Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Saturday 1 February 2020
‘Hair Love’ director wants to win Oscar in honor of Kobe

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. in an Oscar trophy. The di-
AP Entertainment Writer rector, who is a former NFL
LOS ANGELES (AP) — When player, could accomplish
Matthew A. Cherry be- that feat through “Hair
came an Oscar nominee, Love,” which is nominated
that was initially good for best animated short, a
enough for him, until he category the NBA legend
heard about the death of won for his project “Dear
Kobe Bryant, a former pro- Basketball.” The Los Ange-
fessional athlete — just like les Lakers superstar died
himself — who was nomi- in a helicopter crash Sun-
nated in the same catego- day involving eight others
ry in 2018. including his 13-year-old
For Cherry, Bryant’s death daughter, Gianna.
is fueling his desire to win “Hair Love” delves into

This Jan. 27, 2020 photo shows Matthew A. Cherry during a portrait session at the 92nd Academy
Awards Nominees Luncheon in Los Angeles.
Associated Press
a story about an African continue his legacy. It’s that.
American father who learns hard as an athlete trying ___
how to style his daughter’s to transition into a different AP: Why is ‘Hair Love’ so im-
hair for the first time. He career. So often, you get portant for people to see?
created the 6-minute film told to stick to sports. You CHERRY: As you know, our
to highlight a black family tell people what you want hair is often times policed.
in animation — which he to do and they’re like kind We can’t wear it in certain
says is a rarity — provide a of whatever and brushing work environments or cer-
positive representation for you off. I think to make it to tain schools. There’s that
black kids and normalize this level and being in the story about the young gen-
black hair. same category as him, it’s tleman in Houston named
As a football player, Cher- just all really kind of crazy. I DeAndre Arnold who’s not
ry had stints with several really just want to represent able to wear his hair that
teams including the Jack- for him. looks just like mine, because
sonville Jaguars, Cincinnati ___ they changed a rule. ... We
Bengals, Carolina Panthers AP: Have you and Bryant wanted to normalize us in
and Baltimore Ravens. ever worked together? the experience. It was im-
In a recent interview, he CHERRY: No, actually crazy portant to us to showcase
spoke with The Associated enough, he shouted us out a black father that was
Press about continuing Bry- like two weeks ago when young, that had tattoos. I
ant’s legacy in film, the im- we got the Oscar nomina- think if you saw someone
portance of short films and tion. Somebody from The like him on the street, you
dealing with the stereo- Undefeated included us would assume that wasn’t
types of an athlete transi- in a tweet. ... He was like a loving father that does
tioning into the industry. ‘Let’s go!’ That was literally his daughter’s hair. We’re
___ his tweet. I had looked for- just trying to change the
AP: How did Bryant’s Oscar ward to meeting him on the conversation, one project
win in 2018 inspire you as a circuit. It’s just a tragedy. at a time.
filmmaker? ___ ___
CHERRY: Just knowing it’s AP: What was the genesis AP: How do you feel see-
possible. Sometimes I think behind ‘Hair Love’? ing the CROWN Act being
people talk about diver- CHERRY: I came across a passed to ban discrimina-
sity and inclusion. I think the lot of viral videos of African tion against black natu-
best way for that to make a American fathers that were ral hair? (The CROWN Act
difference is just to see peo- doing their daughter’s hair, bans discrimination based
ple that look like you kind of and the numbers were just on natural hairstyles or tex-
doing jobs you didn’t know insane. I was wondering ture. It has been passed by
existed. ... He really just set kind of why? Because ev- California, New Jersey and
the bar. ery time I show and share a several local governments
___ mother and a daughter or and is being considered by
AP: How has Bryant’s death son, it wouldn’t do as well. other states.)
impacted you? People looked at it as a CHERRY: It’s also kind of
CHERRY: I know they say anomaly. There’s this per- ironic because, why does
awards don’t matter and ception about black men a law have to be passed
everything, but I really that they’re not involved in for us to wear our hair, how
would love to win, espe- their kids lives, where studies it grows out of our head
cially since it’s the same have actually shown that naturally? But I’m glad that
category. ... I would love they’re most involved. But real change is happen-
to win so I could shout out if you look at mainstream ing. I hope that this project
his name to honor him and media, you wouldn’t think shines a light on that.q