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Especially because were the first African Americans [in this category].
Its overwhelming with joy and then its such a responsibility.
This shot proved invaluable to the creative teams.
In collaborating with Roth, Wilson explains that they chose this particular headband because of its gold sparkle factor.
We had to imaginebeing her,pretty much, says Wilson.
You had no choice but to look right at Ma the whole time, says Wilson.
So automatically, there is a stage-makeup quality.
How do you become creative?
How do you do homemade products?
Those choices didnt come across as choices of mine but choices of Mas, Lopez-Rivera says.
Thats why it couldnt be perfect.
Its like a life painting.
Roth also considered the wear and tear due to perspiration and the rigors of performing.
When Ma is finished at night, when she takes her clothes off, theyre wet.
These clothes are tough; theyre not delicate.
She would love them to be, but shes not a delicate woman.
Those Wigs!
Each time she pulled a strand through, manure and lice eggs were scraped off.
This proved invaluable beyond the obvious hygiene reasons.
Wilson describes Neal discovering that horsehair softens during this process and likens the result to a modern-day synthetic wig.
Neal would put it into boiling water to set the curl.
It also gives the feeling of kinky, textured hair.
We pushed the waves back into the hair to set it with hair spray, says Wilson.
The team estimates that Davis would spend 90 minutes each day in hair and makeup.
Lopez-Rivera calls the wig collection a work of art.
It feels so authentic.
It feels like you are almost watching a documentary, he says.
Wilson recalls being in awe of Roth and how she prepped the background actors with specific backstories.
It was amazing, she says.
Because he wanted the honey color but also really gritty.
The costumes, makeup, and hair in the film reflect the singers sartorial armor.
Ann will tell us theres no jewelry left in the hotel; everything is on her hands.
Anything she owns is on this womans body, he says.
That it somehow would protect her a little bit.
A transformative scene in which she slowly removes her makeup and wig lays bare a hardened and polished character.
(It also features the unforgettable cliffhanger line Why is your penis on a dead girls phone?)
She does not care about her own vanity when shes performing, he says.
I want to do this.
Shes interested in authenticity.
She leaves her vanity at home.
Using transfers and stencils, he will match the continuity to Obamas changing brows.
Like, come on, lets hang out!
