50. Kiri Hart: Star Wars and New Possibilities in Storytelling

Future of Film Podcast with Alex Stolz

Kiri Hart is an executive, writer and producer with nearly 3 decades experience in film and television. She is probably best known for her role as Senior Vice President of Development at Lucasfilm between 2012 and 2018. Here she formed the now legendary Lucasfilm Story Group and oversaw the creative development of all Star Wars content across film, animated television, publishing, gaming, immersive media, and theme parks. While at Lucasfilm, Kiri also co-produced the films THE LAST JEDI and ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY and produced all four seasons of the award-winning animated television series Star Wars Rebels. Kiri has more recently formed a producing partnership with Stephen Feder at T-Street, the independent media studio started by filmmaker Rian Johnson. Kiri is currently producing filmmaker Gareth Edwards’ upcoming untitled original film for New Regency and also serves as a Creative Consultant at Pixar Animation Studios and is an Executive Producer on Pixar’s next film SOUL. This episode is fundamentally about the practice of storytelling and Kiri reveals the collaborative process she has developed across her extensive career working with artists and filmmakers like Gareth Edwards. Kiri also shares what she believes are the qualities of a successful storyteller as well as her advice for new creators coming through. We also discuss diversity in film, how this is changing and, in particular, how we can do more to accelerate storytelling diversity further. In one of the most inspiring conversations I've had on this show, we also talk storytelling in the context of theme park attractions, the benefits of virtual production to the process and learn why Kiri is so optimistic about the future of film. More About Kiri Hart Kiri Hart has worked in film and television for 28 years as a story analyst, film executive, writer and producer. After starting her career in 1992 as an assistant in CAA’s Literary Department and later at the Ladd Company, she moved to HBO Films as a creative executive, developing a slate of original movies. She then spent ten years as a screenwriter and television staff writer, writing projects for Universal, HBO, Showtime, and NBC. After working as a development executive at the Kennedy/Marshall Company, Kiri became Senior Vice President of Development at Lucasfilm in 2012. She formed the Lucasfilm Story Group, and oversaw the creative development of all Star Wars content across film, animated television, publishing, gaming, immersive media, and theme parks. While at Lucasfilm, Kiri co-produced the films THE LAST JEDI and ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, and produced all four seasons of the award-winning animated television series Star Wars Rebels. Kiri departed her Lucasfilm post at the end of 2018, and formed a producing partnership with Stephen Feder, who worked with her at Lucasfilm. Kiri and Stephen are now producers for T-Street, an independent media studio started by filmmaker Rian Johnson (LOOPER, STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, KNIVES OUT) and his producer Ram Bergman. Kiri is currently producing filmmaker Gareth Edwards’ upcoming untitled original film for New Regency. She also serves as a Creative Consultant at Pixar Animation Studios, and is an Executive Producer on Pixar’s next film SOUL, directed by Pete Docter. Kiri is a member of AMPAS and the WGA. She is a California native, and a graduate of Stanford University.