I always ask the actors, 'What have you never done before?'

Courtney A. Kemp

There are so many different things that create an alchemy of success. Just like there are so many different things that create an alchemy of a failure.

Courtney A. Kemp

The baseline character in a lot of Western literature is a man. So we, as women, do a lot of suspending of our disbelief to experience a novel or a play or a movie through that male character.

Courtney A. Kemp

There's always going to be a part of me that wants an Emmy. Truthfully, I'm probably more motivated by people being entertained. I'm more motivated by people being like, 'Oh snap! Did you see that?'

Courtney A. Kemp

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

We use the word 'urban' to mean black or Latino, but that's not what the word means. It actually means 'from the city.' I'm not from the city. I'm from the suburbs of Connecticut. I grew up with mostly all white people.

Courtney A. Kemp

I am not going to say that only people of color can write people of color, because that means only white people can write white people, and that's not OK.

Courtney A. Kemp

'Power' is not a black show. It's not a white show. It's a New York show.

Courtney A. Kemp

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

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

I always like to write myself into a corner. I think the best stuff comes from only having a few ways out.

Courtney A. Kemp

When it comes to power as it functions between humans, it all comes down to desire. If you know what someone wants, you can control them. It is as simple as that. And the reverse is also true: If you have control over your own desires, no one will ever own you. As humans, we are plagued with desire - it consumes us, it fuels us, it destroys us.

Courtney A. Kemp

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

I always wanted to make a show that had everything I wanted to watch, as opposed to just one or two things.

Courtney A. Kemp

If you wanna be your own boss, you gotta work your way up - have the skills.

Courtney A. Kemp

I am tired of people using 'diverse' to mean 'of color.' That's not what that word means. 'Diversity' means people of all different races, all together - like a New York City subway.

Courtney A. Kemp

If you look at the back pages of 'New York Times Magazine,' and they talk about these 6.5-million-dollar condos with a great view, like you're going to pay for a great view. Well, the top floor of the projects have a great view, too.

Courtney A. Kemp

When we started on 'Power,' I was committed to respecting the differences among Spanish dialects: Dominican, Nuyorican, Mexican, etc. I wanted the language our characters spoke to be as specific as possible, to reflect New York as it is.

Courtney A. Kemp

I say a prayer several times a day about what I can control and what I can't control.

Courtney A. Kemp

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

Courtney A. Kemp Quotes

I always ask the actors, 'What have you never done before?'

There are so many different things that create an alchemy of success. Just like there are so many different things that create an alchemy of a failure.

The baseline character in a lot of Western literature is a man. So we, as women, do a lot of suspending of our disbelief to experience a novel or a play or a movie through that male character.

There's always going to be a part of me that wants an Emmy. Truthfully, I'm probably more motivated by people being entertained. I'm more motivated by people being like, 'Oh snap! Did you see that?'

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.

We use the word 'urban' to mean black or Latino, but that's not what the word means. It actually means 'from the city.' I'm not from the city. I'm from the suburbs of Connecticut. I grew up with mostly all white people.

I am not going to say that only people of color can write people of color, because that means only white people can write white people, and that's not OK.

'Power' is not a black show. It's not a white show. It's a New York show.

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.

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.

I always like to write myself into a corner. I think the best stuff comes from only having a few ways out.

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.

I always wanted to make a show that had everything I wanted to watch, as opposed to just one or two things.

If you wanna be your own boss, you gotta work your way up - have the skills.

I am tired of people using 'diverse' to mean 'of color.' That's not what that word means. 'Diversity' means people of all different races, all together - like a New York City subway.

If you look at the back pages of 'New York Times Magazine,' and they talk about these 6.5-million-dollar condos with a great view, like you're going to pay for a great view. Well, the top floor of the projects have a great view, too.

When we started on 'Power,' I was committed to respecting the differences among Spanish dialects: Dominican, Nuyorican, Mexican, etc. I wanted the language our characters spoke to be as specific as possible, to reflect New York as it is.

I say a prayer several times a day about what I can control and what I can't control.