![Quantcast](http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-GS-HF4BKvzCmv.gif)
![Who Is Ryan Coogler? 9 Interesting Facts About The Mysterious 'Black Panther' Director](https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8zNDY1MTg4My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc3NDIwNDA2OH0._-Kt6WaFpBWaQ-MG7z9S3hpSNokOq8xFYXYQRzDydgU/img.jpg?width=1200&height=600&quality=90&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C1138)
Who Is Ryan Coogler? 9 Interesting Facts About The Mysterious 'Black Panther' Director
Ryan Coogler is a ghost. Well, at least he is on social media.
Search the Internet for the youngCreed director and you'll find a good 20 articles on his work, future projects, and his commentary about the film industry. But a Twitter account? Non-existent. And if you're looking for him on Instagram your best bet is to catch him through a hashtag. The air of mystery surrounding the guy makes us all the more interested in getting to know the man with a smile as wide as his growing list of credentials.
While we may not know the details of his personal life, what we do know about the 31-year-old Oakland native is that he can tell one hell of a story. And when he does speak, it's thrilling to watch in a way that guarantees you'll take away something you thought you knew everything about. The brother is definitely in a league of his own.
He may be quiet on social media, but Coogler's work speaks loudly for him. So much so that I was able to dig up some interesting info about the young director and what he has lined up next on his plate. Tune in.
9 Facts About Ryan Coogler You Didn't Know
1. Initially, Ryan wanted to become a doctor.
Can you imagine the film world without Ryan Coogler? I certainly can't. But if Ryan had not been influenced by a college professor, who suggested he become a screenwriter instead of a doctor, that certainly would have been the case.
Ryan spoke with Filmmaker Magazine back in 2012, where he talked about how a college writing assignment, and the cancellation of his college football program, planted the seed to him falling in love with filmmaking.
The assignment was to write about a personal experience, and Coogler wrote about the time his father almost bled to death in his arms. He handed it in, and the professor called him into her office. What did Coogler want to do with his life? “Play ball, become a doctor and be a positive influence in my community,” he replied. He remembers her saying, “I think you should become a screenwriter. You can reach more people.” Coogler thought she was crazy. “But I was always thinking about stories, so maybe there was something to it.”Saint Mary’s cancelled its football program, and the young wide receiver got another scholarship, this time to Sacramento State. There he changed his major to finance while taking every film class he could. By graduation he was “in love with filmmaking.” One of his professors had told him about USC film school. “It was either go there or play wide receiver. I was short, my prospects weren’t the highest, so I jumped off that cliff and drove to L.A.”
2. Ryan's films always show the gripping sides of humanity.
It's an often unspoken rule that moviegoers need film directors who understand the importance of humanity, and Ryan always had the ability to show this side of his heart in his films. Perhaps this is a character trait that he learned from his parents. Whatever the case, he's always known how to make the hearts of his movie watchers burst, whether it's with pride or pain.
Check out one of his student films called Locked - a story about a young black man who came to terms with the fact that he needed to end his loc journey. Also, get a tissue handy, because the ending will make you cry.
3. Oscar Grant's death had a huge impact on Ryan's life.
The 2009 death of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old unarmed black man who was shot and killed by a Bay Area Regional Transit (BART) officer, was a huge blow to the Bay Area community. Outrage ensued after cell phone footage of his death surfaced. After Oscar's death, Ryan, who lived and worked in the same community as Oscar, realized that he could have been the one who was killed by a BART officer that chilling New Year's Day. He told CNN back in 2013:
"If Oscar were alive today, he'd be the same age as me right now, he'd be 27. When it happened, it really affected me. That's also something that I deal with on a day-to-day basis, losing friends to gun violence. I've seen lives cut short too soon."
"What gets glossed over is that we're human beings too, like everybody else, young African-American males. Our humanity can often be found in our relationships with the people who are closest to us, and those relations aren't often shown in headlines and whatever types of media you see us portrayed in. I hope the people can see a little bit of themselves in the character if they sit down and watch the film, and have a little bit of insight."
4. A meeting with Forrest Whitaker changed everything.
Thank goodness for Forest Whitaker! Back in 2011, Whitaker's production company was looking for some fresh new talent to develop. After scoring a meeting with the Oscar winner, Whitaker was intrigued by Ryan's pitch to tell the Oscar Grant story. According to Ryan's 2013 BuzzFeed interview,
They discussed some TV ideas he had, as well as a number of script concepts in the works, and it was Coogler’s desire to make a movie about Grant that sparked Whitaker’s interest. Suddenly, he had a little bit of cash and a heavy hitter in his corner, and after making several short films, his first feature was in sight.
5. Ryan thinks women are better filmmakers than men, so he hired women cinematographers for Creed and Fruitvale Station.
Ryan told Variety that he depended on women behind the camera to help him bring his movies to life.
“I feel like women are better filmmakers than men,” says Coogler, who hired female cinematographers for both of his features. “They’re equipped to do this job, in many ways, better than us. They’re infinitely more complex. They’re stronger and sharper. We’re going to get better movies (if we have more female filmmakers). But they’ve got to be given the opportunity.”
6. You can thank Ryan Coogler's activist group for 2014's #BlackFriday boycott.
Ryan is the founder of a group called Blackout for Human Rights, which is a national network of artists, activists, faith leaders, and others, who address American human rights violations and injustices. According to his Vice News interview, a combination of films, festivals, and direction action has helped the group to "raise awareness of, and combat, human rights violations."
Blackout for Human Rights had its first major movement in 2014 when the group called for a boycott of America's busiest shopping day - Black Friday - after the non-indictment of Officer Darren Wilson, who was involved in the shooting death of Michael Brown.
Ryan says that addressing these issues in communities across the nation comes with the territory of being an artist. He told Vice News,
Whether folks take it directly on their shoulders or not, I think it comes with the territory for artists to reflect on things that are going on in the world at large. In general, artists who represent, or come from minority communities, tend to have that pressure on their shoulders a little more. That being said, it's not just black folks in our network. Our network is very diverse. We have people who come from a variety of different backgrounds that are actively a part of it.
7. It's because of Ryan that we now know that J. Cole had a secret marriage.
Oops! While interviewing J. Cole for a special panel discussion at his #MLKNOW event in New York City, Ryan accidentally revealed that J. Cole was a married man. Afterward, Ryan reminded J. Cole that he'd never interviewed anyone before (but somehow broke a million hearts around the world by letting the cat out of the bag) Ouch! Take a look at the exchange below.
8. Ryan is also having a wedding of his own.
Talk about #CoupleGoals! In the past, Zinzi and Ryan worked together on his USC feature film Locked, and ever since she's been by his side.
The happy couple is slated to tie the knot this February in Los Angeles.
9. Black nerds on Twitter rejoiced when Ryan Coogler was locked in as director for Marvel's upcoming Black Panther movie.
Several Hollywood heavy hitters were rumored to be in talks with the directing of Marvel's next superhero character Black Panther, including Selma director Ava DuVernay. But it was Ryan who landed the gig. The upcoming film about the king of an advanced African country who moonlights as a superhero, and eventually becomes an Avenger, left black nerds on Twitter super excited for the movie's 2018 release.
What added to the excitement was the fact that Ryan grew up reading Black Panther comics. So you can sort of say that his new job is a dream come true. He told MTV News,
"The thing that got me most excited is that was the first African American character that I was introduced to in the mainstream comics...I used to go to a comic shop right next to my elementary school in between basketball practice and track practice. We would go there and hang out. I remember one day, I asked the comic book owners, 'Are there any comic books about black people? Like X-Men or different things?' And he pointed out a couple of issues of Black Panther so that's the most exciting thing I would say."
Intrigued? I know we are. Share your thoughts on Ryan Coogler below!
- Black Panther movie: Director Ryan Coogler bio, facts ›
- Ryan Coogler: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com ›
- Five Facts About 'Black Panther' Director Ryan Coogler ›
- 15 Things You Didn't Know About 'Fruitvale' Director Ryan Coogler ... ›
- Black Panther director Ryan Coogler had his "mind blown" by ... ›
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Summer Travel Guide: 9 Safest Vacation Spots For Black Women
When it comes to planning and choosing our international travels, there’s one question that is bound to come up: “Is it safe for Black women?”
At times, our travel plans can be halted by whether or not our desired destination is safe not only for solo travel but for overall protection as women of color. We want to have fun, go on excursions, taste the food, and let our hair down, so the last thing we need on our minds is navigating microaggressions and worrying about our safety.
According to a report by The Mandala Research Firm, 17% of Black Americans take one or more international trips and travel locally more than six times per year. Even more exciting, 42% of Black Americans said they would spend more in 2020 on travel than in 2019 (pre-Covid), and 50% of Black adults (16% more than the general population) are more likely to travel to locations associated with their ethnic or cultural heritage. All of this goes to show that we’re not afraid to pack our bags and book flights to our heart's desire.
Our passion for travel and exploration highlights a growing desire to connect with a wide range of cultures while discovering new fresh locales. By choosing destinations with positive reputations for safety and belonging, you can enjoy your next adventure with peace of mind. And to help, we’ve provided a list of the best vacation spots to add to our travel bucket list.
1.Havana, Cuba
Known for its vibrant culture and welcoming locals, Havana offers a unique travel experience for you and your girlfriends. Stroll through the historic streets of Old Havana and immerse yourself in the lively music and dance scenes that make this city unforgettable.
2.Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Famous for its Carnival, stunning beaches, and warm hospitality, Rio de Janeiro is a lively and safe city to explore all year long. Don't miss a visit to the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue and the bustling Copacabana Beach for a true taste of Rio's energetic spirit.
3.Belize
With its beautiful beaches, diverse wildlife, and laid-back Caribbean vibe, Belize is a safe and adventurous destination for travelers. Discover the underwater wonders of the Belize Barrier Reef and explore ancient Lamanai Maya Ruins.
4.Paris, France
Who doesn’t have Paris, the city of lights, on their travel list? Renowned for its art, fashion, and iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Paris offers a blend of romance and safety for travelers. Wander through the charming neighborhoods of Montmartre and Le Marais, explore the Louvre, and indulge in the city's exquisite culinary delights.
5.Lisbon, Portugal
Portugal's capital city, Lisbon, charms visitors with its historic architecture, delicious cuisine, and welcoming atmosphere. Enjoy breathtaking views from São Jorge Castle and savor traditional pastries at the famous Pastéis de Belém bakery.
6.Bali, Indonesia
We’ve all seen the viral photos off the Bali coast and Gates of Heaven, so why not make it a reality? Famous for its lush landscapes, vibrant culture, and serene temples, Bali offers a safe and enriching travel experience in Southeast Asia.
7.Tokyo, Japan
Recently, the value of the Japanese Yen has seen a significant drop, making it the lowest it has been against the dollar since 1986, which also means that there’s no better time than now to make your travel plans to the renowned cultural hub.
8.Accra, Ghana
There’s no FOMO like the kind felt from seeing all the beautiful faces enjoying their holiday at Ghana’s Afrochella Festival, so let this be your sign to start planning the trip now. Often referred to as a welcoming home for the African diaspora, Ghana offers rich cultural experiences and a sense of belonging. Explore the vibrant markets of Accra and visit the historic Cape Coast Castle to connect with the nation's poignant past.
9.Seoul, South Korea
You may be surprised to find this city on the list, but for Black travelers, Seoul is said to be one of the safest and most exciting cities to travel to. There will be plenty to eat, buy, and experience from this city’s rich history and culture.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images