A Word: Designing Wakanda

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Slate Podcasts

News, News Commentary, Politics

4.6 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 14 August 2022

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever premieres in theaters this November. The franchise has provided a showcase for African Americans across the entertainment industry, including those behind the scenes. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson speaks with one of those rising creatives, conceptual artist Phillip Boutte Jr. Boutte left an acting career for film design, working on several sci-fi blockbusters. They discuss how Black Panther has helped change the dynamic for African American film professionals who had struggled to get a foothold in Hollywood. Guest: Production designer Phillip Boutte Jr., co-founder of 9B Collective, the first Black owned conceptual artist incubator in the industry. Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola. You can skip all the ads in A Word by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/awordplus for just $1 for your first month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is a word, a podcast from Slate. I'm your host, Jason Johnson.
0:04.0	Summer is the prime season for Hollywood blockbusters, but one of the most
0:08.1	anticipated superhero movies this year is Wakanda Forever, that's doing
0:12.8	theaters in November. It's a showcase for Black Excellence, not just for
0:17.2	actors, but also for the designer who brought the Black Panther's world to life
0:21.8	on screen. It's not just about getting people hired, it's about getting them
0:25.9	hired, giving them equity, right, which is giving them a place to where they
0:29.5	have a position of power to tell that story.
0:32.5	Maurem Wakanda and the rise of Black Creators in Hollywood coming up on a
0:36.9	word with me, Jason Johnson. Stay with us.
0:43.1	Welcome to a word, a podcast about race and politics and everything else. I'm your
0:47.3	host, Jason Johnson. You may not know Philip Boutet Jr's name, but if you've
0:51.9	been to the movies, you've seen his work. He's done production and costume
0:55.4	design for many of the biggest blockbusters in the last 15 years, including
0:59.8	Justice League, Man of Steel, and of course, Black Panther. On that team, Boutet
1:05.0	helped weave together cultural elements from across the continent to
1:08.7	outfit the warriors, leaders, and royalty of Wakanda. And you'll be able to see
1:12.9	his work again in the upcoming sequel, Wakanda Forever. Boutet is also building a
1:17.9	home for a new generation of Black Hollywood creatives as the CEO of the 9B
1:23.0	Collective, the first Black-owned concept artist studio.
1:26.8	And Philip Boutet Jr joins us now. Welcome to a word, man.
1:30.0	Thank you so much. I'm glad to be here. Thanks for having me.
	...

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