Kemp Powers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kemp Powers
NationalityAmerican
EducationHoward University
Occupation
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • playwright
Years active2012–present
Notable work

Kemp Powers is an American film director, screenwriter, and playwright. He is best known for his work on the play One Night in Miami, the 2020 film adaptation of the same name, Star Trek: Discovery, and Soul. His screenplay for One Night in Miami... earned him a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the 93rd Academy Awards in April 2021.[1] His work on Soul meant that Powers became the first African-American to co-direct a Disney animated feature.[2]

Career[]

After writing the 2012 short film This Day Today, he scripted the 2013 play One Night in Miami.[3][4][5] In 2017, Powers was brought onboard to write several scripts for Star Trek: Discovery season one episodes.[6] In 2018, he co-wrote the script for Pixar's Soul, with Pete Docter and Mike Jones, as well as co-directing the film with Docter, making his directorial debut.[7][8] On July 9, 2019, it was announced that actress Regina King would be directing a film adaptation of Powers' play One Night in Miami.[9] On December 16, 2020, Powers hosted the first three episodes of the podcast Soul Stories, which was released as a Spotify exclusive. In the episodes, Powers interviewed several people who worked on the film mainly about their mentors and careers, as well as some behind-the-scenes stories behind the making of the film.[10] An alumnus of Howard University, Powers is the first African-American co-director in Pixar history.[11] In April 2021, Powers was revealed to be directing the Untitled Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sequel with Joaquim Dos Santos and Justin K. Thompson.[12]

Filmography[]

Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Writer
2012 This Day Today No Yes Short film
2017 Star Trek: Discovery No Yes 5 episodes[6]
2020 One Night in Miami... No Yes Feature film[13][14]
Soul Co-Director Yes Co-screenwriter (with Pete Docter and Mike Jones)[15]
2022 Untitled Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sequel Co-Director No Director (with Joaquim Dos Santos and Justin K. Thompson)[12]

Plays[]

Accolades[]

Award Date of ceremony Category Film Result Ref.
Academy Awards April 25, 2021 Best Adapted Screenplay One Night in Miami Nominated [1]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards January 4, 2021 Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay Nominated [21]
Annie Awards April 16, 2021 Best Direction - Feature Soul Nominated [22]
Best Writing - Feature Won
Black Reel Awards April 11, 2021 Outstanding Breakthrough Screenwriter Nominated [23]
Outstanding Screenplay, Adapted or Original One Night in Miami... Nominated
Soul Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association December 21, 2020 Best Original Screenplay Nominated [24][25]
Best Adapted Screenplay One Night in Miami Nominated
Critics' Choice Movie Awards March 7, 2021 Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated [26]
Denver Film Critics Society January 18, 2021 Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated [27]
Florida Film Critics Circle December 21, 2020 Best Original Screenplay Soul Nominated [28]
Hawaii Film Critics Society January 13, 2021 Best Adapted Screenplay One Night in Miami Nominated [29]
Houston Film Critics Society Awards January 18, 2021 Best Screenplay Nominated [30]
Hugo Awards December 15–19, 2021 Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form Soul Pending [31]
Indiana Film Journalists Association December 21, 2020 Best Adapted Screenplay One Night in Miami Nominated [32]
Breakout of the Year Nominated
NAACP Image Awards March 27, 2021 Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture Nominated [33][34]
Soul Nominated
North Carolina Film Critics Association January 4, 2021 Best Adapted Screenplay One Night in Miami Nominated [35]
Online Film Critics Society Awards January 25, 2021 Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated [36]
Satellite Awards February 15, 2021 Best Original Screenplay Soul Nominated [37]
St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards January 17, 2021 Best Adapted Screenplay One Night in Miami Nominated [38]
Writers Guild of America Awards March 21, 2021 Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated [39]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b 2021 Oscar Nominations List Academy Awards Nominees
  2. ^ How Pete Docter and Kemp Powers brought the first Black Pixar protagonist to life in 'Soul'
  3. ^ Verini, Bob (August 5, 2013). "L.A. Legit Review: 'One Night in Miami...'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  4. ^ Meisel, Myron (June 11, 2013). "'One Night In Miami...': Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Valence Media. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  5. ^ Dowd, Vincent (October 11, 2016). "Muhammad Ali play puts icons of black America on stage". BBC News. Archived from the original on January 28, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Trumbore, Dave (August 24, 2019). "First Images for Pixar's 'Soul' Revealed; Cast and More Musical Details Announced". Collider. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  7. ^ Romano, Nick (November 6, 2019). "Pixar bares its Soul in first look at film with Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  8. ^ Sherlock, Ben (October 13, 2019). "Kemp Powers And Mike Jones Have Co-Written The Script With Pete Docter". Screen Rant. Valnet, Inc. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  9. ^ Ray-Ramos, Dino (July 1, 2019). "Regina King To Direct Adaptation Of 'One Night In Miami'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  10. ^ "Soul Stories by Disney". Spotify. December 16, 2020. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  11. ^ Miller, Natalie (December 5, 2020). "From the Halls of Howard to the Director's Seat at Pixar: How a Howard Alumni Found His Passion". The Hilltop. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b Vary, Adam B. (April 19, 2021). "'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' Sequel Snares New Directing Trio (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  13. ^ Bui, Hoai-Tran. "Regina King to Make Feature Film Directorial Debut With 'One Night In Miami'". /Film. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  14. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 7, 2020). "Regina King Directing Debut 'One Night In Miami' Underway With Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge & Leslie Odom Jr As '60s Icons". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  15. ^ Snetiker, Marc (August 24, 2019). "Pixar's 'Soul' cast Tina Fey, Jamie Foxx, Daveed Diggs and more". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  16. ^ LADCC Awards Turn Critical CTG
  17. ^ "'One Night in Miami' with Malcolm X, Ali Brown, and Cooke". This Stage. June 7, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  18. ^ "Olivier awards 2017: full list of nominations". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. March 6, 2017. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  19. ^ Marchese, Eric (April 17, 2018). "'Little Black Shadows' Reflects the Everyday Savagery of American Slavery". Orange County Register. Digital First Media. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  20. ^ "Press Photos 'Little Black Shadows'". South Coast Repertory. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  21. ^ Davis, Clayton (January 4, 2021). ""Nomadland" Triumphs at Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  22. ^ Flores, Terry (March 3, 2021). "2021 Annie Award Nominations: 'Soul,' 'Wolfwalkers' and Netflix Lead". Variety. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  23. ^ Fraley, Jason (February 18, 2021). "Regina King's 'One Night in Miami' leads Black Reel Awards with 15 nominations". WTOP-FM. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  24. ^ Adams, Ryan (December 18, 2020). "Chloe Zhao's Nomadland Leads Chicago Film Critics Association 2020 Nominations". Awards Daily. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  25. ^ Pederson, Erik (December 21, 2020). "Chicago Film Critics Awards: "Nomadland" Scores Best Picture, Director, Actress, and Two Others". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  26. ^ Davis, Clayton (February 8, 2021). "Critics Choice Awards: "Mank" Leads With 12 Nominations, Netflix Makes History With Four Best Picture Nominees". Variety. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  27. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 18, 2021). "The 2020 Denver Film Society Winners". Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  28. ^ Matt, Neglia. "The 2020 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Nominations | Next Best Picture". Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  29. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 13, 2021). "The 2020 Hawaii Film Critics Society Winners". Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  30. ^ Darling, Cary (January 22, 2021). "Houston Film Critics name "Nomadland" best film". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  31. ^ "2021 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  32. ^ Davis, Clayton (December 21, 2020). ""Nomadland" Tops Indiana Film Journalists Association, Leslie Odom Jr. Wins for "One Night in Miami"". Variety. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  33. ^ Gibbs, Adrienne. "Netflix, HBO Lead NAACP Image Awards 2021 Nominations". Forbes. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  34. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (February 2, 2021). "NAACP Awards Nominations: Netflix Tops List With "Bridgerton," "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" & "Da 5 Bloods"". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  35. ^ Davis, Clayton (January 4, 2021). ""Minari" Wins Big With North Carolina Film Critics Association, Chloé Zhao's Directing Winning Streak Continues". Variety. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  36. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (January 25, 2021). "Online Films Critics Society Unveils Annual Film Awards Recipients, Names "Nomadland" Best Picture". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  37. ^ Van Blaricom, Mirjana (February 1, 2021). "25th Satellite Awards Nominees for Motion Pictures and Television Announced". International Press Academy. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  38. ^ Neglia, Matt (January 17, 2021). "The 2020 St. Louis Film Critics Association Winners". Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  39. ^ Davis, Clayton (February 16, 2021). "2021 WGA Awards Nominations: 'Borat 2' and 'Judas and the Black Messiah' Make The Cut". Variety. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""