Pharrell Williams Reveals He Wanted His Biographical Documentary Piece By Piece ‘To Be In Lego’; Details Inside

As an ardent fan of Pharrell Williams, I am absolutely thrilled by his latest endeavor, “Piece by Piece.” The fact that he has chosen to tell his life story through Lego animation is nothing short of genius! This man’s ability to innovate and think outside the box never ceases to amaze me.


Pharrell Williams constructed his diverse career in songwriting, music production, performing, and fashion design by seizing opportunities individually and combining them to form something significant, much like the building process of a Lego set. This metaphor was literally embraced by the versatile artist when creating his biographical documentary.

In a unique twist for non-fiction films, the documentary titled “Piece by Piece” narrates the life story of William using Lego animation, offering an unprecedented cinematic experience. This creative project is spearheaded by Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville, who first premiered it at the Telluride Film Festival and later at the Toronto International Film Festival.

At the Deadline Studio during the festival, Pharrell openly discussed his ideas for his upcoming documentary. He revealed that he had always envisioned it being brought to life through Lego animation.

He stated that at first, he wasn’t keen on making a documentary. However, once he agreed, his ideas quickly formed – he wanted it to be created using Lego bricks and have Morgan as the narrator. Pharrell expressed admiration for all of the director’s past works, including 20 Feet from Stardom and the Steve Martin documentary.

Neville skillfully realized the Freedom singer’s concept! “He’s really talented at what he does,” the original creator commented. The director additionally discussed the creative journey and the five years spent shaping it with a media outlet. “At first, I wasn’t sure how it would fit, but now I can’t conceive this movie as anything other than Lego,” he said.

Neville transformed interviews with the vocalist from Despicable Me into Lego figures. Asked about his preferred animated character, he replied, “To be honest, it’s my kids. Spending time with them was a real pleasure,” he said, adding that his wife, mother, and father held similar significance for him.

Apart from that, he remembered a specific part of the documentary that resonated with him deeply. Despite his impressive accomplishments as part of the Neptunes and as a solo act, he admitted to feeling creatively lost and sought counseling. “That moment was like, ‘Wow! This is truly unfolding,'” he commented further.

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2024-09-12 23:53