Cootie Revealed: Unveiling the Astonishing Height of 'I'm A Virgo' Star

Warning: Spoilers ahead for the film "I'm A Virgo."

Jharrel Jerome portrays the character of Cootie in "I'm A Virgo," leaving viewers curious about the actual height of both the character and the actor. Boots Riley dedicated five years to creating the long-awaited sequel to his critically acclaimed satire "Sorry To Bother You." Thankfully, Prime's "I'm A Virgo" lives up to the anticipation. Once again delivering a mind-bending and satirical adventure, Riley tells the tale of Cootie, a giant who grew up in isolation and ultimately becomes an unexpected local hero upon escaping into the vibrant world of his Oakland community. Cootie's bittersweet journey towards adulthood forms the heart of "I'm A Virgo."

By the time I’m A Virgo reaches its peculiar conclusion, viewers find themselves fervently cheering for Cootie as he battles against a totalitarian superhero aptly named The Hero. Nevertheless, prior to this climactic finale, Cootie undergoes a journey of camaraderie, love, and heartache. In the earliest stages of I’m A Virgo, Cootie forms profound friendships with Scat, Felix, and Jones, while cautiously exploring a romantic connection with the local fast food cook, Flora. Unfortunately, when a medical practitioner refuses medical assistance to Scat due to his lack of insurance, Cootie is confronted with the loss of one of his dearest companions. This tragic turn of events redirects the course of I’m A Virgo, delving into various genres, all while leaving viewers in suspense about the enigma of Cootie's extraordinary height.

I’m A Virgo’s Cootie Is 13 Foot Tall (But Jharrel Jerome's Height Is 5’8")

In I’m A Virgo, Cootie stands at approximately 13 feet tall. Throughout the series, various characters mention this towering height, although, like many fictional giants, Cootie's actual height seems to vary from one scene to another. Despite not being exceptionally short, the actor who portrays Cootie is not particularly tall either. Jharrel Jerome, the star of the series, is approximately 5 foot 8 according to his IMDB page. Consequently, I’m A Virgo employs a range of filmmaking techniques to create the illusion of Cootie's immense stature. Similar to Riley’s earlier mind-bending success Sorry To Bother You, I’m A Virgo combines minimal CGI with a multitude of practical effects, resulting in a visually captivating and distinct aesthetic that perfectly complements the show's unconventional tone.

While CGI is sometimes employed for a few shots, the creators of I'm A Virgo made a deliberate effort to rely on practical solutions for increasing Jerome's height by more than twofold. This involved the use of forced perspective compositions, a well-known camera technique where one actor appears significantly taller than their co-stars by being positioned closer to the camera. The Lord of the Rings trilogy notably employed forced perspective in numerous scenes featuring Gandalf and the Hobbits, opting for this approach despite having the financial means for more costly and time-consuming CGI techniques.

How I’m A Virgo Filmed Its Cootie Scenes

According to Riley's Twitter, the filming techniques used to achieve Cootie’s height in I’m A Virgo were innovative and diverse. These methods included forced perspective, half-scale sets, puppets, wire work, miniatures, and other optical illusions, along with the use of deep-focus lighting. These creative approaches allowed the production of I’m A Virgo to convincingly portray Cootie's height without depending on CGI, while also giving the series a distinct visual style. Drawing inspiration from Gondry and Kaufman, but with vibrant and captivating colors, I’m A Virgo stands out as a truly unique television experience. Furthermore, as an anti-capitalist superhero satire and contemporary fairy tale comedy, I’m A Virgo offers a refreshing and original narrative.