Barbershop : Production Notes


Welcome to Calvin's Barbershop. Come in and get lined up. Take off your hat and let off some steam. They'll cut what's on your head while you say what's on your mind. Grab a chair, wait your turn, hang out, hear a story, talk some gossip, read a magazine, and be ready to share your opinions. But don't get mad when they laugh at what comes out of your mouth. The barbershop's a place where everyone comes together and is together. Everybody's equal, at least until they walk out the door. You come in for a haircut. You leave with a lot more.
BARBERSHOP is an ensemble comedy about a day at a barbershop on the south side of Chicago. It's Calvin's (Ice Cube) shop, and he inherited the struggling business from his father, but with bills to pay and a baby on the way he sees the shop as a burden and waste of time. After selling the shop to a local loan shark, however, Calvin finally begins to see his father's vision and legacy - and struggles with the notion that he just sold it out. Realizing the shop's importance to the community - and to the people who work there - Calvin's got to raise the money to get it back and keep the shop in the family.

Calvin's Barbershop is a gathering place for an eclectic and hilarious cast of characters - and a showcase for a young, talented crew of rising stars. Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer) is an old-time barber with a big mouth, strong opinions, and no customers. College student Jimmy (Sean Patrick Thomas) has a superiority complex and can't stand Isaac (Troy Garity), the white barber who just wants a shot at cutting some hair. Ricky (Michael Ealy) is an ex-con with two strikes against him who's trying to stay straight, and Terri (rap star Eve) is a hard-edged woman who can't seem to leave her two-timing boyfriend - or get people to leave her apple juice alone. Also including Anthony Anderson, Leonard Earl Howze, Keith David, and Lahmard Tate an all-star cast comes together in BARBERSHOP to tell a story of laughter, heart, community…and haircuts.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures presents a State Street Pictures/Cube Vision production of BARBERSHOP, the feature film directorial debut of acclaimed music video director Tim Story. With a story by Mark Brown and a screenplay by Brown and Don D. Scott and Marshall Todd, the film was produced by Robert Teitel, George Tillman, Jr. , and Brown. The talented production team includes director of photography Tom Priestly, ASC, production designer Roger Fortune, film editor John Carter, A. C. E. , and composer Terence Blanchard. Matt Alvarez and Larry Kennar served as executive producers.

SETTING UP SHOP


"Now your father - he had integrity, he believed in somethin'.
He believed that a little ol' haircut could change how a man was feelin' that day. "

- Eddie, in Barbershop


In Barbershop, a customer can come in to get a haircut and walk out with an earful of anything from politics to sports to a blow-by-blow retelling of somebody else's business. Every community has a place where people congregate to exchange stories, laugh, seek guidance, or just hang out. Calvin's Barbershop is one of those places.
Producers Robert Teitel and George Tillman, Jr. , didn't immediately see a local barbershop as a strong potential location for a major motion picture comedy. But everyone needs a haircut. A barbershop is a place all kinds of people visit from time to time, rich or poor, black or white, young or old. It becomes a microcosm of society and, as a film setting, allows for an incredibly rich and diverse - and humorous - cast of characters to assemble and tell a story. The producers were drawn to the themes of commonality and community in the script - themes that perfectly match their signature style of filmmaking.

"The film is definitely about community," says Tillman. "It's a film about relationships and how much your life means to other people. Sometimes we look at ourselves and wish we could be doing something better with our lives. Then something happens and we realize our lives and what we do are very important. I think that's what happens to Calvin, the lead character played by Ice Cube. Sometimes you don't realize how important you are to other people, and then something happens that wakes you up to that fact. "
Those involved with the development of the story had the same vision in mind: to paint a truthful picture of the real dynamics inside a barbershop - the discussions, the opinions and the debates. From a story by Mark Brown, the screenplay was written by Brown and Don D. Scott and Marshall Todd. To flesh out the diverse cast of characters, the writers found themselves touching on some hot topics and true-to-life issues that might come up on any particular day when a bunch of people are just sitting around talking. "We weren't afraid to talk about some big issues and give a few viewpoints of controversy," says Scott. "There's a pro, a con, and a viewpoint right down the middle. That's how it is in a shop; not everybody agrees with everybody else. Not every black person has the same political viewpoint. Not every black person has the same viewpoint on sex, religion and race, and it's good to talk about that and have some fun with it. "

Although the film's original script was set in Los Angeles, producers Teitel and Tillman wanted to shoot the film in their hometown of Chicago to enhance the setting of the story. "When we first got the script and saw the title, we knew exactly what it meant and what it means to a community," says Teitel. "The story has a lot of heart, but it's also a hysterical comedy. There's a great balance between the two, and to us, that's a perfect combination. "
When it came time to choose a director, Teitel and Tillman realized Barbershop would be the first film they'd produced together without Tillman sitting in the director's chair. The two men had already worked together successfully on the acclaimed films Scenes of the Soul, Soul Food, and Men of Honor. Teitel says, "George and I have been working together for thirteen years, and we've always had the relationship where he directs and I produce. This is the first time the two of us are producing together. It's something we wanted to do for a very long time, and this felt like the perfect project for doing that. "

When asked why he chose the producer's chair over the director's on this particular project, Tillman says, "The producer's side is really a satisfying position for me. As a filmmaker and director myself, it's good to see another filmmaker bring his vision to life, and it's good to be in a position to support that and make it happen. Part of my goal in directing films and for Bob and I as partners is to see that other young filmmakers get a chance to tell their story, to get their vision across and be able to do it on our State Street Pictures banner. "
Impressed with his previous work, acclaimed music video and independent film director Tim Story was brought on board to helm the film, his studio-driven feature directorial debut. Having already directed two small independent features, Story was drawn to Barbershop's strong script, and the film's creative possibilities seemed perfect for his first bigger budget movie. "Barbershop has a zillion characters, and I had to put myself in the space of seeing the story from every character's point of view," says Story. "From a director's standpoint, this is a film about family, about community, about roots, and about a neighborhood. It's a film about the people you grow up with, about all those connections we make in life and what they mean to us. Everyone can relate to that.

"As a director, this is the kind of story that you dream about," continues Story. "It's an ensemble piece and it has a multitude of layers and levels, and all the characters' stories intertwine. I like a story that moves and continually evolves and has surprises. We did a lot to create a story that seems to be going one way but spirals into something else. This is the kind of story where you really get excited about what happens next - and you laugh the whole time you're waiting to find out. "

THE CUTTERS: The Cast of Barbershop


All creeds, colors and sexes come into the barbershop to talk and share,
and for that one instance when they're getting their haircut, it's a perfect utopia.
Society should be a barbershop, without the split ends at your feet.
-Anthony Anderson


A barbershop needs cutters and customers, so once they'd solidified their script, Story and the producers set about casting it. When it came time to fill the role of shop owner Calvin, everyone agreed no one could better capture Calvin's quiet frustration than actor Ice Cube. Known for often playing hard-edged characters in films like Boyz in the Hood, Three Kings and his successful Friday trilogy, the role of Calvin offered Cube an opportunity to show a new dimension of his capabilities.

Cube understood his character's inner struggle - the common frustration and feeling that his life is going nowhere. "I think Calvin's ambitious and doesn't realize he's sitting on something precious," says Cube. "He just wants better. That's a lot of us. We get to a certain point and we always expect more and don't really know how to be satisfied. "
In terms of his career, "My goal is to be a part of great projects," Cube says. "When a great one comes along and I'm right for the part and I think I can make the movie better by my presence, then everything kind of falls in line. What really motivates me is the script, the story and character, and the people I'm working with. Those are the things that really motivate me more than anything. "

In addition to his artistic attraction to the role, Barbershop afforded Cube the opportunity to work with Teitel and Tillman, Jr. "I think they're very smart and very talented," he says. "Their movies come out rich and full, not just surface treatments. Their films are full of vivid characters, and this script says a lot. There are a lot of things said among black folks that won't get said in the real world, and in this movie we pull those things out. "
Although some actors are nervous about working with first time directors, Cube recognized a talent in Tim Story. "Tim is very, very smart," says Cube. "When directors go through this for the first time they can get caught up in 'I want to show I can run the show. ' Tim wasn't like that. He knew he was the leader of this ensemble of amazing talent, and he just wanted to use it all to the best of his ability to create a great movie. He's a great director. "
For the role of Eddie, the semi-retired older barber who's worked in the barbershop for several generations (and rarely actually cuts hair anymore), the filmmakers looked to comedy sensation Cedric the Entertainer. Coming off his massive success with The Original Kings of Comedy, Cedric wanted to sink his teeth into a role with a dramatic turn that would also showcase his comedic talents. "In the script, Eddie is very opinionated, usually shooting off his mouth with some half-truths or another," says Cedric. "With that I saw a lot of comedic and dramatic opportunity, and I knew I'd have a lot of leniency with this character.

"Eddie has been there through generations and is the older statesman of the shop," Cedric continues. "He's there to explain the significance of the barbershop in the neighborhood and to teach the young barbers. Basically, Eddie enjoys the social atmosphere of the place. It's his country club. The shop is where he belongs. His name is on the wall in the Hall Of Fame, and he's happy to let you know it.
"
There were so many things in the script that I was drawn to immediately," he says. "It's so realistic. I love the attitude of the people coming in and out and all the diverse characters. I understood all of that, especially growing up in St. Louis. St. Louis is a very Midwestern kind of city and has the same feel as Chicago, so I knew it would have the right energy. "
On working with director Tim Story, Cedric says, "
Another key thing that attracted me to the project was working with Bob and George, and I knew that they really trusted Tim. He's incredibly dynamic and really has the right attitude. We worked long hours, and he was always there with good spirits to make sure we were all up and having fun. He's light-hearted, and at the same time knows how to get a job done. He also did a really good job of capturing the space, because the movie mainly takes place in one location. You have to be really creative with that so the space continues to seem fresh and alive, and he did a wonderful job. "

To give Eddie a signature style to match his signature personality, Cedric grew his hair and helped create a unique coif for his character. Cedric declares the hairstyle a cross between Frederick Douglass and the Afro side-part seen on a young Gary Coleman. "Originally Eddie was to be well into his 70s," Cedric says, "but we thought that might be a little hard to pull off because I have naturally baby-faced skin and we didn't want to get into prosthetics. We really wanted to let this guy be natural and look real. He's old school and knows himself. And he's actually a big fan of Frederick Douglass, so Eddie's hairstyle is a tribute to him. As long as the part's right, he's good. "
Music superstar Eve was chosen for the role of Terri, the only female barber in the shop. "What appealed to me about this movie," says Eve, "was its basis in reality. The barbershop is where everyone goes and where everybody knows your business. And when you're cutting hair, your client is going to talk to you, and you're pretty much their counselor if they're having a problem. Whether they're having a good or bad day, that's where everything goes down. "

Terri's a pretty hard-edged character and sharp talker, but Eve didn't feel she had to dig too deep to find Terri within herself. "The character is very similar to me in real life," Eve says. "I'm the only female involved with rap/R&B music group Ruff Ryders, so I'm used to being surrounded by testosterone all the time. I have to be tough with them the same way Terri is in the shop. She has a little bit of an attitude because she needs them to respect her. "
After the first read-through, director Story knew Eve was meant for the role. "I was very adamant about getting the right person for Terri," he says, "and when Eve came to read for us, I was interested as soon as she opened her mouth. I'd seen a lot of actresses, some of whom were phenomenal, but I was looking for somebody who was Terri, not somebody trying to be Terri. And although it's Eve's first movie role, she's held her own. Her character is the only female in an all-male barbershop, so she has to show that the character will stand up for herself, and she's been doing it. She gave me more than I expected every time. "

Sean Patrick Thomas was added to the cast list to play Jimmy, a smart guy with a bit of a superiority complex. He's a catalyst for many of the heated discussions in the shop. "My character, Jimmy James, is currently going to college, and he's cutting heads to pay his way through school," Thomas says. "He's pretty arrogant about the fact that he's educated and won't be a barber forever. He also has specific personal beefs with people in the shop, like Ricky, who's an ex-con, and Isaac, a white guy who sort of acts black. Jimmy can be a jerk, and he's the source of a lot of the conflict that goes on inside the shop. "
Working with such a diverse cast of actors proved to be a great experience for Thomas, who has found great success on teen films such as Cruel Intentions and the box office hit Save the Last Dance. "On Barbershop I worked with people with all kinds of different backgrounds and different approaches to their work, so I'm seeing completely different things. The way Eve or Ice Cube come at it is different from the way Cedric comes at it, and that can be very different from the way I would come at it. There's so much to learn from all of it. Cedric, for example, is just a genius, and I had to try and keep up with him. He would just make stuff up as we'd go, and that's a lot of fun. "

Troy Garity, an up-and-coming actor last seen in the film Bandits, plays Isaac, the only white barber in Calvin's barbershop. Of his character, Garity says, "Isaac was born in a predominantly black neighborhood and grew up really influenced by black culture. He's trying to find where he fits in. He has a passion for cutting hair and for the shop, but as somewhat of an outsider he's having trouble finding clients and people who'll trust him. His struggle is to get someone into his chair, someone who'll take a leap of faith and let his talent shine. "
Garity felt a very specific bond with Isaac and was drawn to the character's complexity. "I take roles based on how they speak to me and resonate in my soul," he says, "and I felt some similarities with Isaac in my own upbringing. I came from a well-to-do family but never felt comfortable in my stereotypical social group. I couldn't find any sort of solidarity with the basic WASP males of America and what everyone told me I was supposed to be. Then I remember hearing this beat on the radio that sort of changed my whole life, brought me into focus and taught me about myself. I find solidarity with Isaac and think he's just very interesting, especially considering the cross-pollination of cultures happening among youth today. "

Of Garity's character, Cedric says, "He doesn't seem like he fits in, but he is who he is. I think we live in a world today where hip-hop and African-American culture has crossed over and really become pop culture. You can't assume that because someone is white they're not really down. This guy grew up with the things we think belong to us, and he knows them just as well as we do. In the movie, those kinds of things become very clear. You see that people are people, and we should give everyone the opportunity to be themselves. You can learn something from everyone and enjoy everyone as individuals. "
Garity loved working with his co-stars. "Working with Ice Cube was a surreal experience," he says, "because I grew up listening to him, and, honestly, I don't know anyone who hasn't been affected by Cube in one way or another. To be on the set with him was amazing. Whenever I heard his voice it conjured up all these old memories. I also have a big crush on Cedric right now, who I'd previously only known a little about. I think he's a genius, and I think the character he's created will be imitated all over the place. "
Newcomer Michael Ealy was chosen for the role of Ricky, an ex-con trying to stay out of trouble and follow the straight path. "For me," says Ealy, "this was really one of those from-nothing-to-something situations. No one knew who I was. No one! When Tim called to tell me I had the part, the first 30 seconds of our conversation was going back and forth congratulating each other. We were both extremely excited about this being our first time, and I was glad to know he would be my first director.

"When I read the script," Ealy continues, "I thought it touched on both the good and bad, but the emphasis is on the beauty of the inner city and what the barbershop means to the community itself. In Barbershop, the barbershop itself is a character. "
In making the movie, "we were all there to work and make it the best possible movie we could," he says. "The relationships we established off-camera show on-camera. We had a great time. It was a great experience for me as an actor. "
Also making his film debut in a featured role is Leonard Earl Howze, who was chosen for the role of Dinka, the Nigerian barber in love with Terri. Howze says, "One of the things that attracted me to the role of Dinka was his spirit. He really has a carefree and honest way about him. "
Howze was also drawn to the project because of the producer's track record and Tim Story's energy. "What more could you ask for," he says, "with producers like George and Bob? That team is a knockout punch. With films like Soul Food and Men of Honor, they've made some landmark films for the black community. They're incredible.
"
And working with Tim Story is amazing," he continues. "His energy, his foresight. I remember him telling me he was planning on working like it was a play. We were going to have two to three cameras running simultaneously, so we had to stay in character at all times. We had to be in the moment from beginning to end, whether the camera was on or not, which is a wonderful way to work. "
Comedian Anthony Anderson plays JD, an inept criminal who, along with his partner Billy, swipes an ATM then spends his time moving the incredibly heavy machine and trying to get it open. "
I took this role in the movie to have fun," says Anderson. "The script is laugh-out-loud funny, the characters are rich, and it's produced by Bob and George - all of those things came together. "

Anthony was encouraged to ad lib during takes and always tried different and hilarious ways to play out a scene. "As far as being loose on the set, that's my nature," he says. "I believe in having fun and enjoying myself and having people around me enjoy themselves as well. I always want it to have a family atmosphere, and I believe that's what this energy is about. "
In moving the ATM from place to place, JD and Billy are often hurt - to great comedic effect. There was a lot of room for Anderson and Lahmard Tate (who plays Billy) to inject physical comedy into their roles. "I had a lot of fun getting hurt in this movie," says Anderson. "You should see my foot! There are scenes of me stubbing my toe, breaking my foot, and spraining my wrist, all the while yelling at little man Tate. "
All in all, director Tim Story loved the experience of working with such a large ensemble of actors. "It was incredible," he says. "We just had an amazing amount of talent. I considered myself a goalie and I just kept the ball in play. I let them go with it, and the result is phenomenal, both hysterical and touching. "

CUTTING 101


Calvin, I need a cut. Like how you did Ronnie last week:
A little off the top, long in the back but not quite a shag, slope to the left like Gumby,
Eddie Munster in the front, a 'lil Wyclef on the right…


To capture the essence of what it means to be a "cutter," the cast was sent to Mr. Voiner's Barber School in Los Angeles for a weeklong training session to familiarize them with the artistry of cutting hair. Producer Tillman says, "We looked at Barbershop like we did Men of Honor. We had boot camp for the actors who played Navy Divers; this was boot camp for the cutters. They had to learn how to cut hair, but also how to express themselves with a customer, become a psychiatrist, become a friend, a coach. That's what a barber is when they're working at a shop, and that's what these guys learned over a period of time. "
For some of the actors, cutting hair wasn't as easy as it looked. "We learned different blades and how to actually hold clippers the right way," says Eve. "I had no idea what it would be like and no prior experience. After we finished I realized it's just not for me. I'm just too nervous and might cut a patch in somebody's head. "
And though the actors felt comfortable and ready to use their "movie clippers," none seemed too ready for a new career. "I messed up a couple of heads and sent a couple people home a little ugly," says Sean Patrick Thomas. "But that's part of the process, and you had to at least try it. I had fun and by the time we were done, I was pretty good. At least basically competent at cutting heads," he laughs.
Cedric the Entertainer doesn't cut hair in the film, but he does perform a different trick of the barber trade: the straight-razor shave. "The barber consultant on the movie worked with me about the technique and what I should do with the straight razor," he says. "Once I had the strokes down, it was cool. I actually enjoyed it. I don't know if the actor getting shaved enjoyed it as much, though. Only a few band-aids and some anesthetic involved. "

A FILMMAKER'S KIND OF TOWN: CHICAGO

CUTTING 101


Calvin, I need a cut. Like how you did Ronnie last week:
A little off the top, long in the back but not quite a shag, slope to the left like Gumby,
Eddie Munster in the front, a 'lil Wyclef on the right…


To capture the essence of what it means to be a "cutter," the cast was sent to Mr. Voiner's Barber School in Los Angeles for a weeklong training session to familiarize them with the artistry of cutting hair. Producer Tillman says, "We looked at Barbershop like we did Men of Honor. We had boot camp for the actors who played Navy Divers; this was boot camp for the cutters. They had to learn how to cut hair, but also how to express themselves with a customer, become a psychiatrist, become a friend, a coach. That's what a barber is when they're working at a shop, and that's what these guys learned over a period of time. "

For some of the actors, cutting hair wasn't as easy as it looked. "We learned different blades and how to actually hold clippers the right way," says Eve. "I had no idea what it would be like and no prior experience. After we finished I realized it's just not for me. I'm just too nervous and might cut a patch in somebody's head. "
And though the actors felt comfortable and ready to use their "movie clippers," none seemed too ready for a new career. "I messed up a couple of heads and sent a couple people home a little ugly," says Sean Patrick Thomas. "But that's part of the process, and you had to at least try it. I had fun and by the time we were done, I was pretty good. At least basically competent at cutting heads," he laughs.
Cedric the Entertainer doesn't cut hair in the film, but he does perform a different trick of the barber trade: the straight-razor shave. "The barber consultant on the movie worked with me about the technique and what I should do with the straight razor," he says. "Once I had the strokes down, it was cool. I actually enjoyed it. I don't know if the actor getting shaved enjoyed it as much, though. Only a few band-aids and some anesthetic involved. "

A FILMMAKER'S KIND OF TOWN: CHICAGO

Robert Teitel and George Tillman, Jr. , knew from the start they wanted to bring Barbershop's production to Chicago. Teitel, who was born and raised in the city, and Tillman, also a Midwesterner, met each other in Columbia College's film school. After shooting their first feature, Scenes from the Soul, and their breakout hit Soul Food in Chicago, they had established strong bonds with its production community and love the look and feel of the city.
"George and I have known most of these people for ten to twelve years, so it feels comfortable for us to come here," says Teitel. "And the talent is amazing here in Chicago. We're able to hire many people locally and don't have to bring a lot of actors in from Los Angeles. "

Of their commitment to shooting in Chicago, Tillman says, "I look at filmmakers I admire like Spike Lee and Woody Allen. They make all of their films out of New York. There haven't really been 'Chicago' filmmakers, but that's how we look at ourselves. Barbershop takes place on 79th Street around the South Side. It's meant to take place in Chicago, and the city's a character of the film. For that reason, we wanted to come to the real place. We didn't want to go to Toronto. We wanted to be with the same group of people we worked with on Soul Food, people committed to the project who'd be willing to work harder for us. "
When scouting locations in Chicago, the production team had a surprisingly easy time finding the perfect spot. "On our first day scouting, George, Tim and I found this great street," says Teitel. "We saw a rows of different storefronts and just knew it had to be the place. It was perfect, and, to us, completely represented Chicago and what we were looking for. "
Of course, one "very Chicago" thing the production had to deal with was the weather. Production commenced in January, which means one thing to Chicagoans: cold. The low temperatures were a little shocking to some of the actors, especially those from Los Angeles, but they learned to deal with it and even enjoy it, in some cases.

"Chicago's been cold, cold, cold. But the people have been warm all the time," says Ice Cube. "Chicago is one of my favorite towns because of the people, the whole atmosphere and its Midwest flavor. So I can deal with a little bit of cold. And now I had the chance to really feel and live in the city for awhile, I love it even more. "
Director Story, who was born and raised in sunny Los Angeles, had never been in a snowstorm and had heard horror stories about "The Hawk," the sub-zero wind chill off the lake. But surprisingly, Story learned to love the weather and its unique effect on filmmaking. "I always wanted to do this film in the winter," he says, "because the winter becomes another character. I wanted the barbershop to be this heated, comforting little place in the middle of a refrigerator. I was freezing, don't get me wrong. But I'd freeze again. "

Several local Chicago celebrities and entertainers frequented the set and were featured as customers and denizens of the barbershop. Among those included were newly drafted Chicago Bull Jalen Rose, former Chicago Bear Shaun Gayle, former pro-basketball player Malik Abdul, and internationally known Black music retailer George Daniels. When it came to casting the role of Customer Sam, the barbershop regular trying to raise money to buy Johnny Brown a new pair of sneakers for the big game, ex-Chicago Bull/sportscaster Norm Van Lier was up for the challenge. "I was asked to do this and I thought it would be fun," says Van Lier. "I grew up in L. A. around the movie business and I've enjoyed being around this. And Ice Cube was able to give me tips during the course of filming - some of the technicalities, how to turn my head - and that's good, because I'm coachable. Despite what everyone says, I'm coachable!"

BUILDING THE BARBERSHOP

Calvin's Barbershop is not directly modeled after any one barbershop, but two specific shops served as inspiration for the set design. Terrell's Afro Barber Shop on Chicago's Northside and Victory Barber Shop in Harlem served as prime visual references. Like many neighborhood shops in the area, Terrell's is filled with African and Afro-American art, memorabilia, and photos of historical figures and local customers. It's virtually a museum to Chicago's Uptown African-American community and feels as much like a community living room as a small neighborhood business.

Harlem's Victory Barber Shop was founded immediately after its owner returned home from World War II. He's operated the shop continuously since that time and decorated the shop with memorabilia of local events and people. One classic photo adorning the walls is of luminaries Martin Luther King, novelist James Baldwin, and entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr. , embracing. A WWII-era space furnace heats the space so warmly that patrons keep the front door open in the middle of winter. Local retired gentlemen sit in front of the shop, gossip, joke, and play cards. Victory's owner considers his business to be the heart of the neighborhood.
Production designer Roger Fortune followed the aesthetics of these colorful environments to create Calvin's Barbershop. Like Calvin's place, Victory has warm, golden yellow ochre plaster walls with lots of aging and hairline cracks, dark brown-stained wood paneling, and a combination of tile and hardwood floors. There are '70s era light fixtures and '50s era barber chairs. Although the barbershop was founded in 1958, the building itself is older, dating to the '20s, and it previously housed another type of business. All these small details were meticulously copied to bring Calvin's to life.

Calvin's was also made to look like it's been incompletely renovated over time due to lack of money. Nothing exactly matches: the chairs, lockers, light fixtures and barber stations are all part of a mix-n-match set. The mirrors are original, permanently mounted to the walls and surrounded by ornate moldings. And the ceiling is old, beat-up and heavily painted embossed tin. There are photos of local Chicago celebrities like beloved Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and Chicago Bear Walter "Sweetness" Payton, and a few headshots of various actors in the film snuck onto the walls as well. One entire wall in the shop is covered by the "Wall of Fame," a mural of Calvin's father surrounded by various barbers with a young Calvin.
Each barber station was decorated with photos and personal mementos to personalize the area. At any given station there are photos of the actor's children as well as real high school photos, all mingling with various prop photos. These small details helped make the actors feel at home while cutting heads - and saying their lines - at Calvin's Barbershop.