Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1277606
THE ARTISAN SUMMER 2020 • 23 B Y M I C H A E L R E I T Z D E P A R T M E N T H E A D H A I R I've been at This Is Us since the pilot was shot in January 2016, and 4½ years later, I continue to marvel at the popularity of the show and the audiences' devotion to the characters. Is there anyone who doesn't love Jack? Or worry about the health of an aging Rebecca? Or feel confl icted: Team Randall or Team Kevin? As Department Head Hair for This Is Us, it's the audiences' commitment to these characters—brilliantly created by our executive producer Dan Fogelman and his amazing team of writers—that inspires me each day to help further bring them to life. The pilot introduced us to a plotline that skipped back-and- forth between decades, although at the time we had no idea that nonlinear storytelling would play such a pivotal role in nearly every subsequent script. I remember working closely with Zoe Hay, our Department Head Make-up, as we tested the looks for the various characters. We added extensions to Mandy Moore's hair to give her extra length and create a subtle 1970s vibe. Our template for young Rebecca was Meryl Streep's character in Kramer vs. Kramer. Jack Pearson's (Milo Ventimiglia) hair was loosely based on a young Michael Douglas. Randall (Sterling K. Brown), Kevin (Justin Hartley), and Kate (Chrissy Metz) were celebrating their 36th birthdays in the pilot, although in fl ashbacks, we met them as newborns, so credit went to our talented casting department for turning 30-something actors into infants. With a little help from casting, this "aging the characters" thing was going to be a piece of cake. Just cast an age-appropriate actor, right? Wrong! Today, as we look toward Season 5, nearly every major character has gone through an age metamorphosis that scans decades. Continued on page 26 every subsequent script. I remember working closely with Zoe Hay, our Department Head Make-up, as we tested the looks for the various characters. We added extensions to Mandy Moore's hair to give her extra length and create a subtle 1970s vibe. Our template for young Rebecca was Meryl Streep's character in loosely based on a young Michael Douglas. Kate (Chrissy Metz) were celebrating their 36th birthdays in the pilot, although in fl ashbacks, we met them as newborns, so credit went to our talented casting department for turning 30-something actors into infants. With a little help from casting, this "aging the characters" thing was going to be a piece of cake. Just cast an age-appropriate actor, right? Wrong! Today, as we look toward Season 5, nearly every major character has gone through an age metamorphosis that scans decades. Continued on page 26 HAIR STYLING