If you’re an emerging filmmaker, this episode is for you! IN PROXIMITY host and first-time filmmaker Paola Mardo sits down with Proximity Media founder Sev Ohanian and Chief Marketing & Operations Officer Terra Potts to answer your questions about navigating film festivals. Before he was a producer on SINNERS, Sev co-wrote and produced the award-winning film SEARCHING, which premiered at Sundance and was the subject of a bidding war. Other films he has produced and sold at festivals include Ryan Coogler’s FRUITVALE STATION, RESULTS, and THE INTERVENTION. Terra is a veteran film marketing executive with indie and studio film experience, leading campaigns for movies like JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH and CRAZY RICH ASIANS before coming to Proximity Media. Paola shares her learnings from her film “tour” with her debut short film VETERANO, a proof-of-concept for a crime thriller feature which she co-produced along with director/writer Patrick Epino. Together, Sev, Terra, and Paola give their take on film festival submission, strategy, networking, and selling, plus how to handle both acceptance and rejection while keeping your moviemaking dreams alive.

More than 30 years after the release of TOY STORY, the Pixar franchise’s latest chapter, TOY STORY 5, premieres in theaters this week. Award-winning writer/director Andrew Stanton and co-director/writer Kenna Harris joined host Paola Mardo for a virtual conversation about why the film pits Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack) and their gang of toys against tech, in the form of the tablet Lilypad (Greta Lee). Andrew and Kenna also discuss how they collaborated on the film as filmmakers from different backgrounds and generations, the secrets to Pixar’s emotionally-compelling storytelling, and how they plan to continue the TOY STORY legacy to infinity and beyond.

We’re going back into the archives to rerun this insightful and hilarious conversation with Ryan Coogler and Jordan Peele. From GET OUT to US to NOPE, Jordan has delighted – and frightened – audiences with his mastery of horror and social satire. On this episode, he breaks down his journey from clown school to KEY AND PEELE to horror, how he made the decision to direct GET OUT, and that one time a famous Batman actor advised him to use his fear.

Playwright Aleshea Harris made her feature film directorial debut with IS GOD IS, adapted from her Obie Award-winning play of the same name. On the day her film opened in theaters, Aleshea sat down with host Paola Mardo to talk about her jump from playwriting to writing and directing a film with an all-star cast including Kara Young, Mallori Johnson, Vivica A. Fox, Sterling K. Brown, Janelle Monáe, and Erika Alexander. She also talks about how she worked with producers Tessa Thompson and Janicza Bravo to bring her play to the big screen, how the story subverts genre expectations, and how her roots in spoken word poetry and theater sharpened her writing style.

From her Oscar-nominated work in The Daniels’ EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, ALL AT ONCE, to her latest project I LOVE BOOSTERS, written and directed by Boots Riley, costume designer and stylist Shirley Kurata has built her reputation on creative, colorful storytelling through fashion and clothing. Ahead of the premiere of her latest film, Shirley joined host Paola Mardo to talk about collaborating with Boots Riley and designing the maximalist costumes for the film’s ensemble cast, including Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Demi Moore, Poppy Liu, LaKeith Stanfield, Eiza González, and Will Poulter. She also talks about her early days working on music videos and commercial sets, the difference between Los Angeles and Bay Area style, and how growing up in Monterey Park, California shaped her perspective on fashion and storytelling.

In this 2-part series, we’re sharing gems about fandoms, creators, and marketing movies from the TikTok SINNERS Symposium. Last week, Paola Mardo sat down with Ryan Coogler, Sev Ohanian, and Jocelyn Yates (@jocwatchlist) about making SINNERS, thinking about the audience, and creating content around movies. This week, we’re diving into the SINNERS marketing campaign from the perspectives of the production company, social media platform, and studio. On this episode, Proximity Media’s Chief Marketing & Operations Officer Terra Potts sits down with Gold House CEO Bing Chen, TikTok’s Global Head of Entertainment Partnerships Dawn Yang, and Cameron Curtis, Warner Bros. Global Digital Marketing Chief. They break down how to recognize a film’s potential in becoming a cultural moment, the important role creators played, and lessons learned from the viral marketing campaign for SINNERS.

In this 2-part series, we’re sharing gems about fandoms, creators, and marketing movies from the TikTok SINNERS Symposium. The day before the Oscars, the Proximity Media team attended a symposium hosted by TikTok, Gold House, and Warner Bros., where panelists explored how fans and creators can help fuel the marketing of a film. In this first episode, IN PROXIMITY host Paola Mardo sits down with SINNERS writer/director/producer Ryan Coogler, producer Sev Ohanian, and TikTok creator Jocelyn Yates (@jocwatchlist) to talk about viral SINNERS moments, their unique experiences as creators and filmmakers, and how each of them think about their audience.

YouTube’s daredevil Michelle Khare has tackled the world’s toughest professions and stunts in her award-winning series CHALLENGE ACCEPTED — from mastering Harry Houdini’s water torture cell escape to tackling Tom Cruise’s deadliest stunt. With over 6 million followers, Michelle made history when she successfully petitioned for her independently-produced YouTube series to join the Primetime Emmy ballot for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series. On this episode of IN PROXIMITY, host Paola Mardo sits down with Michelle to talk about her origins as a Buzzfeed producer, the production process for CHALLENGE ACCEPTED, creating viral YouTube content, and her biggest takeaways from running 7 marathons on all 7 continents in 7 days.

We’re going stateside on IN PROXIMITY! Before she became a multi-platinum Grammy-nominated musician, PinkPantheress was a film student in London who loved editing videos and watching Hitchcock movies. Now, she is the first woman and the youngest person to win the BRIT Award for Producer of the Year, and she landed at #1 on the Billboard Global 200 for “Stateside + Zara Larsson,” which was also featured in the Winter Olympics during Alysa Liu’s figure skating exhibition performance. Ahead of her world tour and Coachella debut, host Paola Mardo sat down with PinkPantheress to talk about her music production process, love of film, and advice for artists starting today. Grab your boots for that ego boost and tune into this fun conversation with a talented Gen Z artist pushing the envelope in music production.

We’re celebrating the theatrical anniversary of SINNERS with a musical deep dive featuring executive music producer Serena Göransson. Alongside her creative partner Ludwig Göransson, the former violinist and concertmaster helped produce the film’s Oscar-winning score and soundtrack. Serena has collaborated with Ludwig on BLACK PANTHER, OPPENHEIMER, and the upcoming THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU and THE ODYSSEY. On this episode of IN PROXIMITY, Serena joins host Paola Mardo to break down the role of an executive music producer – from pairing legend Bobby Rush with Delroy Lindo for Delta Slim’s harmonica performance, to shaping the film’s standout musical moments like the “I Lied to You” surreal montage and the “Rocky Road to Dublin” sequence with Jack O’Connell, Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, and more.