Interview: Kristin Broadwell on Co-Creating ‘Paper People Play’

CHICAGO – When the world stopped in March during the pandemic quarantine, there was an online kids-and-play concept invented by two sisters that really took off. “Paper People Play” is a deceptively simple website that evolves the paper doll form, bringing it to 21st Century children. Kristin and Brooke Broadwell were the co-creators, and the story of the concept is fascinating.

“Paper People Play” involves a paper cast of characters, settings, costumes and inventive scenarios – some even generated by the creators as short films – that are child interactive and imagination forward. The Broadwell sisters applied their skill sets, Brooke as an artist and Kristin as an actor, to bring to life their paper characters, providing them with characteristics that are relatable to their target audience … which is both children and their parents, to provide interaction.

Paper People Play
Photo credit: PaperPeoplePlay.com

Brooke Broadwell is a fine artist who graduated from East Carolina University with a concentration in painting and drawing. She specializes in oils, watercolors, mixed media and drawings … her artistic flair can be seen in every character, costume and backdrop of “Paper People Play.”

Her sister and co-creator, Kristin Broadwell, is an educator turned actor with an undergrad degree in Elementary Education and a Masters in Instructional Technology. Her acting resume includes the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Chicago’s Second City Conservatory and The School at Steppenwolf Theatre. Besides applying her academic knowledge to “Paper People Play,” she lends her voice to all of the characters in the short film presentations on the website (link below).

Kristin Broadwell participated in a video interview via Zoom with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, as they talked about “Paper People Play” and the passion behind this unique developmental project, with roots in coloring contests and thinking beyond the concept of paper cut-outs and characterizations.

[23]	By PATRICK McDONALD [24] Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com [23]