Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1514620
THE ARTISAN SPRING 2024 • 45 Continued on page 58 and the direction of the styles put me at ease. Everything just made sense and it felt good. The All American crew truly felt like a family. After the pilot was shot, it was back to the original cast. A few months later, the episode aired and it was a huge hit with the audience. I was proud of everyone. It never crossed my mind about being the department head, as I was just happy to be onboard. Production approached one day and asked me about the idea of heading up the department. Before I could respond, I heard my mother's voice saying, "It's your time." Clearly this was God's plan. The rest as they say, is history. The goal for each character was to channel the present-day college student. We wanted to grab the audience's attention with styles that related to them as athletes, student government, Black culture, and Greek life. We also wanted to connect and have a visual of the college faculty at a traditional HBCU. Simone is portrayed as being from Beverly Hills with goals of becoming a top-ranked tennis player. The idea here was to have hair styles that can go on and off the court. We wanted to introduce styles that we've seen on top athletes like Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, etc. Most young athletes look up to professional athletes, so it was only right to have similar hair styles. We also pushed the envelope. I wanted to show college tennis players with texture hair. All American: Homecoming has professional tennis players on staff who I could pitch ideas to as well. I also inspired them to wear new styles on the court. We also had doubles for Simone and Thea, so creating styles that could be easily created on doubles and stunt actors were important. Textured hair is truly unique, so we had to find doubles that matched very closely to each actress. It was apparent that the hair team handpicked each double because the silhouette needed to be believable. Also, Camille Hyde, as Thea, is portrayed as being in her second year as the top college tennis player in the country. Therefore, we wanted her to look polished constantly. Super healthy long luxurious hair was her identity. We used glueless wigs, u-part units, and traditional extension applications to maintain her hair. The only time she pulls it back is when she plays tennis. Sloane Stephens and Venus Williams were my inspiration for on and off the court. Kelly Jenrette as Dr. Amara Patterson portrays the president. She is L-R: Geffri Maya; Coco Gauff Cory Hardrict as Coach Marcus Camille Hyde as Thea Mays L-R: Ryan Burrell; Geffri Maya; Lauren Guzman; Netta Walker; Elizabeta Barczewska; Peyton 'Alex' Smith L-R: Heather Lynn Harris as Gabrielle; Velveda Nelms; Ryan Burrell; Sylvester Powell as JR; Laverne Caracuzzi