“Roots” costume designer Ruth Carter discusses passion piece

“Roots” costume designer Ruth Carter discusses passion piece

By April Newell originally written for webn.tv. 

Ruth Carter, costume designer for ABC's "Roots".  

“In order to set a scene, you need to take the audience there.  You have make them believe that what they are seeing is real,” said “Roots” costume designer Ruth E. Carter.  “To have achieved this and receive an Emmy nomination is an incredible honor.”

Carter is nominated for an Outstanding Costume Design Award for “Night One” of ABC’s “Roots” reboot.  The four part series begins in 1770’s Africa, and follows the story of the Kinte family’s capture and sale to white slave traders headed to the Americas.  The original character, Kunta Kinte, is sold to John Waller who owns a tobacco plantation in the colony of Virginia.

“Slaves were only allowed one outfit for the whole year, so we used rough materials like burlap and wool for their costumes.  We aged and dyed them to look weathered and raw.  The actors were not comfortable in their clothes, especially when we were shooting in the Louisiana heat,” said Carter.

ABC’s “Roots” is a remake of the 1977 miniseries with the same name, based on Alex Haley’s best selling novel, Roots: The Saga of an American Family.

“Remaking Roots was a definitely a challenge.  We wanted to stay true to the story, pay tribute to the original, and also give it something more.  This project was a passion piece of mine, and I’m so grateful to have had a part in this production,” said Carter.

“Roots” was nominated for 43 Emmy nominations, and won eight Creative Arts Emmy awards.  The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards will air on September 18th on ABC.