174 - The Music of The Color Purple

Director Blitz Bazawule joins his composer Kris Bowers to discuss their new adaptation of “The Color Purple.” You may remember the original filmed adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, directed by Steven Spielberg, from 1985. This version is actually an adaptation of the hit Broadway show, which won two Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical.

Our guest host, music journalist Jon Burlingame, returns to the Dolby Institute Podcast to speak with Kris and Blitz about their collaboration on the film, which began very early in the filmmaking process.

“I brought Kris on very early because I really believe in my entire team being on the same page right when we begin. I don't believe in silos as a filmmaker and, ultimately, I fancy myself more of a conductor than anything else. I need my entire symphony to start building some kind of harmony, and I can't wait till the very ending to bring on my composer when so much has already been discussed. So bringing Kris on also helped [him] understand how we were approaching music from a macro perspective, what were the intentions around these choices that then he could then expand into the scoring process. And why Kris? I mean, he's the coolest cat. That's just it.”

—Blitz Bazawule, Director, “The Color Purple” (2023)

Be sure to check out The Color Purple now in theaters, in Dolby Vision® and Dolby Atmos®, where available.

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