Movie reviews, production notes, and more! - "Hair Show"

Movie : Hair Show

- Notes provided by UrbanWorks Entertainment - Mo'Nique (TV's The Parkers, "Queens of Comedy") and Kellita Smith (TV's The Bernie Mac Show, "Kingdom Come") lead an all-star cast in the feel-good comedy, HAIR SHOW, under the direction of Leslie Small. HAIR SHOW chronicles the exploits of two hairstylists, the rivaling Whitaker sisters who have been estranged since receiving vastly different inheritances from their late grandmother. When Peaches Whitaker (Mo'Nique) receives an unexpected invitation to attend the 5th anniversary of Angelle Whitaker's (Smith) Beverly Hills salon, she reluctantly hops on a plane bound from Baltimore to LAX. All the while, Peaches' delinquent tax debt looms. For once, all is good between the sisters until Peaches confesses about the $50,000 she owes Uncle Sam, a situation that threatens to open old wounds and shred their newfound bond. Angelle doesn't have the cash on-hand to bail out her irresponsible sister, however the Bronner Brothers' famous annual "Hair Battle Royale" competition is coming up and the prize earnings match the amount of Peaches' impending debt. Peaches is on a mission to earn her tax payment, while Angelle's goal is to "outstyle" pesky rival salon owner, Marcella (Gina Torres of The Matrix Reloaded), in a show-stopping competition. Along with Mo'Nique, Kellita Smith and Gina Torres, the film stars Taraji P. Henson (TV's The Division, "Baby Boy"), Joe Torry (TV's ER, Def Comedy Jam) and Bryce Wilson (TV's Weekend VIBE, "Trois"). Cameo appearances include Vivica A. Fox ("Kill Bill" - Volumes I and II), tennis phenom Serena Williams, comedian Bruce Bruce and rapper E-40. A co-production of UrbanWorks Entertainment and Magic Johnson Enterprises, "Hair Show" is produced by Jeff Clanagan, Janis Woody, Kimberly L. Ogletree and Nicole Denson. Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Steven Imes, Leslie Small, Larry Hayes and Craig Sussman serve as executive producers. The screenplay was crafted by Andrea Wiley and Sherri A. McGee. ABOUT THE PRODUCTION HAIR 101 Braids, dreads, weaves, cornrows, chignons, afros, curly, straight. No matter the style, urban women hold a strong attachment to their hair. In addition to acting as adornment, one's hair also reflects a state of mind. "All women have a thing with their hair," explains Mo'Nique. "It doesn't matter if she's Japanese or even if she lives in the Philippines, she wants to make sure that that hair is right. If it's cut real close, she'll feel real sassy. If it's longer, she might feel dainty. Even when she wears her hair up in a ponytail, a woman will keep checking to make sure it's tucked just right behind her ear." "Hair is about image," adds director Leslie Small, "and the history of our hair has always been something wonderful; a reason for pageantry. So, the idea of being able to make a film that exemplifies the multi-levels of the meaning of hair was very interesting to me." Joe Torry admits to knowing a little something about women and their hair as he watched his sisters "do their hair over the stove with the hot comb. I know a lot of women who don't know how to act if their hair's not right!" he laughs. Having received her first perm at the age of nine, co-writer, Andrea Wiley, shares that she's been "sitting in beauty shops for a lot of years. The Black woman's hair experience is a force to be reckoned with - I love our hair and believe it to be an amazing form of creative expression and individualism." The majority of HAIR SHOW's cast and filmmakers acknowledge their attendance and/or participation in the elaborate production known in the Black community as a "hair show," the competitive celebration of style, color and attitude - from the basic to the most outlandish. Mo'Nique has hosted many a hair show in her hometown of Baltimore. Kellita Smith once sported a blue-and-black colored coif up in a few Oakland shows and Taraji P. Henson walked the runways in Washington, D.C. "We definitely should have won because I looked fabulous," Henson remembers. Small envisioned a vibrant, thematic stage show for the film and enlisted the expertise of hairstylist and consultant Kimberly Kimble (TV's The Parkers, "Deliver Us From Eva," "Austin Powers in Goldmember"), to bring his ideas to life on the screen. "I knew that I wanted six concepts - natural, creative color, fantasy island, dream, the sea and the jungle - and Kimberly stepped in to design and create the actual hair 'dos." Along with the assistance of her mother, fellow hairstylist, Jasmine Kimble ("Breakin' All the Rules," "The Brothers") and a dedicated team of six stylists, Kimble drafted design boards for each hairstyle, prepped for three weeks and created an array of custom looks worthy of any runway. "I've been doing hair shows for years, so once Leslie and I brainstormed on the specific design ideas, I knew exactly what to do for this film," Kimble adds. CREATING THE STORY, BUILDING THE CAST Originally conceived by producer Jeff Clanagan, the idea for HAIR SHOW was brought to director Leslie Small's attention and the film was quickly underway. Both Clanagan and Small were interested in fleshing out a treatment which shed light on women in the business of beauty and the person who came to mind for the lead was Mo'Nique. "At that time, I was aware of these types of competitions that were happening all over the country," notes Small, "and I thought it would be hot if we made a film about a group of women who were working to make it to a hair show." The preliminary idea was brought to the attention of Mo'Nique and her brother, executive producer, Steven Imes, who also acts as her manager. Once Mo'Nique and company were sold on the premise of the story, they brought in first-time screenwriters Andrea Wiley and Sherri A. McGee, who worked with the actress during the 5-year run of "The Parkers" as executive producer and writer, respectively. With the lead actress in place, the creative team set out to build an entertaining story with colorful characters around their protagonist, "Peaches." McGee notes, "There are a million hair stories in the naked city, so our goal was to write a script with a lot of heart which also captured the essence of the hair shows." The creative team settled on a theme which celebrated the majesty of Black culture as well as the richness of family values. In short, HAIR SHOW is a story of two sisters who have an immense love for one another, yet encounter difficulty with seeing beyond their past disappointments. Co-writer Wiley, who confesses to overcoming a strained relationship with her own sibling, added a page from her life story to the script. Acknowledging the fact that family is key, she notes, "Despite our past differences, my sister and I have come to realize the vital importance of family and sisterhood." Establishing the plot and developing personalities for each of the characters was a collaborative effort and as such, Wiley and McGee sought the guidance of writer/director, Devon Greggory, with shaping the story. Aside from the rigors of revisions and re-writes, "The primary challenge with creating this story was the time-frame within which we had to work," McGee says. The script was completed over a six-month period which culminated in a thirty-day shoot during a hiatus from "The Parkers." While Mo'Nique and later, Kellita Smith, were handpicked to star in the film, the remainder of the cast tested for their roles. "I wanted to nest this comedy in the world of high fashion and also build a cast that was representative of the cornucopia of the Black woman's image," says Small. "What we found in our cast were actors who fit those images and also employed the depth of character to tell this story." Along with the primary cast, HAIR SHOW features a number of familiar faces in full cameo mode. "Vivica is my girlfriend, so when I asked her to be a part of the film, she answered, 'What time and where?'" Mo'Nique adds. "I've been on the road doing comedy with Bruce Bruce for fifteen years, so having him on the project was just a matter of making a phone call. Everybody just came on board and said, 'We've got you,' and that's priceless." With Fox and Bruce Bruce on tap, Small reached out to rapper E-40 and star athlete, Serena Williams. "I've shot all of E-40's music videos and he's always been so funny to me - I knew that I had to have him in this piece," Small says. Williams, who was administering her signature serve at Wimbledon at the time of the shoot, flew back to the States just in time to lend her name and likeness to the project as well. HAIR SHOW was shot entirely in Los Angeles during June 2003. THE STYLISTS It goes without saying that anyone who's ever sat in a hair salon has encountered hairstylists very similar, if not identical, to this cast of image makers. According to Mo'Nique, "I feel like I know all of the characters in this movie. There's the stylist who thinks that he or she is just so professional that they can't smile, the habitual gossiper, the guy who everyone suspects is gay, but no one's quite sure, the player-type and of course, Ms. Mother Earth." Peaches' (Mo'Nique) talent as a stylist is a clever mix of ghetto fabulousness and cosmetology school charm. Her coif and accompanying colorized accessories shift with every wardrobe change. In fact, the only time her 'do isn't done is when its tied up before slumber. While she drew upon characteristics from her own stylist, Rita, with developing Peaches, Mo'Nique can still see a lot of herself in her character. "I think the writers just changed my character's name from Mo'Nique to Peaches because she's loud, crazy and the life of the party," she says. "But really, Rita is Peaches, all day long." Angelle's (Smith) hair is always laid just right, but ironically, she represents an oxymoron in her field - she's a Black hairstylist based in Los Angeles who doesn't do perms or weaves. "I perm my hair and get weaves, so initially, I couldn't relate to my character," says Smith. "I thought, 'This girl needs to do some weaves, that's where the money is!'" To her credit, however, Angelle is a shrewd businesswoman who understands the needs of her diverse clientele, hence she has employed a well-rounded roster of stylists whom are each gifted in a wide range of hair care techniques. After all, she's got to keep up with her nemesis and fellow hair designer, Marcella, (Gina Torres) who nips at her heals and reminds her, that she is after all, just a protégé. Then there's Tiffany, played seamlessly by Taraji P. Henson. There's not too much that Tiffany doesn't know about other folks' personal business, or so she thinksuntil she gets busted. When asked about her inspiration to bring Tiffany to life, Henson notes, "When portraying this type of character, it's so easy to stereotype her. I wanted to make her a real person." With regard to her own experiences with a stylist of this vein, she adds with a laugh, "I've had [someone like] Tiffany hang her head over me while she's washing my hair; I'm looking up her nostrils while she's checking around to make sure nobody hears her talking about somebody else." Every classy salon must have someone a spunky manicurist on hand. That's where Jun Ni (Keiko Agena) comes in. Sporting cornrows and armed with an eagerness to adapt to her surroundings, she has yet to master the art of soul food cooking to appease her African-American husband, Brian (Joe Torry). "For once, I had the opportunity to play a character who is neither demeaning nor negative," says Torry. "Brian is a pretty content brother who loves his Asian wife for her beauty and sex appeal, but not for her cooking. He fakes like he enjoys eating her food because he doesn't want to hurt her feelings, but [in reality], he's always hungry and in search of a good meal." Between lighting candles and incense and aligning her charkas while sitting Indian-style, Simone (Cee Cee Michaela) is in place to serve the specialized hair care needs of the au naturale sistahs. Oh, and then there's Gianni (Andre Blake) who exudes a familiar blend of masculine and feminine energies and indulges in the luxuries of manicures and leg waxes with his equally ambiguous "wife." Lest we forget to mention that one stylist, regardless of gender, who never seems to put his/her skills to task, yet always manages to floss and swerve, regardless. Enter Drake (Bryce Wilson), the suave, yet crafty ladies' man who keeps his palm out while his chair remains empty. He even leaves his fellow stylists to ponder, aloud, "It must be nice to roll out of the bed at 10, roll up in here at 11 and only do 2 heads a day!" Simply put, Drake's got game. As with any clique of talented and diverse individuals, there is room for each stylist's strengths, weakness and quirks at Angelle's. Yet, on the not-so-rare occasion that someone gets too carried away with their own antics, they will get called out. WHAT GOES ON IN THE SHOP, STAYS IN THE SHOP While the film takes place in and around a hair salon and celebrates the majesty of the almighty 'do, "Hair Show" is also a heartwarming story about the strength of family bonds. "The film is about two sisters who once loved one another, fell out of love, and have to find a way to fall back again because they need one other," says Small. Natives of Baltimore, Peaches and Angelle couldn't be any more different. Peaches is spirited and boisterous where Angelle is reserved and a tad conservative. Although they've chosen to work in the same profession, their paths to success have taken opposite directions. Life-long rivals, we meet the sisters Whitaker as they appear before an attorney for the reading of their late grandmother's last will and testament. Convinced that she is about to cash in, Peaches pays little attention to her sister during the brief proceedings, however, she is soon rendered speechless when she mistakenly concludes that her inheritance falls short of the $75,000 left to Angelle. Again, she feels as though she's been trumped by her own blood. Peaches has a penchant for tardiness when it comes to her morning appointments at the round-the-way salon where she's employed. Sometimes, she even has 3 or 4 clients lined up and waiting when she decides to show up. Her boss and fellow stylists have grown tired of her stunts and on the one day she needs their support, they all watch silently as she's accosted in the back room by representatives from the IRS. Angelle, on the other hand, owns her own shop in Beverly Hills and is a stickler for decorum and professionalism. Her pampered lifestyle is a reflection of her hard work. She is even planning a party to celebrate her 5th successful year as a business owner. To date, the only blemish on her seemingly perfect life portrait is the frequent reminder of inferiority from her former mentor, Marcelle, who has assumed the role of an annoying, jealous neighbor and competitor. Upset that her boss has not put forth enough effort to convince her only sister to fly out for the party, Angelle's resident manicurist, Jun Ni, makes the fateful call to Peaches to urge her to use a pre-paid ticket to come out west. Reluctantly, she accepts the offer and soon boards the 5-hour flight to LA, but her money woes are not too far behind. Palm trees, valet parking stands and cappuccino bars are just the first differences that she notices, but she's in for so much more. After an awkward reunion, Peaches and Angelle put their differences aside and opt instead to enjoy the festivities, which are soon interrupted by an impromptu announcement from Marcelle. Not only does she take credit for Angelle success, but she also poses a challenge in the form of the upcoming Bronner Brothers' Hair Battle Royale competition. It's no secret that Angelle is not a fan of hair shows. In fact, her employees scoff at the idea, mocking her oft-spoken mantra, "We are here to improve the state of Black hair, not exploit it." But Peaches won't hear any of it and vows to whip up some hair and strut away with the $50,000 Grand Prize. After all, that's the exact amount that she owes Uncle Sam. The bad blood between the sisters begins to boil once again when Angelle is brought up to speed on Peaches' financial situation. In turn, she offers her sister a helping hand, probably for the umpteenth time, by giving her a place to rest her head and a station at the shop so she can begin stacking some money. After a night on the town, Angelle and the crew are summoned back to the shop by the authorities following a break-in and ironically, all eyes are on Marcelle who again tries to coerce her neighbor to sell. With the future of the shop in shambles, Angelle finally concedes to enter the Bronner Brothers' Hair Battle Royale for which Peaches has already snagged and submitted an application. Oh, and winner takes all. Tempers flair and hairpieces fly as the stylists prepare their designs for the runway and in the meantime, the Whitaker sisters haphazardly tangle in a tug-of-war over Cliff (David Ramsey), a handsome photographer, who initially had his eye on an unfazed Angelle. Thus, the plot deepens as the sisters learn that blood is thicker than waterand oil conditioner. ABOUT THE PLAYERS MO'NIQUE (Peaches Whitaker) is an award-winning comedienne whose career began sixteen years ago after taking the stage on a dare. She later gained popularity with performances on HBO's "Def Comedy Jam" and "Snaps," "Showtime at the Apollo," "Apollo Comedy Hour," BET's "Comic View" as well as The Montreal Comedy Festival and Uptown Comedy Club. Mo'Nique's break came in 1999 when she landed a starring role as Nikki Parker on the hit UPN television series, "The Parkers." She was nominated for NAACP Image Awards for each year of the show's 5-season run and earned the coveted statue for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series in 2001, 2002 and 2004. Her film credits include "Soul Plane," the Showtime original picture, "Good Fences" opposite Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover, "Baby Boy," "3 Strikes," and "Two Can Play That Game" with Vivica A. Fox, for which she earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture. She also enjoyed a starring role in the hit, stand-up comedy film, "The Queens of Comedy," which aired on Showtime and was later released on Paramount Home Entertainment. "The Queens of Comedy" also toured the country as a live comedy concert, was released on CD and nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Spoken Comedy Album. Following the success of the film and album, Mo'Nique again toured the country with the show as host and also acted as a judge in the search for comedy's next reigning royalty. For the second consecutive year, Mo'Nique is acting as host of the nationally-televised program, "Showtime at the Apollo," meanwhile making history as the first female comedienne to serve in that capacity. Along with her work on the screen and stage, Mo'Nique has become a role model for voluptuous women everywhere by proving that you don't have to be a size "0" to be sexy and fabulous. Her musings on life are featured in her New York Times best-selling book, "Skinny Women are Evil, Notes of a Big Girl in a Small-Minded World." The book was published in April 2003 by Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. KELLITA SMITH (Angelle Whitaker) was recently nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress in a Comedy for her role as Wanda Mac on The Bernie Mac Show. Along with "Hair Show," Smith has completed work on "King's Ransom" and "Roll Bounce," directed by Malcolm Lee. Balancing her work on television with roles on the big screen, Smith has enjoyed recurring roles on "Nash Bridges," "Malcolm & Eddie," "Martin," "The Jamie Foxx Show" and "Sister, Sister" and appeared in "Kingdom Come" alongside Whoopi Goldberg and "The Crossing Guard," which co-starred Jack Nicholson with direction by Sean Penn. A veteran of the stage, she also spent 2 years touring the country in the play, "Tell It Like It Tiz." Other theatrical credits include the Los Angeles production of "No Place To Be Somebody" with the KC Theatre Company as well as "Feelings" at The Hudson Theatre and "The Thirteenth Thorn" at Complex Theatre, for which she earned an NAACP Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress and an NAACP Theatre Award nomination for Best Actress, respectively. TARAJI P. HENSON (Tiffany) currently stars as Raina Washington, the youngest female detective on Lifetime's "The Division." She is also starring in the ensemble drama, "Hustle & Flow," with rapper, Ludacris. Produced by filmmaker John Singleton, the indie feature is shooting in Memphis and the accompanying soundtrack features Henson's debut as a singer. Remembered for her starring role opposite Tyrese in Singleton's "Baby Boy," Henson has co-starred in the telefilms, "Murder She Wrote," "The Last Free Man" and "Book of Love." Born and raised in Washington, D.C., the Howard University grad has a strong passion for helping disabled and less fortunate children. JOE TORRY (Brian) began his career as the host of Russell Simmons/HBO Def Comedy Jam, however, he does it all from comedy, drama, television, film, commercials and fund-raising for his community. Torry burst into dramatic television with a recurring role on the NBC's series, "ER," and has also appeared on "Navy NCIS: Naval Crime Investigative Service." His comedic stints have included a recurring role on "Girlfriends" and "BET Comic View Presents: 1-Hour Special." Torry has recently wrapped principal photography on the romantic comedy, "Getting Played" co-starring Vivica A. Fox, Carmen Electra, Kathy Najimy and Bill Bellamy. He can also be seen in the DVD release of the suspense thriller, "Motives," alongside Shemar Moore and Golden Brooks. He's also starred in Showtime's "The Great Commission," the CBS Movie of the Week, "Flamingo Rising," alongside William Hurt as well as the BET film, "Commitments." Additional film credits include Spike Lee's horror-comedy, "Tales from the Hood," John Singleton's "Poetic Justice," opposite Janet Jackson and the late Tupac Shakur, "Strictly Business" with Halle Berry, "Fled," "Lockdown," "Sprung" and Brian Bosworth's HBO movie, "Back in Business." Torry has also been featured in Pepsi's popular commercial spots for Superbowl. A graduate of Lincoln University, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communications and an honorary Doctorate, Torry established The Joe Torry Foundation which offers generous contributions to leadership and development groups, provides school supplies for inner city youth and sponsors the annual Joe Torry & Friends Celebrity Basketball Challenge. GINA TORRES (Marcella) most recently starred in the box office hits "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions." Aside from her recurring role on "24," she's acquired a 'kick-ass' image from her work on television including "Cleopatra 2525," for which she earned an ALMA Award, "Alias," "Firefly" and "Angel." Chosen among People Espanol's "Most Beautiful" for 2003 and 2004, Torres is awaiting the release of Michael Whaley's romantic comedy, "Fair Game," and the sci-fi Western, "Serenity," loosely-based on Joss Whedon's "Firefly" series. The youngest of three children, Torres is a graduate of New York's Fiorello LaGuardia School of Arts and has proven to be a gifted mezzo-soprano, jazz singer and actress. After making her professional debut in a production of "Dreamgirls," she went on to star on Broadway in "The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public" and "Face Value." Under the guidance of directors Peter Masterson, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tune and Jerry Zaks, she performed in "Antigone," "Blood Wedding," "A Raisin in the Sun," and "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. " Following a recurring role on the daytime drama, "One Life to Live," Torres television resume includes "Hercules: the Legendary Journey," "Xena: Warrior Princess," Lifetime's "Any Day Now", "The Agency" and "The Guardian." BRYCE WILSON (Drake) is the former host of "Weekend VIBE" and co-starred in the cult classic, "Trois." Having begun his journey into music at 15, Wilson was a member of Mantronix and later, Groove Theory, and has spent countless hours exploring and experimenting the elements of sound. Armed with a selective strategy and a tight production team, he achieved acclaim as a producer, crafting hits for the likes of Toni Braxton, George Michael, Whitney Houston, Lisa Stansfield, Babyface, Mary J. Blige, Salt 'n' Pepa, LL Cool J and others. Wilson also acts as the principle of October 7th Productions and to date, has contributed music to soundtracks including "Austin Powers in Goldmember," "Love Jones" and "Sunset Park," among them. In addition to music and film, Bryce has developed an extensive entrepreneurial portfolio which includes recording studios and franchise ventures in both retail stores and restaurants. BRUCE BRUCE (Lime Pimp) is a name synonymous with keeping audiences rolling with laughter thanks to his captivating improv skills. Having earned the title of "Mayor of Comedy," he returned to host the 2002-2003 season of BET's Comic View after receiving the highest ratings ever as the host of "BET's 10th Anniversary Comic View." In addition, Bruce starred in his own special, "Comedy Central Presents" in 2003 and released "Bruce Bruce Live" during summer 2004. Bruce will next be featured in Ice Cube's "XXXL" and "Cloud Nine," starring D.L. Hughley. He was also named the most recent host of the comedy tour, "The Crown Royal Comedy Festival." Bruce made his first appearance on HBO's "Def Comedy Jam," later appeared on "Showtime at the Apollo" hosted by Steve Harvey, and was asked back, twice. After touring in multiple comedy clubs over the years, Bruce transcended his personality onto the music video scene. To date, he's appeared in the Ying Yang Twins' "Salt Shaker," Outkast's "So Fresh, So Clean" as well as the clip for the summer '96 hit "Come On Ride the Train (Ride It)" by Quad City DJs. Bruce was also featured alongside Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg in the Lions Gate feature, The Wash. In addition to his television and film career, Bruce is known for his memorable appearances at the prestigious American Black Film Festival, the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, Laffapalooza Festival in Atlanta, and the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS LESLIE SMALL (Director/Executive Producer) is taking Hollywood by storm. Prior to completing work on "Hair Show," he directed the drama, "Tara," starring Isaiah Washington and Ice T. Currently, he serves as resident director of the UrbanWorks Entertainment "Platinum Comedy Series" and "The Soul Theater Series" available on DVD and VHS. After getting his start in theater under the tutelage of Hal Dewindt, Small made his professional directorial debut with the popular stage play, "The Diary of A Black Man," and went on to direct music videos and documentaries including "Adventures of the American West" for the Disney Channel. A Southern California native, Small earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, a Masters of Arts degree in General Statistical Design and completed Doctoral work in Community Economic Development. An avid reader and traveler, Small views the world on a global scale and finds locales such as the Louvre and the Sistine Chapel to be sources of rejuvenation and creative inspiration. He is also driven by the exploration of the intimate reality shared by people, no matter their race, religion, creed or socioeconomic status, which he incorporates into his filmmaking. ANDREA WILEY (Screenwriter) most recently served as executive producer of UPN's hit comedy series "The Parkers," which has just wrapped five seasons and is currently in syndication. Wiley's first break came when her spec script for "Roseanne" grabbed the attention of several key studio executives. Later, she received an offer from Norman Lear to join the writing team of his CBS television series "704 Hauser." Following her tenure with Lear, Wiley went on to write for "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and later, "The Parent 'Hood," "The Jamie Foxx Show," "The Steve Harvey Show" and "Malcolm and Eddie," on which she served as co-producer. Born in Jamaica, West Indies, Wiley was raised in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. Wiley came to television in 1993, following a successful career as an electrical engineer at such Fortune 500 companies as IBM, Procter & Gamble and Digital Equipment Corporation. Also a documentary filmmaker, Wiley has written, produced and directed three films including the widely-recognized "The Price of Faith: How Faithful Central Bought the Los Angeles Great Western Forum," which chronicles the triumph of Faithful Central Bible Church in purchasing the Great Western Forum and transforming it into a place of worship. Following the production of her documentary, Wiley formed her own Los Angeles-based production company, Clean Heart Productions, a multi-media company geared towards producing inspirational, Christian-based projects. A member of the Writer's Guild of America, West, Wiley also serves on the board of "Just Lovin' Music," a school dedicated to bringing music curriculums into the public school system. SHERRI A. MCGEE (Screenwriter) juggles her roles as author, journalist, television writer and producer with ease. For five years, she served as assistant to the creator and executive producer of the hit UPN comedy series, "The Parkers." Her first television pitch was so funny that producers made it the premiere episode and later, she wrote an episode entitled, "Take the Cookies and Run," which was among the highest-rated of the series. McGee is co-author, along with Mo'Nique, of the New York Times Best Seller, "Skinny Women Are Evil: Notes of a Big Girl in a Small-Minded World." Published by Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, the comedy memoir also took the #1 spot on Essence Magazine's Best Seller's List and is currently being adapted into a one-woman show. McGee is also at work as a co-producer on the short film, "The Prayer," and developing several TV, film, and book projects. For more than a decade, McGee worked as a freelance journalist and her byline has appeared in InStyle, Essence, Savoy, Honey, Upscale, and Black Enterprise. McGee earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Communications from Spelman College and shares her knowledge of the television industry at writer's symposiums and with students in high schools and colleges. She is a member of the Writer's Guild of America, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Spelman Alumni Association. Official Web Site: http://www.beautyshop-themovie.com/ Back to main movie page Showing Today at: Click here for other showings