Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler Detail Acting Process, Backstory, and Collaboration for Dual Roles in SINNERS

Proximity Media

Coffee Culture and Acts of Service on Set [04:30]

• Ryan Coogler's Espresso Passion [06:00]
  • Ryan Coogler, a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur, brought his La Marzocco Linea Mini espresso machine to the studio, a machine he also uses on film sets.
  • His journey into coffee began at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, driven by jet lag and George Clooney's coffee advertisements.
  • He views making coffee for the cast and crew as an important act of service, fostering a family-like atmosphere on set.
• Michael B. Jordan's "Espresso Life" [04:48]
  • Michael B. Jordan confirms Ryan influenced his "espresso life," experiencing his first "real espresso" made by Ryan in his New Orleans office during the filming of "SINNERS."
  • He appreciates the ritual and hands-on process of making coffee, comparing it to his love for cooking for people, which builds community and shared experiences on set.

From Aspiration to Leadership: "Number One on the Call Sheet" [12:20]

• Reflecting on Early Career Ambition [13:13]
  • A clip from their first "In Proximity" episode reveals Michael B. Jordan's past desire to be a "leading man" and the significance of being "number one on the call sheet," a position he had not held before "Fruitvale Station."
  • Ryan Coogler recalls encouraging Michael, telling him he believed he was a star, a sentiment that deeply resonated with Jordan.
• Redefining the Role of Lead Actor [16:14]
  • Now, with "SINNERS," where he played both 1A and 1B roles, Michael B. Jordan views the "number one on the call sheet" not as validation but as a symbol of leadership.
  • He emphasizes the responsibility to set a tone of kindness, respect, and hard work for the entire cast and crew, understanding the contributions of everyone involved in filmmaking, from day players to hundreds of artists.
  • Ryan Coogler praises Michael's approach, noting it stems from his 15+ years of experience in various roles, shaping him into a thoughtful and respectful leader on set.

    

Deep Dive into "SINNERS": Backstory and Character Development [19:00]

• Unpacking the Twins' Lore and Ryan's Spreadsheet [19:10] [23:16] [32:55]
  • Michael B. Jordan's initial questions for Ryan revolved around the twins' backstory before "page one" of the script, seeking details that would shape their micro-decisions.
  • Ryan Coogler meticulously created a timeline spreadsheet to define the characters' ages and historical context, including their service as World War I veterans in all-Black regiments.
  • The lore reveals a traumatic childhood, where Smoke killed their father to save Stack, leading them to hide at Mary's mother's house before joining the military in New York.
  • After the war, Stack and Mary (initially like a younger sister to them) developed a forbidden romance, leading to a three-year separation of the twins. Smoke settled with Annie, while Stack and Mary moved to Little Rock.
  • The loss of their daughter caused things to "get rocky" for Stack and Mary, ultimately leading both twins to leave their partners and move to Chicago.
  • In Chicago, they worked for Al Capone, taking on jobs that Capone wanted to distance himself from, strategically pitting rival gangs (Italians, Hans) against each other before returning home, which marks the beginning of the film.

    

• Michael B. Jordan's Multi-layered Acting Process [30:55] [45:23] [49:30]
  • Character Journals: Michael maintains journals to flesh out characters' inner lives, writing down mutual agreements with Ryan, "days in the life," and imagining interactions (e.g., putting a hit on someone, finding out he'd be a dad).
  • Physicality and Voice: With dialect coach Beth McGuire, he developed distinct physical traits:
    • Smoke wore shoes a size too big, making him feel more planted and deliberate.
    • Stack wore shoes a half-size too small, encouraging fidgeting and a sense of constant movement, reflecting his energetic, fast-paced personality.
    • Smoke spoke in a lower vocal register, while Stack had a higher octave. Smoking cigarettes helped naturally lower Smoke's voice.
    • They strategically decided to film Stack's scenes first due to his higher energy, making it easier to transition to Smoke's more subdued demeanor later in the day.
  • Smoke's Tremors: Inspired by Proximity Media's D'Lo Lewis, Smoke's hand tremors manifest during high-stress moments (e.g., confrontation with Grace, the film's climax), reflecting PTSD from his wartime experiences. He subtly checks and hides them, emphasizing his desire for control and order.
  • Key Phrases: Michael used key phrases from late '30s archival recordings (like "Made in Mississippi" documentary) to develop dialect and cadence.
    • For Stack: an older Southern woman talking about "plantin' flowers" ("I don't like no flowers that don't bloom. I want it to bloom.")
    • For Smoke: a Mississippi man saying "I never been in no trouble," which Michael adapted to "You always gettin' in trouble" for Smoke's internal cadence.

• Duality in Performance: Smoke vs. Stack [36:30] [40:25] [40:49]
  • Contrasting Personalities: Ryan notes how Michael made Smoke feel significantly older and more world-weary than Stack, even off-camera, embodying a "been there, done that" energy. Stack, conversely, appears younger and more energetic.
  • Truth vs. Lies: A key distinction is that Stack is a chronic liar, while Smoke always tells the truth, or simply remains silent if he cannot.
  • Improvisation Challenges: Performing both roles in the same scene posed a unique challenge for improvisation. Michael had to dry-run the other brother's actions with his twin double, Percy Bell, then re-shoot as the other twin, meticulously aligning eye contact and subtle reactions.
  • "Fully Baked" Characters: Ryan describes the twins as "fully baked" – they are who they are, with little evolution throughout the story.
  • "Very Bad Men" with Humanity: Despite being murderers, robbers, and pimps, the goal was to portray them as human beings with remnants of lost innocence, leveraging Michael B. Jordan's natural charisma (likened to Tom Hanks) to challenge audience empathy.

Scene Breakdown: Smoke Teaches Negotiation [53:22]

• A Softer Side of Smoke [53:22]
  • In a pivotal scene, Smoke, upon arriving in town, parks his car and teaches a young girl how to negotiate for her car-watching services.
  • This moment reveals Smoke's protective, almost paternal side, foreshadowing the loss of his own daughter. He imparts essential life skills: "numbers always gotta be in conversation with each other. You gotta negotiate."
  • The scene also serves to confirm the local "lore" of the Smokestack Twins, as the girl recognizes their name, testing Smoke's relevance.

    

• The Mindset of the Twins in Action [1:02:08]
  • This scene provides insight into Smoke's pragmatic and calculating nature. He's constantly assessing threats, thinking about "how he would kill you if he had to."
  • In confrontations (e.g., with Hogwood), Stack acts as the talker and negotiator, trying to prevent Smoke from escalating, while Smoke mentally plans violent contingencies.
  • This dynamic reflects their "hive mind" — Stack engages while Smoke strategizes for lethal force.

Prox Recs [1:04:00]

• Michael B. Jordan: Journaling [1:04:53]
  • Recommends journaling for personal life (dreams, ambitions) and for character building in acting.
  • It helps burn character backstories into memory and subconscious, from the earliest memory to page one of the script.
  • Journaling also serves as a "time capsule" for actors to reflect on their past processes and growth.
• Ryan Coogler: The Cortado [1:06:12]
  • Recommends the cortado, an equal-parts espresso and steamed milk drink, for coffee lovers seeking a balance of flavor and calories without overpowering the espresso.