The Producer's Guide: Todd Garner and the Future of Hollywood Sinners Producer: Sev Ohanian
Jan 22, 2026
Sev Ohanian, the Oscar-nominated producer and co-founder of Proximity Media, shares his journey from making viral shorts to producing hits like Fruitvale Station and Sinners. He recalls the challenges of guerrilla marketing and the pivotal lessons learned while working with Ryan Coogler. Sev reveals the creative process behind Sinners, including the casting of Michael B. Jordan and navigating studio dynamics. With anecdotes about his early filmmaking experiences and advice for aspiring filmmakers, Sev's insights are both inspiring and entertaining.
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Arrested While Shooting A Student Film
- Sev recounts shooting his student film at 3 a.m. and being detained at gunpoint by police who thought the actors were a violent disturbance.
- The misunderstanding lasted about an hour and reinforced the chaotic realities of guerilla filmmaking.
Homemade Premiere That Changed Everything
- Sev describes renting a school, stitching a projector screen, and selling thousands of tickets to his community screenings.
- The unexpectedly emotional audience response gave him his first major creative validation.
Making Fruitvale Station Happen
- Sev recalls producing Fruitvale Station as a young co-producer with limited experience and convincing BART to allow shooting at the real station.
- Their persistence turned a seemingly impossible location request into a defining creative victory.