SINNERS Symposium: How TikTok Creators are Fueling Viral Movies

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.

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(00:00) Who’s never been inside a Blockbuster?
(02:26) How Ryan, Sev, and Jocelyn think about the audience
(08:12) Viral SINNERS moments on TikTok
(14:05) Behind Ryan’s viral aspect ratio breakdown video
(17:41) Jocelyn’s decision to make SINNERS content
(19:14) Sev’s jump from YouTube to filmmaking
(23:27) Building lasting filmmaking collaborations
(27:15) The production process for @jocwatchlist TikToks
(28:51) Prox Recs
(34:04) Question #1: Surprising online takes about SINNERS
(35:58) Question #2: The importance of content creators for marketing films
(39:21) Question #3: How THE LUCK OF THE IRISH and other films influenced Ryan 
(42:43) Question #4: When they knew they made something groundbreaking

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