Writer/filmmaker Kemp Powers on Pixar鈥檚 "Soul"
When Kemp Powers joined the writers' room at Pixar, he found a story waiting to be told 鈥� anchored in his own. Follow Kemp on his hero's journey of co-writing/co-directing "Soul".
How do you create an authentic character? Start with your authentic self. When Kemp Powers joined the writers' room at Pixar, he found a story waiting to be told 鈥� anchored in his own story. Spark & Fire follows Kemp on his own hero's journey of co-writing and co-directing "Soul",Pixar's first film with a Black protagonist, from his first trip to the Pixar campus to his development of the main character, and his passionate pitch for the beloved barbershop scene that nearly got cut from the film. Hear Kemp tell the story in his own frank and funny words, with creative insights for anyone trying to choose the projects that will matter most.
Kemp Powers is a screenwriter, playwright ("One Night in Miami"), director (the upcoming "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse") and veteran journalist. Follow him on Twitter at @Powerkeni
Find this transcript and behind-the-scenes photos at sparkandfire.com/soul
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This episode was shortlisted for "Best Individual Episode" in the 2021 Webby Awards, Diversity & Inclusion category.
