TNT’s Summer Drama “Claws” Nails Women’s Friendships

Rashida Jones and Will McCormack are among the executive producers of Claws set in a strip mall in Florida but filmed in New OrleansDuring their session the actresses flashed their manicures Nashamp8217s not surprisingly had the most bling Not unusual for her she offeredamp160 The role however isamp8220I was excited to play my character Desna because she was so different from every woman Iamp8217ve ever played up until this pointamp8221 Nash said amp160amp8220The other thing was that there are so many layers to her amp160On the surface you might think here is this rough and tumble hard woman but there are so many points in the writing that show all of her sides and all of her colors and it was a blessing to playamp160 I know some women who donamp8217t look like me at all who wanted this role amp160So it wasnamp8217t just about her being a black woman amp160Women period were coveting this partamp160 I consider myself a very blessed woman to be able to be cast in this role and then to have these ladies with meamp8221Only the pilot has been shot so far but the cast immediately fell into an easy rapport Reyes told me amp160No stranger to working in a largely female ensemble she was most recently seen as one of the title characters in the Lifetime series Devious MaidsA boisterous Bronx native off screen in Claws Reyes plays Quiet Anne amp160amp8220Sheamp8217s a lesbian and very tough as I created heramp8221 Reyes said amp8220This was a wonderful opportunity to go against anything else I had playedamp8221Though Reyes loved the script she felt amp8220they should go after the real thingamp8221 and told her agent that she probably wasnamp8217t right for the part amp160Yet she worked on it and found the right space where Quiet Anne livesamp8220I put myself on tapeamp8221 she explained amp8220No makeup a cholo shirt hair pulled backamp8221 Quiet Anne sports neck tattoos and dresses in basic unisex gang bangerItamp8217s an interesting role because although Quiet Anne does not say much she expresses herself with her gestures and expressions amp160Like the other women in the salon Quiet Anne only wants a piece of the American Dream amp160The women plan on achieving that by owning a nail salon but for now they work at Nail Artistry of Manatee County in a Florida strip mallNail Artistry is used to launder money for a pill mill in the same mall Naturally the Dixie mob is heavily involved amp160As tough as these mobsters are they would be wise to remember they are dealing with Desna and Quiet Anne both fierce warriorsamp8220I drive the van and provide the securityamp8221 Reyes said amp8220And I do pedicuresamp8221There may not be that many walloppacking pedicurists but Reyes described the 10episode series as amp8220authenticamp8221 Some of that behindthescenes authenticity is that all of the actresses learned how to give manicures and pedicures she explained amp160Clips screened during the session for the show at TCA showed the actresses rather expertly doing nailsDespite the gangsters money laundering beatdowns and lifeontheedge challenges thereamp8217s a sweetness woven into the showamp160 Itamp8217s clear these women love one anotherThe wellmannered upbeat Polly Preston looks and acts rich but has been away as in the way convicts returning to their hometowns tell people amp8220Yeah Iamp8217ve been awayamp8221amp160 She wears a governmentissued ankle bracelet so Polly definitely has a juicy backstoryamp160 The women rally around her welcoming her back to the foldPreston recalled reading the script and how it resonated with her and jibed with what is going on politically amp8220Itamp8217s about women who are prevailing in whatever wayamp8221 she said addressing the realism at the core of the showamp160 amp8220Today women are trying to prevail as much as possibleamp160 And you know the matriarchy is a little compromised at this momentamp160 So to read a script like this thatamp8217s about women a tribe of women who are not after each other amp8230 certainly these characters are true sisters and theyamp8217re family and theyamp8217ve created this situation where they can prevail togetheramp160 They donamp8217t have to do it aloneamp8221Click on the social media tiles above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated bloggers

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TNT’s Summer Drama “Claws” Nails Women’s Friendships

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Jacqueline Cutler

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

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TNT’s Summer Drama “Claws” Nails Women’s Friendships

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Jacqueline Cutler

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

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