Over the Moon and Back With LEGO and Pharrell at the ‘Piece by Piece’ Film Screening

As a child of the ’90s and a self-proclaimed Pharrell Williams fanatic, the LEGO Group’s “Piece by Piece” biopic was nothing short of an exhilarating, heartfelt journey through the life of one of my musical heroes. The film, meticulously crafted using LEGO animation, beautifully encapsulates the triumphant career and legacy of Pharrell Williams, a tale that began in humble beginnings and soared to international stardom.

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In simple terms, the multi-talented Pharrell Williams, known for his skateboard P persona, found real LEGO bricks to be tangible representations of his creative ideas, helping him achieve his vision of the American Dream. The latest biographical movie about Williams, titled “Piece by Piece,” directed by Academy Award winner Morgan Neville (known for “20 Feet From Stardom” and “Roadrunner”), explores his remarkable career journey from humble beginnings to global fame, all depicted through LEGO animation. Through the perspective of Kid of Immigrants, TopMob provides an exclusive look at the screening of the LEGO Group’s “Piece by Piece” film and the Over the Moon activation that took place in Los Angeles at the Pickford Film Center.

Established in 2016 by Liberian-American Weleh Dennis and Honduran-American Daniel Buezo, Kids of Immigrants is a versatile lifestyle brand that originates from genuine, community-focused narratives. Sharing the same vision to inspire happiness among first-, second- and third-generation Americans, this brand communicates a message of unity through vibrant, youthful designs that mirror today’s diverse cultural landscape. The idea of thoughtful design runs deep within “Piece by Piece“, a tribute to the foundational elements of music and one of the key contributors behind America’s beloved hip-hop, R&B, and pop icons.

Similar to how the iconic toy brand LEGO has marked multiple generations with its influence on pop culture, Williams’ discography has made a lasting impact on mainstream music. The memorable hits from the ’90s and early 2000s featuring sweet synths, catchy hooks, and unstable basslines, produced by The Neptunes, including artists like Britney Spears, NSYNC, Clipse, Kelis, Snoop Dogg, No Doubt, N.O.R.E., and others, were brought to the world through Star Trak Entertainment, a label co-founded by Williams and Chad Hugo. Williams’ music has consistently aimed for the stars, becoming even more noticeable in the hazy, funkadelic journey of N.E.R.D., his fashion endeavors such as Billionaire Boys Club, its subsidiaries, and most recently, his role as Louis Vuitton’s Creative Director. In collaboration with LEGO Group, this luminary encourages audiences to take the pilot seat and ignite their creative flights of fancy.

A special showing of the film “Piece by Piece” initiated the Over the Moon event, which was then followed by a conversation between Morgan Neville and Pharrell Williams on a stage. Just as the producer constructs a beat or melody piece by piece, Neville and the musician discussed why a musical journey through LEGO animation seemed natural and how they captured the essence of bringing together renowned musical collaborators like Gwen Stefani, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and others to enhance the uplifting narrative. Following this discussion, attendees were led through a hallway illuminated to mimic the Over the Moon jet stream, taking them to an area inspired by space themes, emphasizing the boundless creativity of imagination.

At the interactive event, Dennis and Buezo created unique LEGO characters that referenced themselves at specific building stations. Visitors could upload their personal avatars to a diverse, cosmic database using custom QR codes, resulting in an engaging representation of the audience’s cultural mix. Digital screens displaying various designs rotated throughout the event, and captivating LED displays featured stunning versions of the Over the Moon LEGO set. The 966-piece collection, designed with George Gilliatt, a LEGO product designer, portrays a black and gold spacecraft soaring over the moon, leaving a trail of rainbow-colored light stretching into infinity.

As a passionate gamer, I’m extending an invite to all: let’s gaze up at the night sky together and dream big, like Over the Moon’s activation did for Williams. It was a beautiful celebration of LEGO, those classic plastic bricks that have always sparked our untouched creativity and brought back sweet memories of simple, nostalgic fun.

As a devoted fan, I’ve caught brief glimpses of the latest activation in the galleries up top – it’s truly captivating! For those eager collectors like myself, a trip to LEGO’s official website is all that stands between you and your very own Over the Moon set. Let’s get building!

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