Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1277606
THE ARTISAN SUMMER 2020 • 27 was stressful as there was no time to order a custom-made wig. Working within the context of the character—a mature, middle-class woman living in the Northeast—we rented at least a dozen wigs from my favorite Los Angeles-based wig maker, Justin Stafford. After numerous tests and countless notes, the network, our EP and Mandy Moore agreed on "the bob." It was a lace front wig that couldn't be altered because it was a rental. Honestly, "the bob" and I have had a love/hate relationship since day one. But with the support of my hair team, Zoe's make-up team, a very patient Mandy Moore (her transformation takes four hours!) and a stellar production crew, including our DP (Yasu Tanida) and lighting team, "the bob" and I have finally become friends. One character that I never suspected would need "advanced aging" is Milo Ventimiglia's Jack. After all, Jack was in his 50s when he died in a house fire in Season 2. But a Season 3 script about the present-day wedding of Jack's daughter Kate, called for a dream sequence in which she envisions her father is still alive and attending her wedding as a vibrant man in his 70s. To age Milo into 70-something Jack, we used a custom-made lace front wig made by Stacey Butterworth, my "wig whisperer," whose attention to detail is unparalleled. The wig was cut and styled to emulate Milo's natural hair. In ongoing flash-forwards, both Randall and Kevin have also Clockwise from above: Randall (Sterling K. Brown); Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) and Kate (Chrissy Metz); Kevin (Justin Hartley) with department head hair Michael Reitz. been aged. For Randall, we hand-laid Afrotek hair that was custom-blended and laid in multiple layers to create a natural graying pattern over Sterling's natural hair, then barbered by Cory "Chill" Hill. For Kevin, we felt keeping his movie star look was important and used George Clooney as our inspiration. After trying full and partial pieces, wigs and toupees, we settled on a combination of a partial hairpiece with gray temple pieces that blended seamlessly into his natural hair. For our wonderfully diverse cast, it's important to present protective hair styles that keep hair free of damage and consistently healthy. For these protective looks, I rely on Germicka Barclay and Renia Green Edittorio, both of whom work tirelessly with our diverse actors to create styles that are both contemporary and fashionable. Wigs, extensions and hairpieces contribute greatly to the protective looks you see on our show. Heading the hair department at This Is Us has not only been the most challenging job of my 30-year career, but by far the most fulfilling. Anyone who has ever stepped foot on our set can tell you that the old adage "it takes a village" has never been truer. Looking toward Seasons 5 and 6, I can't wait to see how our journey at This Is Us continues to unfold. •