thoughts on collaboration post-SINNERS.
the month of may was an immensely challenging one for me creatively, which could either be incredibly obvious or come as a bit of a surprise with how much i’ve been talking about SINNERS online. i’m grateful that it’s not “i will never be able to create something so amazing!”, because i’m not here to be ryan coogler. more than wonder or agonize about what i’m doing with my life and my future creations – SINNERS has made me spend more time thinking about the who and the how. the people i want to build with and how i want us to work together.
the collaboration that brought SINNERS into existence has been far more compelling than i expected, even as someone who has paid very close attention to coogler’s creative partners over the past 10+ years. the longevity of his creative relationships. his openness to new ideas while being vulnerable about how personal his projects are. him feeling no shame in working with people he’s worked with over and over again (in front of and behind the camera) — not simply bringing them along, but specifically choosing them to embark on a new project with him and push them in different ways. identifying talent before it’s fully formed, or taking a concerted effort to revere those who have demonstrated their seasoned talents again and again. the brilliance we see onscreen is evidence of the quality of the relationships coogler has built – with michael shawver (the film’s editor) calling it a love letter from their team to coogler himself.
on its own, SINNERS is a tour de force, but the exponential power of working with your chosen people is what stands out to me most of all. zinzi evans coogler (ryan’s wife, a co-producer on the film, and cofounder of proximity media) sharing that the cast and crew had way too much fun putting this project together makes it all the more beautiful. crafting something so personal that touches audiences in profound ways while having an absolute blast with dope people you love?! ain’t that the dream???
as i look at my own life and find myself in the midst of a project after being selected by someone i’ve known for 15+ years, it’s made me imagine our potential and the fun we could have. and to be honest, i’m overwhelmed. overwhelmed and encouraged. i’m overwhelmed by coogler’s team – their minds, creativity, humor, humility. encouraged by the candor and laughter and trust it took to create what we see. i’m overwhelmed because i want my own mind-blowing creative and collaborative story. encouraged because i want to be an even better collaborator and a builder, and a member of a team capable of immense creativity and immense joy and FUN. it’s of course about the work, but the work ain’t nothing without the people.
listening to coogler and his partners (many of whom are in their late 30s/early 40s like me) talk about where they feel they are in their lives and careers, their self-confidence and self-deprecation, their strengths and areas for improvement when it comes to collaboration, and who they want to partner with on their continued journey has been eye-opening. to hear people close to my age, living totally different lives, but sounding like i sound is still hitting me like a ton of bricks. their conversations are the ones i’m having with myself and my people. we’re all trying to do the same shit. coogler’s trying to make it work with his friends – i’m trying to make it work with my friends, and i have to believe that whatever it is that i’m feeling right now is what he and his team felt or feel. that mix of “what the fuck am i doing?!” and “i’ve assembled the right people to be comfortable with in that not knowing”.
being on the path to doing my own kind of deeply collaborative work, and unexpectedly seeing such a phenomenal example of what can be accomplished through this work with the people you want to be working with is…humbling, intimidating, and scary. navigating a crossroads of my own and receiving a very clear message that screams “work with YOUR PEOPLE” is both absolutely terrifying and exactly what i needed to hear right now. SINNERS, i will heed your message.
