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.

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(00:00) A revenge thriller with humor
(02:21) From theater play to feature film debut
(11:24) Making the film with Tessa Thompson and Janicza Bravo
(16:12) Casting and directing the twins in IS GOD IS
(19:03) Vivica A. Fox as God and Sterling K. Brown as The Monster
(22:14) Working with the music composers
(32:37) Her origins in theater and spoken word poetry
(36:24) Aleshea’s writing process
(40:14) How Rihanna inspired IS GOD IS
(41:56) Her playwriting vs. filmmaking process
(44:48) Prox Recs

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, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza
Associate Producer and Sound Recordist: Celine Mendiola
Production Coordinator: Joy Woo
Production Assistant: Ben Caloza
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz

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.

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(00:00) There’s charm in the scrappiness
(03:18) How Shirley joined Boots Riley’s latest project
(08:44) Styling the I LOVE BOOSTERS cast
(15:13) Collaborating with the production designer
(18:41) Maximalism and EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, ALL AT ONCE
(20:42) Developing her style in Monterey Park
(25:18) Shirley’s early days as a costumer and stylist
(32:09) Tips on finding your personal style
(33:17) Los Angeles vs. Bay Area style
(36:14) The costume design process
(39:45) Advice for aspiring designers
(44:07) Prox Recs

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, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz
Associate Producer and Sound Recordist: Celine Mendiola
Production Coordinator: Joy Woo
Production Assistant: Ben Caloza
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana

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.

CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS EPISODE
SINNERS Symposium: How TikTok Creators are Fueling Viral Movies

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(00:00) Creators, you bring hope!
(02:54) Recognizing SINNERS can move culture
(04:30) Engagement with the film, by the numbers
(05:34) Trusting the community to create and interpret
(08:37) Bringing creators into the process early
(11:04) How fandoms are sustained
(12:44) Lessons learned form the marketing campaign
(16:18) Hope for the future of creatives

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, Ken Nana, Ben Caloza
Motion Graphics Designer: Apollo Baldoz
Associate Producer: Celine Mendiola
Production Coordinator: Joy Woo
Social Media Coordinator: Alexandria Santana
Production Intern: Ben Caloza
Footage: Mirrored Media for TikTok