EXCLUSIVE: Emmy Award-nominated filmmaker Chris Moukarbel (Gaga: five foot two) is currently filming a documentary exploring the life and career of multi-Grammy winning artist Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, with support from HarbourView Equity Partners and Kenya Barris as producer.
Featuring in-depth and exclusive interviews with Babyface, the film will capture him as he reflects on navigating the ups and downs of the music industry, reveals his writing and production process, and goes behind the scenes on his chart-conquering collaborations with artists including Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown, Eric Clapton, Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Lil Wayne, Beyoncé, Madonna and SZA.
Moukarbel’s Permanent Wave Productions serves as the lead production company alongside producers Barris and Jeremy Allen of Khalabo Ink Society, Douglas Banker of Five All in the Fifth Entertainment, Rika Tischendorf and Brande Baugh. HarbourView Equity Partners finances and produces. UTA Independent Film Group is representing the sale.
A prolific singer-songwriter and producer, Babyface’s work has been recognized with 13 Grammys, including 4 Producer of the Year Awards, from 83 total nominations. He is a seven-time BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year and has accumulated 16 Billboard #1 pop singles, 45 Billboard #1 R&B singles and 125 Billboard Top 10 hits, contributing to more than 800 million records sold and more than a billion records streamed.
In 1989, Babyface and Antonio “LA” Reid founded LaFace Records, which played a pivotal role in the music industry in the ’90s and early 2000s. Based in Atlanta and known for his significant influence on the R&B and hip-hop genres, LaFace launched the careers of artists like Braxton, Outkast, Usher, TLC, P!nk, Ciara, Goodie Mob, TI and Donnell Jones.
Babyface is also known for producing soundtracks and songs for films such as The bodyguard, Boomerang, Food for the soulAnd Waiting to expirewith collaborations including the Academy Award-winning duet “When You Believe” by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey for The prince of Egypt. He reveals in the documentary how he channeled his own personal heartbreaks to create the soundtrack to millions of love stories around the world.
The film will feature interviews with several of Babyface’s most notable collaborators, access to his never-before-seen personal archives, as well as behind-the-scenes and concert footage from his upcoming shows at the Palms in Las Vegas.
In a statement to Deadline, Babyface said, “I’ve often wondered how a humble kid from Indianapolis got to where he is today, working with artists and realizing dreams I could never have imagined when I started. This documentary gives me the opportunity to comb through the past with a fine-toothed comb, re-examining the ups and downs of my life and career. I’m discovering where all the songs really came from – and perhaps just as importantly, the how and why.”
Sharing that “Babyface and his music have always been part of the soundtrack of my life,” Moukarbel added, “His imprint on the world of music is enormous and I feel truly honored to be a part of even a small part of sharing his story by making this film.”
Sherrese Clarke, founder and CEO of HarbourView Equity Partners, said: “At HarbourView, we are passionate about investing in stories and creators who have shaped culture in lasting ways. Babyface’s influence on music and art is immeasurable – his songs have defined. We are proud to support this project celebrating his genius, his legacy and the emotional honesty behind his work.”
For his part, producer Barris added: “Babyface is one of them – a culture-defining hitmaker whose impact cannot be denied or overstated. We are honored to be a part of telling his story and grateful to team up with HarbourView, a company that understands the importance of investing in culture and storytelling like this, to do so. I hope this project will not only shine a light on Babyface’s remarkable career, but also give people a glimpse into the man behind the musical genius, who might just be one of the funniest mothers I’ve ever met.
Perhaps best known for directing and producing the documentary Lady Gaga Gaga: five foot twoMoukarbel is also responsible for HBO releases Me at the zoo, Banksy does New YorkAnd Wig. He also directed Zerowhich won Best American Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Festival, as well as Paramount+’s The honey trap and legendary Blue Shield: Tetris Crasher. He is repped by UTA, Heroes and Villains Entertainment and Levy Law.
Edmonds is represented by WME and Azoff Music Management; Barris by WME and Artists First; and Banker by UTA.
