Le songwriter Sean Douglas, ayant collaboré avec des artistes tels que Demi Lovato et Madonna, a coécrit la chanson « Harper and Will Go West » pour le documentaire *Will & Harper* avec l’humoriste Kristen Wiig. Douglas, fils de Michael Keaton, compare le processus de création de la chanson à l’improvisation. Ensemble, ils ont affronté le défi de capturer l’humour et le message d’une amitié au cœur du documentaire, qui suit Will Ferrell lors d’un road trip après la transition de genre de son collaborateur Harper Steele.
Songwriter Sean Douglas, who has penned popular songs for a diverse range of pop artists such as Demi Lovato, Madonna, Nick Jonas, The Chainsmokers, and Selena Gomez, described the process of creating the theme song « Harper and Will Go West » for the documentary Will & Harper alongside comedian Kristen Wiig as reminiscent of improv comedy.
Douglas, son of actor Michael Keaton, explained his creative approach during a performance at a musical showcase. “In my experience of collaborating with various artists, the process often resembles a game of ‘Yes, and…’”
He elaborated, “You begin with a small idea—someone might have a title, a melody, or a chord progression, and then the other person contributes their part. You keep building on it until it evolves into a complete song. For this particular piece, I brought a seed of an idea that seemed fitting for the theme, and we diligently worked on it throughout the day. It was truly a delightful experience.”
Douglas had previously teamed up with filmmaker Josh Greenbaum, who had directed Wiig in the comedy film Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, which led to their collaboration on the documentary. The film follows Will Ferrell on a road trip across the country with his longtime writing partner Harper Steele, documenting Harper’s gender transition. Within this narrative, their mutual friend Wiig is challenged to create a theme song that meets seemingly impossible stylistic demands, blending folk and jazz elements.
Working alongside Wiig, they screened a version of the film with Greenbaum, which made the songwriting process flow effortlessly. “It became apparent what direction we needed to take. My favorite songwriters are those who excel at crafting funny songs that transcend mere jokes—like Randy Newman, who brilliantly weaves humor into meaningful lyrics. Mastering that balance is quite challenging, especially in the mainstream Top 40 pop scene, so this was a refreshing opportunity.”
Douglas praised Wiig as an exceptional collaborator, stating, “She is undoubtedly a national treasure. She is just as delightful, funny, and kind in person as she appears on screen—and her singing ability is incredible! I was truly impressed by the emotional depth of her voice.”
Here is Wiig performing the song earlier this awards season:
Veuillez revenir lundi pour la vidéo de la conférence.