Pharrell Williams’ biopic is a Lego movie. He says it shows his ‘soul’s intention’

In reflecting upon this conversation, it’s truly humbling to witness the extraordinary journey of a man who has not only touched the lives of millions with his artistry but also radiates such positivity and good energy. His camaraderie with Adam Levine had me laughing non-stop, making our time together all the more enjoyable.

Pharrell Williams is seated among several children at a round table laden with Lego blocks. A group of filmmakers captures their conversation, while the 51-year-old artist, musician, composer, and producer inquires from each child about their preferred learning spots. The kids respond courteously, but their focus is primarily on constructing intricate Lego creations. Unfazed by this, Pharrell attends a promotional event for his latest Lego film, “Piece by Piece,” at Hollywood on that day.

The documentary “Piece by Piece,” directed by Morgan Neville, follows the career path of Williams who rose from a housing project in Virginia Beach to becoming a prominent figure in pop music. Known for his work on the Oscar-winning “20 Feet From Stardom” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”, this film chronicles how Williams played a significant role as co-creator of popular, rhythmic hits by artists such as Britney Spears (“I’m a Slave 4 U”), Jay-Z (“I Just Wanna Love U [Give It 2 Me]”), Usher (“U Don’t Have to Call”), Beyoncé (“Work It Out”), Justin Timberlake (“Rock Your Body”) and Snoop Dogg (“Drop It Like It’s Hot”).

The film delves into the creative collaboration between Williams and his longtime friend Chad Hugo, who together formed the Neptunes production duo, as well as his marriage to Helen Lasichanh and their shared four children. Additionally, it delves deep into the artistic and emotional transformation Williams underwent around a decade ago when three of his songs – “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke, “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk, and his own hit “Happy” – gained immense popularity after a period where he admits he had become overly self-indulgent. Moreover, the film uses stunning Lego animation to create a unique emotional resonance.

Neville states that he wouldn’t have approached making this movie in the way he did, or even made a film at all, if not for Pharrell. Essentially, he feels as though Pharrell was the producer of his creative experience.

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Williams, who resides part-time in Miami and Paris (where he also works as a creative director at Louis Vuitton), recently shared insights about the film, his music, and his balanced perspective during an interview held in a pristine green room at the Lego event. He donned flared denims, a pastel pink sweater, and matching pink sneakers, while his gold teeth sparkled as he spoke.

Is it second nature for you to engage in conversations with children? To clarify, interacting with people is something that comes naturally to me, and they represent the future – the generation of Mars settlers. However, I don’t view this film as a child-oriented endeavor. Instead, I see it as a human exploration that resonates with our inner child. That’s what LEGO is all about.

How does it feel to visualize yourself as a Lego mini-figure? This perspective allows me to detach emotionally, focusing on the figure instead of my personal flaws. It helps me understand my life’s purpose more clearly, providing insights that may be difficult to grasp when viewing myself in a traditional sense. This approach has been beneficial for me.

Was there ever a moment when you doubted if it would turn into an advertisement for LEGO films instead of its original content?

Conclusion. You fret over the potential for things not going as planned. This marked the culmination of all affirmative responses. There was unwavering backing from everyone in our endeavor to achieve what we set out to accomplish.

Indeed, it’s more like a jubilation honoring the transformation of arrogance into modesty, when viewed through the lens of Lego.

Give me a moment to ponder over that, while I take steps toward bringing my aspirations to life, one step at a time.

It’s uncommon to hear an artist admit that a song they collaborated on, like “All Eyes on Me” by The Clipse which you produced, is the worst thing they ever recorded. That’s what Pusha T says in the movie.

In a Hollywood-type situation? I think that’s fair to say.
I’m not a Hollywood guy.

You agree that it’s not a great Clipse record.
Yeah.

Did you know it was bad at the time you made it?
No.

I find that Morgan’s movie is deeply rooted in his introspective journey through past phases of his life, offering a clear and poignant reflection.

Did you find it straightforward to grant him independence?
Indeed, it was effortless. Watching his work with Mister Rogers, I could tell he had a knack for it. So, I gave him the reins and let him shape the story as he saw fit, even selecting the songs and interviews. My trust in him was complete.

I was surprised that Chad Hugo is in the movie.
Why?

Because he recently sued you over control of the Neptunes’ name.
I love him.

I didn’t ponder over his feelings towards you. Regardless of whether he returns my affection or not, my admiration and love remain unwavering. The bond we formed during our collaboration is irreplaceable and it’s something I continue to cherish deeply. I wish nothing but the best for him always.

Right, but that doesn’t mean he’d want to take the time out of his day to be in your movie.
He did.

You know the last record you guys made together?
I do so much music, I don’t remember.

Whatever it was, do you think it’ll be the last Neptunes production?
Yeah.

Are those feelings upsetting to you? What I’m trying to express is this: Regarding the music and our collaboration, I have a deep affection for both. I hold a great deal of gratitude towards it all, and will continue to wish him nothing but the best. That’s where my sentiments lie regarding the matter.

In the film, “Blurred Lines” is depicted as a significant milestone in your career, which took me by surprise considering you’ve recently expressed some reservations about the song, calling it a symbol of “misogynistic culture” in our society. However, that’s in the past. The portrayal of your life’s events in this movie isn’t influenced by what I said to GQ. Instead, Morgan is compiling a narrative of all the various occurrences in your life.

Did the legal dispute between you and Marvin Gaye’s estate over similarities in “Blurred Lines” to his music impact your appreciation of Gaye’s work instead?

Could it be that people sometimes act childishly and experience emotions over various matters?

It appears you’re referring to someone else, not me. I was stating that I don’t exhibit the demeanor or vibe you seem to be discussing.

How did you manage to get to a point where you no longer dwell on past hurts or grudges? Well, it’s often a journey of humility. When you set aside your personal pride in a situation, you can gain a clearer perspective. Things that once stirred your ego no longer hold much significance. If you were to gather them all together, they would amount to nothing more than a mere trifle.

Has that attitude influenced your music, your movie, and essentially every aspect of you?

Could I have produced the song “Hit Different” by SZA back in 2008? Probably not, as I could only create it at the time when it was actually made.

Given your perspective, it was predictable. It’s just the way things are. You see, privilege breeds more privilege, while hardship cultivates gratitude. Privilege can be detrimental since when things don’t go as planned, you crumble. Since you haven’t experienced hardship, you lack the ability to appreciate – you have no resilience. I never want to experience that feeling again. I prefer to view situations with appreciation first because then you understand what you truly possess. And when you create from a place of gratitude, it has a distinct quality. My creativity, writing, programming, music composition, and even parenting are all shaped by this perspective.

It might be tempting to shield your children from the emotional state you experienced, thinking it’s best for them not to endure hardships as you did. However, this protective instinct could potentially lead them towards a life of difficulty, such as crime or addiction. The reason being that they wouldn’t learn crucial life lessons from facing adversity, which is what shaped you into the person you are today. Instead, you aim for them to have a guided struggle in their lives – experiences that teach them resilience and self-reliance under your guidance.

What’s that look like?
It could mean anything.

In terms of your family, it’s more about volunteering, helping the homeless, and caring for the terminally ill. However, even at this end of the spectrum, rewards should still be earned, such as allowances that come from doing household chores or excelling in education. Nothing should be given without effort or contribution.

You’re not suggesting that my success is solely due to privilege, are you? As a parent, I don’t believe in providing my children with everything they want. Isn’t it more accurate to say that we each have our own instincts, and mine might differ from theirs?

As a dad, I was imagining myself in your position.
Oh — “self.” You’re being selfish.

But I’m also trying to envision the material comforts available to you.
It’s poison.

Poison?
Poison.

Despite never having visited your home, I find it unlikely that you lead a life as simple as that of a monk. Given the presence of your children, it seems you strive to teach them about life’s complexities, setting boundaries for their access to things and helping them understand the world around them. Moreover, I want to emphasize that the challenges your Black children face in society are significantly greater than those faced by non-Black children, while the struggles of your daughter as a girl are even more profound, given societal expectations and historical gender dynamics.

“Given our chat so far, how has your experience been raising kids in Europe compared to America?” or “Considering our previous discussion, what differences have you noticed in raising children between Europe and the United States?

You’re saying America’s problems aren’t quarantined to America.
Just look around the planet.

Was it a fun experience for you to serve as a judge on “The Voice”? I must say, I gained quite a bit from the show. It’s my belief that “The Voice” is essentially a country-themed program. I didn’t realize this until I witnessed how Blake [Shelton] was consistently outperforming everyone else. By “smoking everything,” I mean he was taking the wins, if you catch my drift. He’s such an endearing, talented, and positive individual with a great sense of humor. Alongside Adam [Levine], they kept me in stitches the entire time. All in all, it was enjoyable.

Would you do another TV show?
Television’s not for me.

Are you fond of giving live performances?
Not particularly. My preference lies more in creation. I enjoy writing and producing, which seems to be where I thrive best. I find delight in the iterative process, as well as those moments when inspiration strikes unexpectedly. Roaming around every morning and constant traveling – that’s not really my cup of tea.

I revisited that moment when you sang “Get Lucky” at the Grammys in 2014 with Daft Punk, Stevie Wonder, and Nile Rodgers. Frankly, it was entertaining, but it’s not an activity I aspire to participate in personally.

Well,

Speaking of,
Beyoncé – wow! The robots’ performances were fantastic. Michael Jackson was beyond description. Prince seemed like he was from another planet. Coltrane was downright terrifying – there are no words for it. I, however, am not in the same league as any of those legends.

You carry an intriguing aura about you. During your Grammy’s performance, the relaxed pose of keeping your hand in your pocket adds to the allure of your effortless charm. It’s noteworthy that you rank relatively low among those who exude vibrancy and possess a radiant inspiration.

As a creator, I view my craft equally regardless of its cost or being free-to-use, such as music versus an expensive designer item like a handbag. It’s simply a privilege to create on various mediums.

It’s not something I often consider since I don’t tend to view situations in terms of accessibility for many versus a select few. Instead, I see it as an opportunity to create, and the implications that come with each option.

Thank you for the time.
No, thank you. I hope I gave you what you needed. I’m just somewhere else.

You don’t seem somewhere else to me.
I am. I’m in a place of gratitude.

From your conversation, it seemed as though you were expressing a sense of anticipation and surprise, which has led me to express an apology.

I didn’t intend to approach you with a confrontational tone, instead, it may have seemed challenging initially.

I must acknowledge the truth in your words, my friend. As a fellow traveler on life’s journey, I feel a deep sense of gratitude. Just like you, I too hail from the rich tapestry of our shared history, and I understand the weight of that heritage.

Why doesn’t it give you the sensation of being the ruler of the world?

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2024-10-09 13:38