Themes: Underdogs, Fighting the System, Down on Their Luck
Main Cast: Craig Ferguson, Frances Fisher, Chris Langham, Mary McCormack, Donal Logue
Release Year: 1999
Country: UK/US
Run Time: 86 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Craig Ferguson, best known to American audiences as Mr. Wick, the conniving boss who loves to fire people on The Drew Carey Show, co-wrote and starred in this mock-documentary about Crawford Mackenzie, Scotland's leading hairdresser. When Crawford receives an invitation to Los Angeles for the World Freestyle Hairstyling Championships, he eagerly hops the first flight to America, with a camera crew in tow to record his triumphant debut in the States. Once he arrives, he learns that he was invited to attend and observe but not to compete. Crawford is at first dejected, but he refuses to take the humiliation lying down; one way or another, Crawford is determined to show off his talents for the greater glory of Scottish hair styling. The supporting cast includes Mary McCormack, Sara Gilbert, Larry Miller, and Charles Napier; director Kevin Allen previously helmed the offbeat Scottish comedy Twin Town. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Mark A. Thomson - Art Director, W. Mark McNair - Associate Producer, Beth Rogers - Costume Designer, Michael J. Allowitz - First Assistant Director, Kevin Allen - Director, Chris Peppe - Editor, Kevin Allen - Executive Producer, Craig Ferguson - Executive Producer, Sacha Gervasi - Executive Producer, Mark Thomas - Composer (Music Score), Joseph Hodges - Production Designer, Seamus Mcgarvey - Cinematographer, Philip Rose - Producer, Kenneth McLaughlin - Sound/Sound Designer, Craig Ferguson - Screenwriter, Sacha Gervasi - Screenwriter
Ferguson plays Crawford Mackenzie, a Scottishhairdresser who, while being filmed as part of a fly-on-the-wall documentary, is invited to the World Hairdresser International Federation annual contest. The documentary team follows Crawford to L.A. where he discovers that his invitation is to be a member of the audience rather than a competitor. He eventually weasels his way into the contest and produces the greatest creation of his career.
Other names for this film
Je M'Appelle Crawford (My Name is Crawford) (U.S. [working title])
Filmed on location in Glasgow and Los Angeles. The inspiration for this film came from Craig Ferguson's desire to make a cheerful film celebrating Scottishness, as opposed to the epic nature of films like Braveheart and Rob Roy, or the downbeat quality of Trainspotting and Shallow Grave. The script was snapped up by Warner Brothers after a five day bidding war. Warner Brothers was the only studio prepared to immediately greenlight the film. A fast turnaround was required so it could be shot while Ferguson was on hiatus from 'The Drew Carey Show'.
The Big Tease was not the only hairdressing film in development at the time, the The Big Tease was released first in 2000 causing Blow Dry to be delayed until 2001.[1]
Casting
It took casting director Kris Nicolau about five weeks to fill all seventy roles in the film.Frances Fisher was originally to read for the part of Monique, a role which went to Mary McCormack. Instead she opted to play Candy, the publicist. Craig Ferguson attended a hairdressing institute to learn all about the art of hairdressing. The hairpieces used in the final Platinum Scissors competition are made from real human hair. Acrylic (which is normally used in wigs) doesn't photograph well and ends up looking like plastic. Each hairpiece weighed about 4 pounds (1.8 kg)
