Courtney Kemp of ‘Power’ on Shakespeare and Ghost’s Evolution – New York Times

Ghost isnt exactly a saint. Still, many probably didnt expect his past to catch up to him via his ex-girlfriend and federal prosector, Angela, for a crime he didnt commit.

At the end of the pilot episode, we promised that someday he would get arrested and she would do it. So its more of why did we do it now? Its really about me as a writer wanting to write myself into a corner to see if I could write my way out. I really try to plot in a fearless fashion. I try not to care about not knowing the answer before I get there, I just jump in first and see what happens.

Were you able to get out of the corner?

We got way better stuff by doing it this way, because we forced ourselves to look at the characters more closely. We forced the characters to look at the characters more closely. Self-discovery is a universal quest, so immediately the characters are more relatable.

Youve said that Ghosts character is based on your father and Curtis Jackson (a.k.a. 50 Cent), one of the shows executive producers. As his character has evolved over the series, who is Ghost based on now?

I steal some pieces of Omari. Ghosts commitment to his family is very much Omari. I think all the characters are me to some extent.

How so, as it relates to Ghost?

This is going to sound a little strange, but I think theres a large part of being a working mom that I put into Ghost, which is that youre never in the right place at the right time. We show Ghost in a lot of situations where he really shouldve been elsewhere. When Im at work, I want to be with my daughter and when Im with my daughter, I probably should be working and it just is what it is.

As the show and characters have evolved, how are you approaching your role as a showrunner?

My approach to plotting, storytelling and writing hasnt changed. I definitely have the writer of the episode on set, but I probably should delegate more.

I dont hire anyone for my assistant job or any low-level writer job in the writers office who isnt an aspiring writer. A lot of people will say that they want to be my assistant, because they want to be an actor on the show and Im not interested in that. I definitely want to hire people who want to know how to make TV, you know what I mean? Im in a unique position to be able to teach you how to do that.

I try to spend as much time in Los Angeles as I can throughout the year and less time in New York on the set, just because my daughter is getting older.

What are some references youve used to frame the storytelling on the show and move the characters and narratives forward?

A lot of Shakespeare. Ive used Richard III because hes ruthless in getting what he wants and then ghosts of the people he killed start haunting him. I think thats very much Ghost.

You recently signed a multiyear deal with Starz and Lionsgate (which bought the network last year). What kind of projects are you looking to produce?

Im hoping to develop more television shows with people of color and women in front of and behind the camera. I want to tell some more personal stories. I want to tell more stories about lying, dual lives, self-deception those are my favorites.

When youre not working on Power, what are you watching?

Ru Pauls Drag Race, Im a long-term fan. Master of Nones season was amazing. I love Archer, thats one of the best-written shows out there.

A version of this article appears in print on June 24, 2017, on Page C4 of the New York edition with the headline: Shes Keeping a Promise on Power.

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Courtney Kemp of 'Power' on Shakespeare and Ghost's Evolution - New York Times