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" When human beings say they have power, it always makes me laugh a little bit. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Me
Power
Always
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" It's ridiculous that we let broadcast and cable shows compete against each other at the Emmys. They are not the same animal. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Animal
Other
Ridiculous
" What I'm about to say won't be popular, but it's true: If being a television showrunner is the job you want, and you are a woman, I would not suggest you have children. The reality is that you just cannot do both well. "
Courtney A. Kemp
True
You
Reality
" I am a black woman, and I'm proud of that, but as a showrunner, I want to think about what makes me unique beyond my race. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Think
Black
I Am
" Knowing what I don't know helps me every day. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Knowing
Know
Every Day
" I don't want to be seen in a way where all I can do is what people expect of me. "
Courtney A. Kemp
People
I Can
Want
" If everyone knows the role they play, and they do their job - executing it well and with enthusiasm - it comes together successfully every time. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Time
Enthusiasm
Job
" I always ask the actors, 'What have you never done before?' "
Courtney A. Kemp
Never
You
Ask
" I'd say it's far more challenging to be female and be a showrunner. People are not surprised to see a black person running this show, but the female aspect is the thing that I get asked about. "
Courtney A. Kemp
People
Running
Person
" My experience as a black woman in the industry is simply that often I was the only one in the room. Often I would be the only woman and the only person of color. Sometimes I would be one of several women but the only person of color. Sometimes I would be one of several people of color, but the only woman. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Women
Experience
People
" The show runner's the boss until the network shows up. And then they're the boss, because it's their money. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Boss
Show
Network
" Ultimately, at the end of the day, taking a chance on 'Power' is taking a chance on me. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Day
Taking
Power
" There's a difference between talent and skill. You might have writing talent, but skill is learned. You have to practice. I remain teachable. I was sure that I didn't know everything. People who work with me will tell you I don't think I know everything. I watch people sink around me thinking that they knew everything. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Work
Writing
People
" My dad and his sister, who is no longer with us, used to dance on the streets for money. They had nothing. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Sister
Dance
Streets
" I think television is about the characters you want to see again, and so you want to invite these people into your home. And certainly, seeing them get into bad situations and then watching them have to get themselves out, that's always super satisfying. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Television
Home
You
" You don't keep your job if you don't make a great show. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Your
You
Show
" When you pretend to be an authority on everything, it forces your subordinates to defer to your opinion - which may not be the most informed in the room. If you have humility concerning the gaps in your experience or ability, it allows others to shine. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Experience
Opinion
Humility
" I think it's really cool that someone could have ovaries and the presidency. Growing up, I thought I could never be president because I was black and female. Now I know that's wrong. Within my own lifetime - that's different. Within my lifetime, interracial couples are more common. Within my own lifetime, biracial folks are able to claim that. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Cool
Thought
Think
" I'm seeing more and more people of color do what I do as showrunners, and that's so great. I would love to get to the point where we don't have to talk about it anymore. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Love
Seeing
People
" Show-running is a very difficult job that includes so many responsibilities; I'm working with the actors, working with directors, writing, making decisions like, 'What fabric is that sofa gonna be?' "
Courtney A. Kemp
Like
Difficult
Job
" I don't write scenes where one person is right and one person is wrong. It's very much by design that everyone has a point of view that you as an audience member can understand. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Design
View
Point Of View
" I knew I wanted to write professionally and get paid. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Knew
Paid
Wanted
" God is in control of everything. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Control
Everything
God
" Being a showrunner is doing a bit of everything. It's not just writing. It's also management: managing actors, managing producers, managing a crew, being kind to people, being a good boss, observing deadlines. "
Courtney A. Kemp
People
Management
Good
" I remember watching episodes of 'The Sopranos' and being filled with dread knowing what was coming or anticipating what was coming. I don't think that that's always a bad thing. I think sometimes the audience needs a little catharsis held away from them. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Think
Remember
Sometimes
" When I was a little girl, my imagination was what helped me deal with some sort of negative elements in my childhood. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Imagination
Me
Girl
" I first became a showrunner at 36 years old. I had no experience doing this job, which is as complicated and multi-faceted as anything I'd ever tried. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Complicated
Experience
Job
" As a writer of fiction, you don't ever want to limit the characters you create to the life you've lived. That's insanity to me. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Life
Limit
Me
" I had to figure out that finding my place was not about race but about creativity, and connecting with other artists helped me find my voice. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Place
Me
Finding
" When you write a show, every character is you to some extent. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Write
Some
You
" When I'm at work, I want to be with my daughter, and when I'm with my daughter, I probably should be working, and it just is what it is. "
Courtney A. Kemp
Work
Want
Just