A new chapter in documentary filmmaking: Morgan Neville’s ‘Piece by Piece’

A New Chapter in Documentary Filmmaking: Morgan Neville’s ‘Piece by Piece’

Renowned documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville has embarked on an innovative project with the release of ‘Piece by Piece’, which chronicles the life and career of music sensation Pharrell Williams. The film, which is set to premiere in New York, opts for a unique storytelling format by portraying Williams’ journey through animation using Lego bricks, a concept proposed by Williams himself.

The documentary stands out not just for its unconventional medium but also for its approach to narrative. Neville, who has a well-established history of crafting music documentaries, was initially hesitant to revisit the genre. Williams’ proposal, however, piqued his interest, especially the challenge of producing it entirely with Lego animation. This medium choice results in an abstract yet captivating portrayal of Williams’ career, necessitating selectivity in the stories that were included.

The project comes with its own set of challenges. Conducting interviews remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, Neville gathered insights from a host of notable collaborators, including Kendrick Lamar and Missy Elliott. Despite the wealth of content, the constraints of animation and the expansive nature of Williams’ career—spanning over three decades—meant that tough decisions had to be made about which stories to include.

Among those left on the cutting room floor were anecdotes involving music legends like Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake. Neville explained, “People say, ‘Oh, the interviews are so great.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, I used the good ones.’” This sentiment reflects the selective nature necessary in the documentary-making process, particularly when working with animation, which is both time-consuming and costly.

Pharrell Williams, known for his versatile role as a musician, producer, and entrepreneur, approached Neville to direct the documentary. His request was twofold: create a compelling documentary and innovate by retelling it through the playful yet intricate medium of Lego. Neville’s intrigue in the project was fueled by his deep interest in music producers over artists, appreciating their role in navigating diverse artistic landscapes.

Neville’s latest creation adds to his rich repertoire of documentaries, such as ’20 Feet from Stardom’ and the Anthony Bourdain-centric ‘Roadrunner’, even as it marks a departure from his typical techniques. Notably, his experience with using artificial intelligence in the ‘Roadrunner’ documentary has informed his current stance on technology use in filmmaking. He noted, “The creative nonfiction of it is fascinating, but it also makes me really cautious about tech in documentary work now.”

As Neville gears up for the New York debut of ‘Piece by Piece’, the anticipation surrounding the film underscores its potential appeal to both music and documentary enthusiasts. The project not only showcases Williams’ illustrious career but also pushes the boundaries of how biographies can be creatively documented and presented to audiences.

Source: Noah Wire Services