Producers of the upcoming Warner Bros. feature film “Sinners” shared insights into the challenges they faced while filming in New Orleans, particularly due to extreme weather conditions. The film, which stars Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twins, transports audiences to Mississippi during the 1930s, where a great evil awaits the protagonists in their hometown.
“Sinners” is a co-production of Proximity Media, with producer Zinzi Coogler. The picture will kick off its non-U.S. rollout on April 16, opening in a number of European territories. It will then go wide worldwide, including with a U.S. and UK-Ireland release this weekend.
Filming in New Orleans
New Orleans shines as the primary filming location for “Sinners.” Its vibrant atmosphere and colorful people perfectly set the stage for the film’s narrative. The city’s vibrant culture and rich history really make the city shine. Together, they create the ideal setting for a tale deep in the blues lore. The creative team’s biggest challenge came in the form of an uncooperative weather report.
Sev Ohanian, one of the producers, shared his thoughts on the challenges faced while shooting. He added, “New Orleans is known for its rain and lightning. One of our most challenging days was shooting the big dance number outside in one day and we fought the weather all night.”
Even with these obstacles, the crew was committed to getting the spirit of the film on camera. Ohanian called the New Orleans–based crew “incredible.” He attributed a lot of the film’s successful mood to the talent and resources of the local community.
Musical Influence
Ludwig Goransson scored Sinners. He notably first found collaboration with director Ryan Coogler on all five of the director’s films. Goransson’s distinctive upbringing was instrumental in making the film’s sound so captivating. He shared his journey into music, stating, “My dad is a blues guitar player, and the blues changed his life, even though he lived on the other side of the world.” Finding this personal connection to blues music greatly informed his composition process for “Sinners.”
Goransson explained how he incorporated blues influences into the score, noting that he was inspired by various artists while collaborating with Coogler. Goransson described how from the get-go that he started sending the songs that inspired him while writing the script. He would send me tracks of Tommy Johnson, Son House, and Robert Johnson.
He reinforced the powerful correlation between metal music and its blues origin. I never knew how hard metal is rooted right into the blues, man. It’s just the unexplainable magic that kind of happens. In this film, I really feel like I’m telling that story with the score.
Anticipation for Release
Audiences couldn’t be more excited for “Sinners” to come out. From its harrowing narrative to its original and moving musical score, this film is sure to provide a memorable moviegoing experience. The film’s surprising story structure and focus on the battle between good and evil feels particularly timely and relevant to modern audiences.
Goransson enthusiastically talked about Coogler’s storytelling abilities, “Ryan and Chris are both incredible storytellers and filmmakers. The world that they create for the audience is unlike anything else you’ve seen.”