last day, "I wanted the audience to get to know this guy,
to get attached, so that when the situation that happens to him happens, it's not just like you read it in the paper,
you know what I mean? When you know somebody as a human being, you know that life means something." He was able to meet John Burris, the attorney
for the Grant family, through a mutual friend and worked closely with him to get information on the case. He also worked closely
with the Grant family, after gaining their trust. In January 2011, Forest Whitaker's production company was looking for new young filmmakers
to mentor. Coogler met Head of Production, Nina Yang Bongiovi, and showed her his projects. Shortly after, he had a meeting with Whitaker,
who decided to supportFruitvale. Coogler met with advisers of Sundance Screenwriters Lab. He developed the script
with the help of Creative Advisors Tyger Williams, Jessie Nelson and Zach Sklar. The film received funding from the Feature Film Program
and the San Francisco Film Society. Coogler had Michael B. Jordan in mind to play the role of Grant before writing the script. In April 2012,
Jordan and Octavia Spencer joined the cast. Spencer also received a co-executive producer credit as she directly participated in funding the film
and contacted investors when a deal was lost during the filming. Notable investors included Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help,
a bestselling novel adapted as a successful film, for which Spencer won an Oscar. In April 2012, Hannah Beachler signed on
to serve as the film's production designer.
Filming
Fruitvale Station was shot