One of the film’s key elements is the look of Jackson as Shaft. "John Shaft is THE MAN," explains costume designer Ruth E. Carter. "He’s the guy who women want and who the bad guys are afraid of. He’s it. I didn’t have to elevate Sam in this respect, because he’s already there as an actor, but I wanted to parallel his talent with a kind of smart, savvy look that was approachable but also menacing." Essential to that look is a beautiful, flowing leather coat. Richard Roundtree wore three different leather coats in the original "Shaft," so, Carter says, "I figured, ‘If he could do it, so can we.’"
"Shaft" began production in late September of 1999 and continued into January 2000. Throughout the various neighborhoods in which filming took place, residents were unfailingly supportive and accommodating, particularly to Richard Roundtree, who remains an icon to African-Americans.
"To this day," laughs Roundtree, "I’ll be walking down the street in New York City and wherever I’m going, people are screaming out, ‘Shaft!’ I get so much love, it’s just incredible."
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