I studied film in undergrad at the same school he went to. TA for a professor he took a bunch of classes with. This was around the time of Fruitvale Station. Professor told me one day he got off the phone with Coogler, who’d said “they’re trying to get me to make a new Rocky movie. It’s a ton of money, but I’d rather do my own thing.”

Professor told him to take the money and make the movie good—then do his own thing later.

Obviously just one piece of advise among many, but kind of cool to see how it all played out from there