Characters from “Set it Off” 1996
In between fighting the power and working on my own stories that I write and illustrate doing fan art for 90s films I grew up watching is a balm. I get to play, practice, and reimagine. I painted these using watercolor, a black micron pen, and Arches 140 lb hot press paper. Click on each character to see a few words I wrote about each woman, and read below for my take on the film.
On the film: I saw Set It Off when it came out. I think it was shortly after F. Gary Gray did “Friday”. I loved it back then and I think it still holds up now. Back then and even now, it’s rare to see four Black women wreck shit in a heist film. It’s action that is centered in a different experience but one most working class people can identify with. I loved all of their characters, how they struggled, cared for each other, and I think writer Takashi Bufford who wrote the screenplay did a great job. I know he’s mentioned there are things that he’d change if he could redo the film (Spoiler alert-he’s written a sequel in a fictionbook). But I think it still stands up today. Shout out to Jada, Latifah, Vivica, Kimberly, the director, the producer, stunt folks, casting director, stunt people, and all of the cast and crew.
About me: My name is Robert Liu-Trujillo. I’m an author/illustrator from the Bay Area and my most recent picture book is “Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco” published by Lee & Low. Get it at your local public library or independent bookstore.
Character 182 – Stoney
Character 181 – Frankie
Character 180 – Cleo
Character 179 – TT
Dig this? Check out my throwback drawings of three characters from the 80’s film The Last Dragon or the 90’s film “Mi Vida Loca”
