The Treatment

Ryan Coogler: Fruitvale Station

On New Years Day 2009, Oscar Grant was fatally shot by a transit officer at the Fruitvale BART station. Four years later, first-time director Ryan Coogler tells his story.

By Elvis Mitchell • Jul 24, 2013 • 28m Listen

Fruitvale Station tells the story of 22-year-old Oscar Grant, who was fatally shot by a BART transit officer at Oakland's Fruitvale station in the wee hours of New Year's Day, 2009. Around the same time, another Oakland native, director Ryan Coogler, was preparing to get his Masters in Cinematic Studies at USC. Grant's tragic story became the inspiration for Coogler's first full-length feature, which follows Grant through the last 24 hours of his life. Ryan Coogler talks about why he loves the Bay area, and why he hopes to stay, which films influenced him the most as a USC student, and what it was like watching Fruitvale Station with Oscar Grant's family in the audience.

Banner image photo credit: Aaron Fallon

This interview was recorded before George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin.

Culture

The Treatment

Ryan Coogler: Fruitvale Station

On New Years Day 2009, Oscar Grant was fatally shot by a transit officer at the Fruitvale BART station. Four years later, first-time director Ryan Coogler tells his story.

Share

The Treatment

Ryan Coogler: Fruitvale Station

On New Years Day 2009, Oscar Grant was fatally shot by a transit officer at the Fruitvale BART station. Four years later, first-time director Ryan Coogler tells his story.

Share