Conversations from the Sundance Institute Labs | Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, and Stephen Boeddeker on Creating the Soundscape for BLACK PANTHER
About this Event Recording
Go behind the scenes to learn from Sundance Institute Advisors in our Conversations from the Labs series. This collection of 90-minute videos will deepen your understanding of all the creative disciplines that are supported through our Labs including Feature Film Directing and Writing, TV Writing, Emerging Media, Documentary, Producing, Film Music, and Theater.
In this video, Peter Golub, Director of the Sundance Institute Film Music Program moderates a discussion with Director Ryan Coogler, Composer Ludwig Gorasson, and Sound Designer Stephen Boeddeker on creating the soundscape for BLACK PANTHER. Using a deconstructed scene from CREED, they illustrate how different elements of sound--dialogue, ADR, sound FX, music, loop group, etc.--are layered and mixed to create the finished soundscape. They discuss their collaboration process and Coogler explains that involving the composer before shooting starts is his 'secret weapon.' Coogler reminds new directors to embrace the power of music and sound to evoke emotional response in viewers and advises them to talk to composers as they would an actor, focusing on feeling and tone.
Other conversations in the series include those with editor Dylan Tichenor, actor/director Ed Harris, writer/director Karyn Kusama, writer/director/producer Kasi Lemmons, cinematographer Stephen Goldblatt, and others.
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Ryan Coogler
Filmmaker
Ryan Coogler was born in Oakland, CA. He was an avid student-athlete and earned a football scholarship to St. Mary's College and later transferred to California State University, Sacramento, where he graduated with a degree in Finance. Having always harbored a talent for storytelling, Ryan discovered his own passion for filmmaking as a college freshman, and began shooting shorts with his teammates and friends. After being admitted into the USC School of Cinematic Arts, he went on to create his award-winning shorts LOCKS, FIG and GAP. LOCKS was shown at Tribeca Film Festival and was winner of Dana and Albert Broccoli Award for Filmmaking Excellence, GAP received the Jack Nicholson Award for Achievement in Directing, and FIG won the HBO Short Filmmaking Award, DGA Student Filmmaker Award, and was nominated for the Black Reel Award for outstanding independent short film. After receiving his M.F.A., he began to work as a juvenile hall counselor before creating his first feature film FRUITVALE STATION, which debuted at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. The film went on to win both the U.S. Grand Jury Prize for dramatic film and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film, two of the festival's top honors. Following its success at Sundance, FRUITVALE STATION competed at the 2013 Cannes International Film Festival and won the Cannes Prix L'avenir Award in Un Certain Regard. The film was produced by actor Forest Whitaker, stars Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer. Later, Ryan went on to write and direct CREED for MGM starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone. Ryan's latest film, BLACK PANTHER won three Oscars and was nominated for six Oscars including Best Picture. Coogler still resides in the Bay Area with his wife Zinzi Evans.
Ludwig Göransson
Composer
Ludwig is a Swedish composer, conductor, and record producer. He has scored films such as FRUITVALE STATION, the ROCKY franchise entries CREED and CREED II, VENOM, and TENET. For his work on the 2018 BLACK PANTHER, he won the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media and the Academy Award for Best Original Score, and he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score. Göransson is also known for his work on American TV series like COMMUNITY, HAPPY ENDINGS, NEW GIRL, and THE MANDALORIAN, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series for the last.
As a producer, he has frequently collaborated with Childish Gambino, producing his studio albums CAMP, BECAUSE THE INTERNET and "AWAKEN, MY LOVE!" among others. Göransson's producing work on Gambino's single "THIS IS AMERICA" was met with acclaim and accolades. The song earned him two Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Overall, his work with Gambino earned him six Grammy Award nominations
Steve Boeddeker
Sound Designer
Steve Boeddeker is a three time Oscar Nominee and Emmy Award-winning Sound Designer and Re-recording Mixer based in San Francisco. He has worked all over the world including London, NYC, Vancouver, LA and is based at Skywalker Sound in Northern California. Boeddeker started in movie sound design and music with his first feature film project, David Fincher's thriller SE7EN. Boeddeker studied computer engineering and electronic/computer music at University of California San Diego and University of California Santa Barbara, graduating in 1988. He has since worked with many directors including Ryan Coogler, Tim Burton, J.C. Chandor, Steven Spielberg, Chris Columbus, William Friedkin, Robert Redford and many more. Steve's past film projects include ALL DAY AND A NIGHT, TRIPLE FRONTIER, BLACK PANTHER, CREED, BRIDGE OF SPIES, PIXELS, CHAPPIE, A MOST VIOLENT YEAR, ALL IS LOST, LINCOLN, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD, TRON: LEGACY; ALICE IN WONDERLAND, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, FIGHT CLUB, SE7EN, and many more.