October 2009 | blackfilm.com | GOOD HAIR | An Interview with Chris Rock

October 2009

GOOD HAIR
| An Interview with Chris Rock

(October: Main Page * Features * Reviews * Screenings * Teen ) Current Issue * Archive

GOOD HAIR
An Interview with Chris Rock
By Wilson Morales

October 5, 2009

Long known for being a funnyman, Chris Rock is also a film director, having done ‘Head of State’ and ‘I Think I Love My Wife.’ Along with the latter film, Rock has discussed plenty of women issues in most of one-man shows over the years, and now comes his latest creation ‘Good Hair,’ a documentary about African American hair culture.

An exposé of comic proportions, ‘Good Hair’ visits hair salons and styling battles, scientific laboratories, and Indian temples to explore the way black hairstyles impact the activities, pocketbooks, sexual relationships, and self-esteem of black people.

Celebrities such as Ice-T, Kerry Washington, Nia Long, Paul Mooney, Raven Symoné, Maya Angelou, and Reverend Al Sharpton all candidly offer their stories and observations to Rock while he struggles with the task of figuring out how to respond to his daughter’s question. What he discovers is that black hair is a big business that doesn’t always benefit the black community and little Lola’s question might well be bigger than his ability to convince her that the stuff on top of her head is nowhere near as important as what is inside.

In speaking with Blacfilm.com, Rock talks about his journey in putting this taboo subject out for the world to see.

How long did it take for you to put the film together?

Chris Rock: I’ve been on this for 2 year, on and off. We went to India for a few days and then you’re off for some two months, and then we had to shoot the hair show.

What inspired you to do this?

CR: My initial inspiration was the hair show, which I thought would be bigger in the film, but it was the history of the hair that was more appealing. I never wanted to do a historical documentary. It was supposed to be the hair show, what women walk around in, and let’s explore these choices. When we started it wasn’t about the women, it was both women and men. As we tested the film, no one was interested in the men, so we scratched that idea. The only men in the film are those talking about women. I want people to walk out saying my film was funny.

What was the experience of going to a hair show?

CR: It’s like a sporting event. People really take this stuff serious. If I’m ever in Atlanta, I would definitely go to a Bronner Bros. hair show.

How challenging was it to edit the film and leave something out?

CR: The hardest thing about doing a documentary is that it’s all in the cut. With an average film, you have a script, but with a doc you are making it as you go along. It’s a long process in the end. It’s like having to cut five films into one.

How did you convince Raven, Nia Long, and other celebrities to go on camera and talk about their hair?

CR: Well, I have directed a couple of movies, and I know when directors call me for anything, I definitely call them back. I knew Nia and met Raven a couple of times. For everybody in the movie, two people got cut. Anybody who wasn’t ready to spill their guts ended up on the floor.

There is no reason for a child to have a weave or relaxer. That’s just the mom going overboard. That always upset seeing kids with weave. Now, they are locked into a hair style, and something that they have no control over.

Do you think you told the whole story? Was their anything left out?

CR: When you make a film, you are telling a story; seeing women without chemicals is beautiful, but is it a story. If you run a newspaper, do you do stories on people who didn’t get shot yesterday? The guy who shot is far more interesting than the one who didn’t, just like women with relaxer or a weave is an interesting story. Traci Thoms is in the film and she represents natural beauty. She doesn’t have anything in her hair.

There’s a scene in the film where a little girl is getting a weave. You start the film off by asking yourself if your daughter need one. Do you think so?

CR: There is no reason for a child to have a weave or relaxer. That’s just the mom going overboard. That always upset seeing kids with weave. Now, they are locked into a hair style, and something that they have no control over.

What’s next?

CR: Next up is the film, ‘Death at a Funeral,’ which comes out on April 16. It’s me, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan and it’s a pretty funny movie. It’s a lot different from the original film. That film is very British. I also have ‘Grown Up’ after that with Adam Sandler and Kevin James.

(October: Main Page * Features * Reviews * Screenings * Teen ) Current Issue * Archive