"Relationship goals" is a term that is thrown around way too loosely these days. Mostly because there's levels to that shit, ladies. Buying an overpriced purse or shoe isn't a goal. Going on a vacation isn't a goal. And eating at some fancy place isn't a goal. Yes, each of these are nice, and yes, they all create memories for the two of you, butttttt you can do all the above with--or for--anybody.
The real goal comes from investing into your partner's aspirations.
Hear me out.
Black Panther director Ryan Coogler knows a thing or two about blockbusters AND relationship goals. In 2013, he was included on Time's list of the "30 People Under 30 Changing the World". His work has been hailed by critics for centering on often overlooked cultures and characters—most notably Black people. He has frequently collaborated with actor Michael 'Bae' Jordan, who has appeared in all of his feature films. And in 2018, he was named the runner-up of Time's "Person of the Year".
GiphyBasically, he only looks to bring the culture forward--that is his passion. And with mega movies such a Fruitvale Station, Creed, and Space Jam: A New Legacy all under his belt, we can see this clear as day. After all, Black Panther has grossed $1.3 BILLION worldwide.
But if you ask Coogler, himself, he'll tell you that he owes it all to his wife, Zinzi Evans.
Back when Coogler was just a college student, playing football, and gearing up to fall back on going to medical school if becoming an athlete didn't work out, one of his teachers encouraged him to take up screenwriting, which he fell in love with. But as a broke college kid, he didn't have the resources to properly do the work. So instead, he'd type up scripts in Microsoft Word, which he described to the Ebro in the Morning radio show, as "impossible".
"But then my wife, she was my girl at the time, they had a software where you could write screenplays. I was trying to write in Microsoft Word. It's impossible because your format gotta be right. I was broke, playing football on the little scholarship money. And my wife scraped together some cheese and bought me Final Draft, which is the software that you write your movies on. And she got me that."
And since, the two have taken over Hollywood by partnering on projects, forming Proximity Media (production company), and signing lucrative heavyweight deals with Disney for television series. And although the power couple keep their private life under wraps, they welcomed their first child in 2019. The couple haven’t revealed the sex of the child yet, Coogler is on record hoping for a little girl….well, multiple girls, actually. He told The YBF:
"I found I want daughters real, real bad. Like plural. I thought, making 'Fruitvale Station', I want kids. But like, on this one, I have to have some daughters."
Or basically, more little women that he can pour into, thanks to his wife believing in him.
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So again, what are your relationship goals?
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Featured image by DFree / Shutterstock.com
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xoNecole sat down with Luke James to talk about his latest series and all the complexity surrounding it—from the challenges taking on this out-of-the-box role to the show's depiction of the perplexing history of the relationship between Black Americans and police. When describing the opportunity to bring Edmund's character to life, Luke was overjoyed to show the audience yet another level of his masterful acting talents.
"It was like bathing in the sun," he said. "I was like, thank you! Another opportunity for me to be great—for me to expand my territory. I'm just elated to be a part of it and to see myself in a different light, something I didn't think I could do." He continued, "There are parts of you that says, 'Go for it because this is what you do.' But then also that's why it's a challenge because you're like, 'um, I don't know if I'm as free as I need to be to be able to do this.' Little Marvin just created such a safe space for me to be able to do this, and I'm grateful for everything I've been able to do to lead to this."
Courtesy
Them: The Scare, like the first season, shines a light on the plight of Black Americans in the United States. This time, the story is taking place in the 1990s, at the height of the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. While the series presents many underlying themes, one that stands out is Black people and the complicated relationship with the police. "For the audience, I think it sets the tone for the era that we're in and the amount of chaos that's in the air in Los Angeles and around the country from this heinous incident. And I say it just sets the tone of the anxiety and anxiousness that everybody is feeling in their own households."
James has been a longtime advocate against police brutality himself. He has even featured Elijah McClain, the 23-year-old Colorado man who died after being forcibly detained by officers, as his Instagram avatar for the past five years. So, as you can imagine, this script was close to his heart. "Elijah was a soft-loving oddball. Different than anyone but loving and a musical genius. He was just open and wanted to be loved and seen."
Getty Images
Luke continued, "His life was taken from him. I resonate with his spirit and his words...through all the struggle and the pain he still found it in him to say, 'I love you and I forgive you.' And that's who we are as people—to our own detriment sometimes. He's someone I don't want people to forget. I have yet to remove his face from my world because I have yet to let go of his voice, let go of that being [because] there's so many people we have lost in our history that so often get forgotten."
He concluded, "I think that's the importance of such artwork that moves us to think and talk about it. Yes, it's entertaining. We get to come together and be spooked together. But then we come together and we think, 'Damn, Edmund needed someone to talk to. Edmund needed help... a lot [of] things could have been different. Edmund could have been saved.'
Check out the full interview below.
Luke James Talks Ditching Sex Symbol Status For "Them: The Scare", Elijah McClain, & Morewww.youtube.com
Featured image by Getty Images
