Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1514620
THE ARTISAN SPRING 2024• 21 HAIR B Y T E R E S S A H I L L D E P A R T M E N T H E A D H A I R Webster's Dictionary definition of chemistry is: a science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances; and the transformations that they undergo. Any cooking that you do involves chemistry; with the use of heat, cold, or cutting, it changes the composition of foods. Well, the same goes for hair. With the use of hot tools, cooling processes, coloring, perms and haircuts, you can transform an actor into a character and transport them to another era. And that is just what we did on Lessons in Chemistry. I first met with the series producers to discuss the project in April 2022. I was aware of the novel, which had been on e New York Times bestsellers list for more than six months. I was also familiar with the fantastic lead, Academy Award-winning actress Brie Larson, who was to portray Elizabeth Zott, the misfit heroine in the novel. I was excited to get started! Assistant Department Head Carol Mitchell and I read all eight scripts, did our breakdowns, and realized that this project was going to be huge. We needed to stay one step ahead, not only were we going to be block-shooting a storyline that spanned more than five decades, starting in 1920, many of the characters lived throughout the majority of those years. Which for the hair team, translates to A LOT of wigs. We had our work cut out for us. Assembling a strong seasoned team that was proficient with wigs and experienced doing period hair styling and barbering was easy because I have a fantastic team that I have worked with on many projects, including Carol Mitchell, Sharisse Fine, Juan Nunez, Linda Flowers, Kase Glen, Terrie Velazquez Owen, Randy Sayer, Nichelle (Nikki) Young, and Danny Robles. I felt confident in our combined abilities. Continued on page 23 Lewis Pullman as Calvin Evans with Brie Larson L-R: Stephanie Koenig as Fran Frask, Kevin Sussman as Walter Pine, and Brie Larson