Painted Nails is a documentary that shines a light on the health problems and harsh work conditions in the nail salon industry. The documentary follows the life of Vietnamese immigrant salon owner, Van Hoang, who, for years, has experienced first hand the effects that come from breathing the harsh chemicals from nail polish day in and day out. We got to speak to the co-directors, Dianne Griffin and Erica Jordan, about how Painted Nails came together, what sort of action citizens can take now to combat and fight the cause and what our readers can take away from watching the movie.
TYF: What was the inspiration behind Painted Nails?
Dianne Griffin and Erica Jordan: We were initially fascinated by the proliferation of nail salons in the United States, the women who work in them, and the affordable luxury of a manicure and pedicure so many women desire. When we entered the nail salons in San Francisco with translator and associate producer Nhung Pham, we realized the story was much deeper. Since we are both interested in creating character-driven documentaries, we went in search of a nail technician who was willing to tell her story. After interviewing several manicurists, we met Van Hoang. She immediately made it known she had nothing to hide and generously invited us to document her inspiring journey.
TYF: Can you walk us through the process of what it was like putting together Painted Nails?
Griffin and Jordan: The development of a trusting relationship with Van, as the main subject, was the defining element in creating this personal, character-driven documentary. She made it clear from the start that she had nothing to hide and generously invited us to document her unique journey. With the assistance of our translator and associate producer Nhung Pham, we were able to learn the cultural subtleties and to seamlessly enter Van and her husband Triet’s work and home. Our investment of time allowed us to structure a film that reveals one woman’s personal and political transformation.
The decision to shoot Painted Nails with a small crew (Erica Jordan, Dianne Griffin, and Nhung Pham), natural light, and unobtrusive equipment was a conscious one, and this stylistic choice serves the film on many levels. Van, her family, and the women in the salon were able to shed their inhibitions and reveal an honesty rarely seen in documentaries.
As we are capturing Van’s story, San Francisco and the rest of the world is becoming aware, through the advocacy of nail salon safety groups, of the toxic chemicals in nail products. We followed Van’s first step toward activism when she moves from the isolation of her salon to the rooms of policymakers and attends the Board of Supervisors’ meeting to stand in support of the San Francisco Healthy Nail Salon Recognition Ordinance and then to Washington, DC, where she becomes the first person to testify for safe cosmetics in over 30 years.
TYF: How long did it take to make the documentary?
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Griffin and Jordan: Painted Nails took several years from initial concept to its premiere screening at Cinequest International Film Festival. We were committed to following Van’s story over time, so the audience would witness the unfolding of her courageous personal and political development.
TYF: What were some of the challenges you had when putting together the documentary?
Griffin and Jordan: One of the biggest challenges we faced making the documentary was the language barrier. We were fortunate to collaborate with translator Nhung Hoang Pham who eventually became our associate producer. Nhung has experienced first hand the harmful effects that many of her friends have suffered arising from working with harmful chemicals found in the nail industry.
TYF: What was the most rewarding part of making the film?
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Griffin and Jordan: It was rewarding to make a documentary, not only about the toxins in the nail industry but to share a multi-layered immigrant story. Painted Nails successfully challenges stereotypes and allows the audience to connect with, and care about, another person’s struggles and triumphs on a very intimate level. We believe Van’s story is extra poignant because she is an immigrant and came to the United States with the assumption that she would be working in a safe environment.
TYF: In the film, it was noted that Van was one of the first few activists to speak up about the harsh working conditions in the last 30 years. Why do you think it took so long for such a big issue to be brought up?
Griffin and Jordan: Good question. This might be more thoroughly answered by an organization such as Campaign for Safe Cosmetics or Women’s Voices for the Earth.
TYF: Are more hair salon employees speaking up? If so, what have other hair salons done to help ban the harsh chemicals found in nail polish?
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Griffin and Jordan: Nail employees are slowly speaking up as they gain awareness about the harmful chemicals present in the nails care products and the lack of availability of safer products/ingredients they are working with often seven days a week ten hours a day.
TYF: How has the community responded to the film?
Griffin and Jordan: The community response to the Painted Nails has been overwhelming. At a recent screening in Mill Valley, we were told our film sold out in 3 hours, faster than any other film they have screened. Audiences are very inspired by Van’s journey because she found the courage to speak out in order to protect her unborn child, her own health, the health of her family and other salon workers. Unraveled are the layers of a seemingly shy woman from Vietnam, who realizes she has something powerful to share with the world.
TYF: After watching Painted Nails, how can individuals take action?
Griffin and Jordan: We suggest individual’s get involved by aligning themselves with organizations such as Women’s Voice for the Earth, which works to amplify women’s voices to eliminate the toxic chemicals that harm our health and communities; California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, which helped pass legislation in California that established a voluntary healthy nail salon recognition program; and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, an organization working to pass The Personal Care Products Safety Act — a bipartisan legislation that was introduced in Congress by Senators Feinstein and Collins to help strengthen ingredient safety requirements for the cosmetic industry.
TYF: Since releasing the film, has any progress been made on the legislation of banning these harsh chemicals found in nail polish?
Griffin and Jordan: While bi-partisan legislation has been introduced there is still a lot of work to do to make sure this bill is strong enough to protect the health of salon workers and consumers. So far there has been only one hearing for S.1014. and we are hopeful that the bill authors will listen to feedback and strengthen the bill.
Because of our current weak cosmetics laws, there are little to no incentives for manufacturers of nail salon products to make safer products. Also, salon workers are relatively understudied. There is little research evaluating the actual chemical exposures they experience on a day-to-day basis. This makes it very difficult to assess the potential cause and effect of salon product use on their health. What we need is strong legislation that will require cosmetic ingredients to meet a high bar for safety before they are used and sold in products.
TYF: For our young readers out there, what message what you like them to take with them after watching Painted Nails?
Griffin and Jordan: Through witnessing Van’s courage to fight for something she believes in, we hope the youth will be inspired to take action to bring about the changes they want to see in their communities. Van shows the world the power of sharing their personal story and its ability to open the hearts and minds of voters and policymakers.
TYF: Lastly, for our readers who want to watch Painted Nails, where can they watch the film?
Griffin and Jordan: We encourage individuals and organizations to host community screenings of Painted Nails, which can be licensed through the website; www.paintednailsmovie.com.
Painted Nails was produced through DigAll Media, a San Francisco-based social justice nonprofit, committed to creating media that deepen public understanding of issues that affect our lives and expand cultural, environmental and global awareness.
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