Shreveport Actor Worked on Jaw-Dropping Box Office Smash Sinners

The movie Sinners was released on April 18th, 2025, and became an instant sensation. Theatres from Louisiana to California, Oregon to New York were filling up with fans who wanted to see what the hype was about. Based on the box office results, they haven't been disappointed.

The movie has brought in $161.6 million at the box office during the first two weeks of release. An opening weekend of $48 million, topping the box office, was just the start. Strong word-of-mouth marketing for the film has propelled it into a second weekend that will be roughly as big as the opening weekend...which is incredibly impressive. Then, it makes it all even a little sweeter to know that Shreveport had a little piece to play in the production.

What Is The Movie Sinners About?

The film is a horror movie, and a period piece. Sinners is set in 1930s Mississippi, and explores the United States' issues with freedom, the south's economic issues, and the Black experience in pre-Civil Rights America. But at it's heart, its a musical.

Yes. Many viewers have been shocked when they discover that this horror movie is also a musical. Unlike non-musical films, the characters in Sinners hear the music the audience hears. There's also musical numbers in the movie. Creating a genre-bending mix of horror-musical-period piece that has audiences raving about the movie.

Who Is Tim J. Smith?

Actor Tim J. Smith is based in the Shreveport area and has been working on films and television projects for almost two decades. He's worked on projects like Super, Drive Angry, Snitch, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Purge, and The Walking Dead. While many of his roles have come in the form of stunt work, he's found himself on-screen in numerous big budget productions.

But being an actor and stuntman doesn't mean that everything is a speaking role in a Marvel movie. There are multiple aspects of filmmaking that require unsung heroes. As Smith posted on his social media, this is a film that he worked hard on, even if you won't see him in the finished product. Smith posted that he did "previz" work for Sinners. Which is short for "Previsualization", or rehearsals. Previsualization is used in multiple forms of content creation, from performing arts, to video games, still photography, and yes...big budget movies like Sinners.

Even if Smith won't be appearing on screen in Sinners, his hard work helped bring the vision to life. Something Smith is obviously passionate about in his post, as he fiercely recommends seeing the movie in theatres, as he says  "the way it was meant to be seen!"

Who Made The Movie Sinners?

The movie Sinners was written, directed, and co-produced by Ryan Coogler. He was joined by his wife Zinzi Coogler, and fellow Proximity Media founder Sev Ohanian as producers on the film. As Coogler and his Proximity Media company were wrapping up development on the project, a bidding war over the rights broke out. With Warner Brothers Pictures winning the rights to the film.

Regular Coogler collaborator, actor Michael B. Jordan, was signed onto to the project in early 2024. This would be the 5th project the two have worked together on.