Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1433300
44 • THE ARTISAN WINTER 2022 CARLA FARMER: We had the best team. JACENDA BURKETT: I knew I didn't even have to look at things. I knew it was going to come out perfect. I would do the research and send all these images to everybody, and then just let them fly and do it. CARLA FARMER: And I also had Shian Banks, who grew up in Compton at that time, and she kept us honest. And she had a lot of opinions that we leaned into because she was there, and she knew it, and we appreciated her so much. JACENDA BURKETT: We had Shian in the second trailer with the rest of my team. She grew up in Compton, so along with my team's research, her practical knowledge of the time period and place was such an asset. She's an amazing hair stylist. What images came to represent the film to you? JACENDA BURKETT: I did have image boards and there were two photos that stood out that just stuck with me, and I actually put at my station. One was Richard pushing the girls in the basket. And I had an image of Saniyya as Venus when she has the braids. The sun is hitting her and she's leaning in and just about to hit the ball—she looks like this lioness. Saniyya would look at it and was like, "Man!" And I was like, "Yeah, it's amazing." Those pictures really stuck with me. CARLA FARMER: Yes. The picture with Richard and his two daughters, that one was in our trailer. We had all the pictures up, but that one just… It's the rawness of the girls' hair, for me, nothing perfect, everything was just natural. This is before we put the baby hair edges in, we did this. Everything was just natural, and it wasn't so refined. That's just what I kept in my mind. For me, it's the overall feeling of watching this family during these close-knit, intimate moments. Like when they are all in the van… it feels like we are almost intruding, the feeling that this is a real family, not actors in a film. How the actors with Rei created this intimacy, just astounding. CARLA FARMER: Oh my god. When I saw that being filmed... I almost remember it in sepia tones. I felt like we were actually in the van with them. That stood out to me, that moment, and I kept a lot of pictures from that moment. It looked and felt so real. That is exactly how I would describe both your work in this. So real. And I thank you for it. • Clockwise from top left: Daniele Lawson as Isha Price, Demi Singleton as Serena Williams and Aunjanue Ellis as Oracene "Brandy" Williams; Smith with Singleton and Sidney; Bernthal and Smith; Ellis, Mikayla Bartholomew as Tunde Price, Smith, Sidney and Singleton. Photo by Chiabella James