Comedian-actor Chris Rock may be known more for his cutting stand-up comedy on race, politics, African-American culture and relationships, among many other topics of interest.
But hair?
Sure, it may not be a stand-up comedy film, but Good Hair, a documentary exploring African-American hairstyles and the people and products involved, Chris Rock is both star and executive producer, carrying his brand of the humor for the ride.
This unique documentary subject has long been a dream project of sorts for Rock, and he sat down to discuss it recently.
It all started in 1990 while Rock was in Atlanta recording an album and was introduced to the Bronner Bros. International Hair Show, the opus of hair conventions that culminates in a styling competition.
"I tried talking to some girl, and she was a hair model at the Bronner Bros. Show," said Rock. "She invited me to the show, and it just blew my mind. From that moment on, I wanted to make a movie about the show."
Fame wasn’t something that Rock had at that moment, in addition to a lack of such subjects explored in documentaries. It wasn’t until Rock’s daughter began to question her hair—is it good?
"Then you go on 17 years later," said Rock. "I have daughters talking about their hair and I was like ‘Hmm, maybe I’ll pick up that idea.’"
When Rock’s daughter first brought up her young concern over her hair, Rock played sweet daddy to her.
"The more you react, the more it’s an issue, so when my daughter did say the thing about the hair I kind of just played it off and said, ‘Aw, come on, you’ve got good hair,’" he said. "I kept it moving because if I would have stopped, she would have a complex about her hair."
In the documentary, Rock interviews people ranging from actress Nia Long and Raven Simone to the Rev. Al Sharpton and Maya Angelou. Picking favorites is hard with such esteemed on-screen counterparts.
"[Nia] was just great on camera, but while I was doing the movie it was probably Maya Angelou," said Rock. "She was telling me stories about all of these old, black celebrities like Cab Callaway, Sammy Davis [Jr.] and all of these people."
And yet, with the fame and notoriety that came with the interviewees, celebrity was never a factor, according to Rock.
"The topic is a topic in which all that other famous crap goes out of the window," he said. "There is just something about the topic that just strips all of that stuff away."
Rock hopes what doesn’t get taken away from the film by audiences is that he is out to make a huge expectancy for social change.
"Health care is a social problem, children born to really young mothers that can’t take care of them is a social problem," said Rock. "This is an interesting issue; I wouldn’t call it a social problem."
"I am absolutely not trying to start a change of any sort," he continued. "I am trying to make a funny movie that is entertaining and thought-provoking. This movie will change hair the same way ‘We Are the World’ got rid of world hunger—it’s not going to happen. Movies don’t do that, music doesn’t do that, it’s just something that makes the good times and bad times in your life better."
Now that he’s handled his dream project, where does Rock want to take documentary filmmaking next?
"I don’t know what is as good as the hair and that can be something funny, too," said Rock. "The hair, it’s political and it’s sexy. This was a passion project, and I don’t want to do another [documentary] just because this one worked."
Like a perfectly-styled ‘do, Rock swirled and shouted his final answer to the top as we left."It’s just hair!"