Meet Emanuel Millar

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emanuel Millar.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born in central California but grew up in Los Angeles. Starting in East LA, then LA Puente and finally moving to Pico Rivera when I was in 4th grade.

Most people who meet me don’t think I’m Latino but I am. Even though I don’t speak Spanish fluently.

I started cutting my own hair at the age of eight, In our family bathroom. And after three attempts over a period of 6 months and threats from my mother than I was going to have to go to school like that my oldest brother asked me to cut his hair.

From that moment on, I became known as the hair cutting kid with family and friends and in my neighborhood. After high school, I opened my first hair salon at 19, Manny’s Hairstyling in Whittier, my second at 22, Hairways in Pasadena I closed both salons at 24 to pursue doing hair in the film business.

Soon after getting married at 25, and within five years having three children while all the while taking any job I could to pursue my hair film career.

Eventually Actors, directors and producers liked how I did hair enough to ask me to work on their next projects which took me all over the US and various parts of the world.

Getting into the film business has been one of my greatest joys. After almost 40 years I still love it.

As of this year I’ve since retired from doing hair on film. A few years ago after producing my first film Counter Punch and directing plays Take Me Out and Death and a short film Brothers my next pursuit is directing. It’s become my new passion even though I’ll always love doing hair. I’ve come to realize the love I’ve had for creating hair styles has remained. After working with brilliant actors and other talented artists in their fields that kind of creativity has transferred to love I now have for creating stories on film.

Having written 2 scripts on my own and collaborating on 6 others with my writing partner Eric Colton. I feel more than ready to start making my own movies. Putting my own stamp on the film industry just the way I’ve been witness to many who have like James Cameron, Quentin Tarantino and Mike Nichols to name a few.

I have also recently completed a book about my 37 years working as a hairdresser in the film business with the likes of Tom Hanks, Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett, etc…

Has it been a smooth road?
Looking back on it now, it seemed pretty smooth. In the beginning, my struggle was not knowing anyone in the film business therefore how do I get in? The only way I knew how was sneaking onto film sets when I’d see the trucks in neighborhoods and knocking on makeup and hair doors asking how I can get in the film business. More times than not getting told to go away they can’t help me. But I continued in spite of the continued rejection.

It took me over two years of working on non paying jobs before I finally got a break making $50 dollars a day on the first Tina Turner music video What’s Love Got To Do With It. I was beyond thrilled to work 26 hours that first day.

What else should our readers know?
My passion besides God is my work. When I stop to think about it, Millions of people have seen my creations of hair if they’ve watched films like Girl Interrupted, Kill Bill, Inglorious bastards, Groundhog Day, etc. My hope is to continue that same passion directing the films I’ve written or have been a part of writing.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Absolutely! Los Angeles is a Mecca for film and All the artists who live here. My advice to anyone trying to get into film or TV is be good. Be so good at what you do that people will seek you out and ask for you by name. And always remember to be true to yourself.

People notice. Most people who have made it in the film industry are always looking for their next big fish.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 213-660-6565
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @emanuel_millar6

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