July 26th 2023.
Ryan Coogler is an incredible talent, a generational filmmaker who has achieved massive success since bursting onto the scene a decade ago. His films, such as Fruitvale Station and Black Panther, have been cultural landmarks, and his latest venture is no exception.
Coogler's latest project, Underrated, is a documentary on four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry. What drew Coogler to this project was the spirit of collaboration between him and Curry, as well as the fact that Curry plays for Coogler's beloved hometown basketball team. It is a hero's journey, something Coogler is adept at telling, and with Curry, he has found a kindred spirit.
When BLACK ENTERPRISE caught up with Coogler to talk about the connection between filmmakers and athletes, he explained that he still saw himself as both an athlete and a filmmaker, even though he never played professionally. He also talked about the beauty of being underrated, something he can relate to as a Black filmmaker.
When asked what drives the mutual respect between filmmakers and athletes, Coogler replied that there is a sense of performance and spectatorship that both have in common. He also spoke to the power of being seen and what can happen when communities, mentors, and families can uplift people when they actually see what’s there and work in service to that.
Coogler noted that the chip on Steph's shoulder was about proving himself right and less about proving others wrong, which is something that Coogler has done with his own work. He shared that it's never more important than the heart that’s within, and that more than anything, Steph is trying to honor the people who invested in him.
Finally, Coogler remarked that there are some mirrors between him and Steph, but one of the biggest differences is that Steph is trying to exceed what his father was able to do, which takes a special kind of person. This is something Coogler admires and respects.
Ultimately, the documentary Underrated is a love letter to dreamers and an in-depth look at what it takes to achieve greatness. With this project, Coogler and Curry have created something special, and it is sure to be an event when it is released.
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