts and more information: ProximityMedia.com PROXIMITY MEDIA Follow us @ProximityMedia on Instagram and TikTok . 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana Production Sound Mixer: Mark Patino Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz Production Assistant: Isabella Miller, Joshua Flores Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana Production Intern: Jun Sawada

Nov 24

You know that iconic SINNERS juke joint music montage? Todd Harris is the artist who helped bring that sequence to life. A veteran storyboard artist, Todd went from designing action sequences for blockbusters like BLACK PANTHER, AVENGERS, and JOHN WICK to creating, directing, and showrunning his own Marvel series and directorial debut, EYES OF WAKANDA. On this episode of IN PROXIMITY, host Paola Mardo sits down with Todd to discuss his journey from storyboard artist to director. He reveals how he designed the music montage sequence in Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS, shares advice for aspiring filmmakers, and explains the art behind storyboarding action sequences. He also opens up about pitching EYES OF WAKANDA to Kevin Feige and Ryan Coogler, building new characters like Noni and The Lion, and weaving real history into Wakandan lore. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com . (00:00) SINNERS juke joint montage oner (02:13) Voice Memo from Brad Winderbaum, Head of Marvel TV and Marvel Animation (03:40) Advice for emerging directors, working with Taika Waititi on THOR: RAGNAROK (06:00) Tips for presenting ideas to directors (07:14) Storyboard artistry (08:45) How Todd became a storyboard artist (10:59) Process for breaking down script in storyboarding (13:55) Pitching ideas, John Wick (15:48) Storyboarding that iconic SINNERS juke joint montage oner (18:00) The illusion of language, knowing your director’s taste (20:30) Working with Ryan Coogler on BLACK PANTHER and BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (with a pitstop at AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR) (22:45) Creating EYES OF WAKANDA and pitching Kevin Feige (24:40) Real history meets Wakandans (25:05) Memnon, fan reactions, Sea Peoples, Conan the Barbarian, James Earl Jones as inspiration for The Lion (26:50) Working with Marvel, transitioning from storyboarding to directing (29:15) EYES OF WAKANDA behind-the-scenes, creating original characters, Noni (33:22) Iron Fist (34:42) Todd’s Storyboarding Process (40:30) Prox Recs IN PROXIMITY Now playing in video on YouTube and in audio on all podcast platforms. For transcripts and more information: ProximityMedia.com PROXIMITY MEDIA Follow us @ProximityMedia on Instagram and TikTok . 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza Sound Recordist: Isabella Miller Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz Production Assistant: Isabella Miller Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana Production Intern: Ben Caloza

Nov 17

What can a $100K riot-inducing sneaker teach us about storytelling, design, and creativity? Jeff Staple’s 2005 Nike Pigeon Dunk didn’t just drop. It ignited a riot in the streets of New York City and helped rewrite the rules of streetwear, brand marketing, and storytelling through design. On IN PROXIMITY, Jeff joins host Paola Mardo to unpack how he built Staple into a global brand one shoe and collab at a time, what filmmakers and creatives can learn from design and brand building, “the power of the t-shirt” and marketing before social media and the internet, the wild story of his elevator pitch to Yasiin Bey (then Mos Def), and how to navigate hustle culture and find creative inspiration anywhere. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com . (00:00) The sneaker riot story (02:40) Jeff Staple did for the pigeon what Walt Disney did for the “rat” (03:15) Not Just Sneakers book and Jeff’s interest in brand design and sneakers at a young age (06:30) Growing up in an immigrant Chinese family in New Jersey in the 1970s and 1980s (09:20) The Staple Origin Story and Connie Chung (13:14) Turning his art into a business (14:50) “The power of the t-shirt” and marketing before social media and internet (18:00) Seeing your art in the wild, streetwear as IYKYK (19:02) Is streetwear still cool? (21:15) Staple and hip-hop (23:36) The Pigeon and trademarking pigeon poop (26:40) Elevator pitching the collaborating with Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) (31:20) Collaborations today (34:00) How to stay connected to the creative, why he started a podcast (35:50) Hacking hustle culture (39:00) The Goods a.k.a. the shoes and the full sneaker riot story (44:50) Jeff’s checklist for designing sneakers (48:04) Jay-Z vs. Andre 3000 creative careers (51:20) Prox Recs IN PROXIMITY Now playing in video on YouTube and in audio on all podcast platforms. For transcripts and more information: ProximityMedia.com PROXIMITY MEDIA Follow us @ProximityMedia on Instagram and TikTok . 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, A.J. Calomay Sound Recordist: Isabella Miller Production Assistant: Isabella Miller Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana Production Intern: Ben Caloza

Nov 10

Azie Tesfai was on track to become a lawyer until a breakup led to an audition and a new career in acting, writing, and producing. She’s appeared on JANE THE VIRGIN, MATLOCK, and DC’s SUPERGIRL, where she starred as The Guardian and became the first Ethiopian and Eritrean person to portray a superhero on screen. She also wrote an episode of SUPERGIRL, working with mentor and executive producer Greg Berlanti. On IN PROXIMITY, she talks with host Paola Mardo about navigating rejection, reframing, and the "tiara syndrome", transitioning from acting to writing and producing, sliding into DM’s (for work!), and bringing her Eritrean-Ethiopian heritage into her storytelling. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com . (00:00) Brutal audition, tiara syndrome, another first (01:27) Voice Memo from 2 Chainz (03:15) Growing up first generation Eritrean and Ethiopian American (08:45) How a college break-up led to an acting audition (10:30) First acting job working on Wicked Wicked Games with Tatum O’Neal (12:17) Building a career in acting, telling immigrant parents (15:30) An awful audition story, remembering why we make art (17:58) Advice for actors today (19:16) Being the first Ethiopian and Eritrean person to play a superhero on screen as The Guardian on SUPERGIRL (23:30) Writing an episode of SUPERGIRL and navigating grief, the pandemic, and racism (27:20) Supportive community + trauma = art (28:42) Lessons in writing and asking for help, working with Greg Berlanti (29:39) Superhero power poses (30:42) The tiara syndrome and sliding into DMs for work (33:45) Process for being a multi-hyphenate (35:20) Writing a DC comic kids book (36:30) Why it’s important to infuse her culture into her work (39:08) Photos from the set of SUPERGIRL (42:11) Prox Recs IN PROXIMITY Now playing in video on YouTube and in audio on all podcast platforms. For transcripts and more information: ProximityMedia.com PROXIMITY MEDIA Follow us @ProximityMedia on Instagram and TikTok . 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, A.J. Calomay Production Assistants: Isabella Miller, Collin Gaja Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana Production Intern: Jun Sawada

Nov 3

After a family tragedy landed her in foster care, Angelica “Angie” Nwandu turned to writing and poetry. Her first screenplay, NIGHT COMES ON, co-written with director Jordana Spiro, made her a 2014 Sundance Fellow where her mentors included Quentin Tarantino and Kasi Lemmons. The film starred Dominique Fishback and premiered at the festival in 2018 where it won the NEXT Innovator Award. But even as a Sundance darling, she faced setbacks including getting fired from two writing jobs. Today, Angie is the founder and CEO of The Shade Room, a leading media platform covering Black culture, entertainment, and news, with over 30 million followers and 43 billion annual impressions. Dubbed by The New York Times as “Instagram’s TMZ”, TSR is no stranger to controversy. On IN PROXIMITY, Angie joins host Paola Mardo to share her side of the story, opening up about the failures that shaped her, the role of faith and purpose in overcoming rejection, and her journey from aspiring screenwriter to media mogul. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com . (00:00) From shame to “Instagram’s TMZ” (02:00) Voice Memo from Dominique Fishback and filming NIGHT COMES ON (07:56) From poetry slams to co-writing the screenplay for NIGHT COMES ON (10:45) 2014 Sundance Lab and advice from mentor Quentin Tarantino (12:25) The life-changing phone call before going onstage at Sundance (14:25) Getting the $5,000 writing grant and pursuing her passion (15:28) From Sundance grant to The Shade Room origin story (17:50) 3,000 followers in 3 days (20:30) “I’m about to be the biggest media company!” (21:21) Being the 23-year-old CEO of what The NYT called “Instagram’s TMZ” (23:00) George Floyd, audience feedback, investigative journalists, politics, social justice (24:20) Pressure and what keeps her up at night (26:00) A humbling writing career: “I’m done in this town!” (32:00) Proximity and TSR, HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME (34:00) “It took me a long time to get to a place where I was proud.” (35:15) Celebrity reactions and crazy (scary) stories (38:50) Depression, vices, finding God (39:35) Relationship to “gossip” and pop culture news (41:00) The good and the bad of TSR (42:32) Prox Recs IN PROXIMITY Now playing in video on YouTube and in audio on all podcast platforms. For transcripts and more information: ProximityMedia.com PROXIMITY MEDIA Follow us @ProximityMedia on Instagram and TikTok . 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, A.J. Calomay Production Assistants: Isabella Miller Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana Production Intern: Ben Caloza

Oct 27

When Ryan Coogler needed someone to track every detail on SINNERS – including Michael B. Jordan playing twin brothers Smoke and Stack – he called Steve Gehrke, the veteran script supervisor and longtime collaborator of Christopher Nolan. With credits that span MEMENTO, INCEPTION, THE DARK NIGHT, OPPENHEIMER, and the upcoming THE ODYSSEY, Gehrke shares what a Nolan set is like, how he keeps time straight in “Chris Nolan world,” meeting Coogler and working on SINNERS, what a scripty actually does, and why he still takes notes with an old school pencil. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com . (00:00) Meeting Christopher Nolan in 1989 for MEMENTO (02:09) Voice Memo from producer Emma Thomas (04:06) Why Steve “doesn’t care” about the words in a script (05:10) Time and continuity in Chris Nolan world and MEMENTO (06:57) “Every movie that we do makes you think”: INCEPTION, DUNKIRK (07:55) Meeting Christopher Nolan (continued) and getting hired on the spot (08:20) Process for collaborating with Nolan as a script supervisor (09:42) THE ODYSSEY and the 25-year relationship (11:14) What a Nolan set is like (12:10) Preparing for a film, reading TENET (14:04) Breaking down a nonlinear script and making “paper dolls” (17:22) Story order vs. script order (18:44) Why the script supervisor is the on-set editor and keeping track of kisses (21:48) Continuity mental list, issues, eyelines (24:29) Meeting Ryan Coogler and working on SINNERS (28:11) Steve’s script supervisor toolkit and keeping it old school (30:46) The Script Supervising Process: Smoke & Stack Scene (35:03) The squiggles (35:33) How Steve learned the job (37:11) Prox Recs IN PROXIMITY Now playing in video on YouTube and in audio on all podcast platforms. For transcripts and more information: ProximityMedia.com PROXIMITY MEDIA Follow us @ProximityMedia on Instagram and TikTok . 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, Brittani Brown, Ken Nana, A.J. Calomay Production Assistants: Isabella Miller, Devin Saddler Sound Production Assistant: Isabella Miller Post-Production Coordinator: Celine Mendiola Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana Production Intern: Jun Sawada