Interesting Women: Katie Melody Rogers the Talent Behind Big Girls Don't Cry Hair & Makeup

Pictured: Big Girls Don’t Cry film.

Big Girl’s Don’t Cry is one of the stand out films of the NZ Film Festival this year and I haven’t seen it. Not because I didn’t try, but because it sold out. So while I wait for another chance to watch this Kiwi gem, I did get to catch up with the talented Katie Melody Rogers, the genius behind the hair and makeup design for the film.

Big Girls Don’t Cry follows 14-year-old Sid during the the summer of 2006 as she tries to figure out who she is, awkwardly, achingly, one insecurity and desire at a time. Paloma Schneideman’s coming-of-age debut, fresh off its Sundance premiere earlier this year, opened the festival with a portrait of adolescence that’s as tender as it is uncomfortable to watch.

Pictured: Katie’s moodboard for the film.

SP: You designed the hair and make-up for Big Girls Don’t Cry. How did you come about being involved?

M: Paloma (Schneideman) asked me. She sent me the script and I immediately said yes.

SP: What look were you going for when designing the hair and makeup?

M: Set in the summer of 2006/2007 I wanted it to feel really raw and real for that time period. I wanted the make up to look a bit experimental – not perfect. Back then there wasn’t a huge Makeup selection ( no Mecca or Sephora really) or Instagram makeup artists. You learnt from your big sister, mum or friends.

SP: Did you have inspirations? If so, what?

Lots of research, old magazines – looking lots of pics from Big Day out and photos of my friends from then.

SP: Can you wall us through your designs?

M: Sid the lead character played by Ani Palmer – I got her hair cut by the talented Philly Hoffman into her iconic bob. She needed to feel like a bit of a outcast & different to the cool girls who had long hair. Her natural skin was important to leave natural so it felt real and teenage.

She didn’t wear makeup at all in the film (just some skin food) except for the NYE party where Freya who’s the beautiful American exchange student puts it on her. One of my most favorite scenes in the film. She also got her belly button pierced and it gets infected – so it involved some special effects makeup which was fun. Almost all the talent had their hair cut, coloured or styled to be historically correct.

Pictured: Behind the scenes with Ani Palmer (Sid).

SP: Film is a lot different to Fashion which you’re well established in. What major differences do you find?

M: I do both equally – love to do both. Lately I’ve also been doing costume Design too which has been so fun. I feel like they both tell a story through design – with film you get alot more time to research & do makeup tests. It’s more of a collaboration with the director, actors & costume designer.

I like the more conceptual side of film where you can really think about the character and their journey throughout the script. So much information about the character can be told by their makeup… hair style, chipped nail polish or rats tail.

SP: What did you specifically love about this film?

M: It was such a pleasure to work with Karen Inderbitzen Waller as costume designer. I loved working so closely with her to make sure the looks were coherent. Maria Ines Manchego who I have done heaps of projects with – “we were dangerous” is the most talented cinematographer and her work has the most amazing aesthetic.