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In \u201cAnatomy of a Scene,\u201d we ask directors to reveal the secrets that go into making key scenes in their movies. See new episodes in the series on Fridays. You can also <\/em>watch our collection of more than 150 videos on YouTube<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>subscribe to our YouTube channel<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Viewers might not expect to see a D.J. at a turntable in Ryan Coogler\u2019s 1930s-set horror movie \u201cSinners,\u201d but in this sequence, the history and future of music collide.<\/p>\n This sequence takes place in a juke joint opened by the twins Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan). Playing for the crowd is Sammie Moore (Miles Caton), performing a song that was written by Raphael Saadiq and the film\u2019s composer, Ludwig Goransson.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cRaphael is from Oakland, kind of a local legend where I\u2019m from,\u201d Coogler said, narrating the moment.<\/p>\n The scene starts with Caton\u2019s impressive vocals, while cutting to shots of both Smoke and Stack, as well as other characters in the sequence. \u201cWe wanted to use Michael Shawver\u2019s editing skills to establish where everybody is and what their stakes are,\u201d Coogler said.<\/p>\n Once all is laid out, the scene flashes back to a conversation between Sammie and another musician, Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo), who explains Sammie\u2019s skill for the blues and the responsibility that comes with his talent.<\/p>\n \u201cBlues, it wasn\u2019t forced on us like that religion,\u201d Delta says. \u201cNo, son. We brought this with us from home. It\u2019s magic, what we do. It\u2019s sacred and big.\u201d<\/p>\n As the scene returns to the juke joint, we hear a voice-over from Annie (Wunmi Mosaku), a conjure woman. She says that some musicians have the gift to make music so powerful, it can conjure spirits from the past and the future. At this point, in an ambitious tracking shot, various eras of musicians appear in the frame, including an electric guitarist and the D.J. at the turntable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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