Early in “Piece by Piece,” Morgan Neville’s unconventional documentary about one of the most influential figures in popular music, Pharrell Williams says the best way he can express himself is through Lego.
Pharrell Williams on why he chose to tell his life story through Lego in 'Piece by Piece'
"As a kid, I got Lego sets and that was a great platform for me to explore my imagination and learn things about myself, as most kids do and a lot of people do — millions and millions of people on this planet," Williams told Variety at the Toronto Film Festival, where "Piece by Piece" made its international premiere.
While most documentaries rely on director-captured footage, working with toy company Williams and Co. allowed for a "cinematic freedom that wouldn't otherwise exist." He said making the Lego-animated documentary was an "unprecedented exercise."
The film, which opens Oct. 11 via Focus Features and Universal Pictures, will feature talking head interviews and narration sequences with many of Williams' closest collaborators over the years. Williams assembled an A-list cast of music stars for "Piece by Piece," including Jay-Z, Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Pusha-T and Timbaland. What he didn't tell them was that they'd be appearing in the film as Legos.
