HAIR OR NO HAIR Goes To Camera | Hollywood North News

Hair Or No Hair, the debut feature from award-winning filmmaker Janessa St. Pierre, has gone to camera in BC.

The film is being developed from her short film of the same name. The short film travelled the festival circuit premiering at LA Shorts Film Festival, Slamdance, and VIFF winning awards at numerous festivals. The feature adaptation expands the world of the short with a Black-led team at the helm. Janessa St. Pierre writes, directs and stars. Cody Kearsley (Virgin River), Rryla McIntosh (Longlegs), Karen Holness (Firefly Lane) and Tandia Mercedes (A Safe Distance) also stars.

In Hair Or No Hair, when a young Black woman hiding her alopecia receives a new wig, a sentient hair painting in her home springs to life, pushing her to break free from Black hair culture and rediscover who she truly is.

Janessa St. Pierre

“I’m determined to walk away knowing this story is going to make an impact on so many lives for the better, I hope sharing about this life shifts hearts, minds and perspectives.I want people to unlearn Hollywood’s programming on how to perceive “baldness”. I also think of all the little alopecian girlies that live in this superficial society and this is for them. You’re worthy, you’re beautiful and you don’t have to hide.”

Also joining the cast are Brandy Ledford (Baywatch), Lucky Onendo, Alexandra Roberts (Until Branches Bend), Ali Froggatt (She Talks to Strangers), Miranda Edwards (Snowpiercer), Michelle Choi-Lee (Longlegs) and Chris Shields (The 100).

Janessa St. Pierre is an acclaimed Black filmmaker who has served in various roles. Including Production Designer and Assistant to the Director. She has contributed to notable projects including as a showrunner’s assistant on Yellowjackets (Season 3) and the Legally Blonde Prequel Series ELLE. Her storytelling prowess emerged with Think Again, which won Best Short at the IGen Youth Festival in Miami.

A Dynamic Voice In Cinema

Her directorial work on the short film Hair or No Hair garnered awards at numerous festivals including the LA Shorts Festival. Selected for the VIFF catalyst mentorship program in 2023, St. Pierre continues to be a dynamic voice in cinema, celebrated for her engaging narratives and commitment to the craft. Concordia University alumna with a diploma in Motion Picture Arts from Capilano University.

Odera Igbokwe is contributing original art to the film. Emmy award-winning puppeteer Dusty Hagerud is attached. He is a member of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket people of the Lower East Kootenays, who is known for his puppetry work on Fraggle Rock (Apple+, Emmy win) and on hip-hop music videos for Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and Tory Lanez’s “Music To My Ears”. Pearl Lowe is a story editor, known for their work on the Academy award-winning Hair Love and their NAACP award-winning Canvas.

The film was made possible with the support of Telefilm Talent to Watch & Canada Council of the Arts and is filming in Vancouver and Coquitlam, BC.

SOURCE: penderpr.com