In Proximity

Veteran studio executive Courtenay Valenti began her career as an assistant at Warner Bros. in the 1980s, eventually rising to President of Production and Development. During her tenure, she championed major hits including BARBIE, THE COLOR PURPLE, and Proximity’s JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH. Today, Courtenay is Head of Theatrical and Streaming Films at Amazon MGM Studios where she oversees the company’s film slate and strategic direction. Courtenay sat down with her former colleague, Proximity’s head of film Rebecca Cho, for an empowering conversation about the role of a studio executive, lessons in leadership and mentorship, and the secret to making a sustainable and impactful Hollywood career. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.(2:09) Get Reel(9:31) Difference between a studio exec vs. producer(18:07) What makes a great leader(23:42) Navigating industry changes(33:42) Working with creatives(37:17) Prox RecsCONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.CREDITS:In Proximity is a production of Proximity MediaExecutive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola MardoTheme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig GöranssonProducer: Caitlin PlummerAssociate Producer: Celine MendiolaSound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken NanaEditors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle CamangyanProduction Assistant: Isabella MillerDesign and Social Media: Alexandria Santana

We took a trip to Gardena Cinema, one of the last family-owned, independent movie theaters in Los Angeles, to try and answer a simple question: What’s it like to own and operate an indie movie theater today? Proximity’s Head of Audio Paola Mardo talks with owner Judy Kim about how her immigrant parents built their business after they bought the single-screen theater in 1976, why she had to pivot after the 2023 strikes, and the vital role her community plays in keeping the doors open. We also have a fun segment featuring our visit to a marathon of horror exploitation movies screened in 16mm film. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.(03:57) Inside the Horror-Exploitation-Thon at Gardena Cinema(10:49) All in the family: Gardena Cinema’s origin story (15:41) How the 2023 strikes changed Gardena Cinema’s business model(23:56) What it’s like to operate an indie theater todayCONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.CREDITS:In Proximity is a production of Proximity MediaExecutive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola MardoTheme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig GöranssonEpisode Producer: Celine MendiolaEpisode Editors: Celine Mendiola, Judybelle Camangyan, Paola MardoProducer: Caitlin PlummerAssociate Producer: Celine MendiolaSound Designer, Mix Engineer, Additional Music: Ken NanaAdditional Music: Blue Dot SessionsEditors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle CamangyanProduction Assistant: Isabella MillerDesign and Social Media: Alexandria Santana

GMORNING, GNITE! everyone's a aliebn when ur a aliebn too. BOJACK HORSEMAN. GOODBYE, AGAIN. Jonny Sun is a film and TV writer, producer, author, and illustrator who has worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Damon Lindelof. His background is in architecture and engineering as a doctoral candidate at MIT and a creative researcher at the Harvard metaLAB. His writing career took off after he created the beloved alien Twitter persona Jomny Sun which earned him over half a million followers and a place on TIME Magazine’s 25 Most Influential People on the Internet in 2017. On this episode, Jonny sits with Proximity’s head of film Rebecca Cho to share what they’ve learned about collaborating as writer and producer while developing a feature screenplay together. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.(02:21) Get Reel(10:24) Jomny Sun the Twitter alien(14:31) The “Asian six-pack” and finding creativity in math and science(21:20) What makes a great collaborator(30:16) Developing their project from idea to screenplay(34:23) Prox RecsCONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.CREDITS:In Proximity is a production of Proximity MediaExecutive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola MardoTheme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig GöranssonProducer: Caitlin PlummerAssociate Producer: Celine MendiolaSound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken NanaEditors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle CamangyanProduction Assistant: Isabella MillerDesign and Social Media: Alexandria Santana

Jon Else is an award-winning documentarian, cinematographer, and MacArthur Genius grant recipient. Over 40 years before Christopher Nolan’s OPPENHEIMER, Jon directed THE DAY AFTER TRINITY, a documentary film about J. Robert Oppenheimer. For almost two decades, Jon led the documentary program at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism where he met then journalism student, now collaborator and friend, Pete Nicks. On this episode, Jon and Pete deep dive into their careers in documentary film. Learn more and read the transcript of this conversation at ProximityMedia.com.(01:59) Get Reel(09:04) Meeting at Cal and getting into documentary(19:20) From FRUITVALE STATION to THE FORCE(29:57) Advice for documentary filmmakers today(34:30) From THE DAY AFTER TRINITY to OPPENHEIMER(36:22) Prox RecsCONNECT WITH PROXIMITY MEDIA:Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. We’re also on YouTube.Learn more at ProximityMedia.com.Text PROX to 510-998-3176 or head to subtext.to/prox for updates on new episodes and latest projects from Proximity Media.CREDITS:In Proximity is a production of Proximity MediaExecutive Producers: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Paola MardoTheme Song and Additional Music: Ludwig GöranssonProducer: Caitlin PlummerAssociate Producer: Celine MendiolaSound Designer and Mix Engineer: Ken NanaEditors: Cedric Wilson, Judybelle CamangyanProduction Assistant: Isabella MillerDesign and Social Media: Alexandria Santana