Attitude, Attitude, Attitude

I am watching Britain's Next and I am always set back by the attitude that says: "I will not change." Oh dear, that is the ONE thing you will have to do constantly, if you are looking to be a Top Model. The business is nothing, if not ALL about change. Pliable and you are going to have to become BEST FRIENDS.

Quick responses to what the photographer wants are what reduces costs, when on set . When in front of a camera, you should hear a click after every pose. If he's not clicking, it's because you aren't. Something different with each click, even if it is slight. Your task is to give them as many good frames to work with as possible. You must become a very good actress. It's why the professions of acting/modeling overlap. If you are not willing to change for the sake of the job, in front of the camera, then you are in the wrong business.

That being said please always remember that being pliable on set should never include inappropriate requests being made.

Patrick and Lori

Patrick Demarchelier

I love his romance with "REAL"

It really is NOT about what others think about your height or anything else you think is WRONG with you or what others say, it is only how YOU feel that gets transmitted to "out there".

Teaching that lesson was done really well with the girls being "judged" by the general public, who have NO vested interest in holding back with opinions.

And Patrick Demarchelier, comes to the shoot with the fabulous Lori Goldstein and BOTH of them are SO comfortable in their own skin that you almost forget who they are. I am sooo glad to see that the "stylists" are getting some face time on this round. We are getting to see that there are many different "talents" on set during a shoot, all of them with sooo much to offer the aspiring model. These two are so good at what they do, that you relax into the advice they give. The both exude a real love for themselves and what they do, the two are seamless. That is what feeds the air the girls have to learn in for the time of the shoot. It almost doesn't matter WHAT makes these professionals so comfortable, whether it's experience, power, or control, but they do not care what the model thinks of THEM. This is not expressed or experienced in a way that degrades. Real doesn't need to go there. And "real" is exactly what the girls needed to bring to the shoot on the street, paired up with one of the other girls and a guy. Chelsea nearly "lost" it when she had a hard time getting past her own self-consciousness around Patrick, during the solo shot, to SELL the products in the shot. THAT was/is the ENTIRE reason for the shoot! Remember, the "spark" in the eyes that Tyra calls for comes from EMOTION. If your focus is on frozen fear, that is what gets captured. Kendal really did do a fabulous job.

Why the Brazilian girls?

Well, let me tell you what I think about that! The girls of Brazil have REALLY burst onto the modeling scene in the last little while. We all look and with most of the Brazilian girls, we go, Wow! SHE really is beautiful! Why? What is it? The water? The sun? The culture? It is, at points, all of those things. The one common denominator that MUST be present, and is greatly lacking, especially in North American girls, is REAL confidence front of a camera, naked! There, I said it! Yes. The barest of clothing by most standards. I think every model aught to get herself to Brazil at least once, as she is learning about the business. Go work with people who do not see the body as something to be hidden. Real comfort with the body, looks beautiful!

MAAAAKE OVER!

This is always one of my most favorite ones in ANY season. This cycle of girls are creative indeed. Ann, of all people, really surprised me with the "make-a-fake-makeover list" and then "drop" it in the hall. Brilliant fun! There is always at least one person who loses it over not liking the make over. This week it was Terra and by the end, she was gone.

After the anguish of the makeover was out of the way, the girls were set up on a beach with young men to shoot themselves in various forms of bird-themed attire. Again a test of not losing it while hoisted in the air staring at gorgeous young men. What fun the show must have coming up with these scenarios.

Cycle 15 BEGINS!

Well it all began with some rather interesting tests of confidence. After all the season-opening introductions were out of the way, it got right down to business with the girls having to apply their own make-up and then straight on to facing a Lot of peoples' fear, HEIGHTS. The girls did exceptionally well, considering the cat walk was a see-through gangplank protruding high above the crowd. Kacy really pulled it out when having to leave her glasses behind, leaving Her really quite blind. Each contestant was harnessed, but still she displayed what EVERY set looks for in the "talent", a real willingness to pull out all the stops to get the job done!

One segment then chose to focus on a great life message; What has been a weak point for you CAN be converted to usable energy, becoming an asset! This was done by using the power sapped by earlier life experiences with negative rejection, and turning the words around and creating a new self-definition. As they chose words to be painted onto them, we came to learn that Many of these girls were the victims of out right bullying. Demi Lovato was a guest with a vision, offering a website to viewers who want to participate in changing things for the better. If you are a victim of bullying go to: teensagainstbullying.org

The first girl to go was Anamaria from Queens, N.Y. You could see that decision being made as Anamaria expressed that she was working on getting More lean. The faces of the judges could not hide their concern. I for one, am glad to see that the producers and others allowed her through and made a statement about the all-pervasive cult of dangerously thin. All in all it was a great week.

Fashion. Why SO small??

I often hear the question, in regard to the size of models, why are they so thin? It really does get down to the "business" of it all. The types of materials used at the highest levels, starting with couture, boggle the mind. Haute Couture is at the top level of hand customized fashion design and clothing construction made by a couture design house. The word is French for 'high sewing'.
In France, the label "haute couture" is a legally protected label. A certain number of formal criteria (number of employees, participation in fashion shows etc.) must be met for a fashion house to use the label; a list of eligible houses is made official every year by the French Ministry of Industry. The haute couture houses belong to the professional union the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. All access is granted to the finest artisans in Europe, among them, generations of people who specialize in the making of pleats that include the use of antique systems that still provide THE best results in the hands of these people. You CANNOT make these works of art in the sizes of the "average" woman. The cost of doing so would be astronomical and is, in my opinion, not necessary. Sizing at this and every level of high fashion, is not about trying to impose a standard for women, but by the nature of the art produced, needs to be smaller so as to minimize the cost of the work.

GIVING BACK IS ATTRACTIVE!

Coco Rocha, good Canadian girl that she is, is living proof that the modeling industry is not simply full of self-serving, wafer-thin girls with no brains or soul. This young lady, is more the norm than many would like to think. It seems that all we hear about are phone-throwing tantrums from highly paid models. So it is a delight to know that Coco Rocha has made the time, so soon in her career, to think about how to use her success to help others. Take note, all of you who want to be where she is. You CAN be a model and still care about the global community. She is not just a model but a true role model!

Cinco de Mayo (May 5, 2010)

This week’s focus was ADAPTATION, how quickly and deeply can you do it. The Business is nothing if not on constantly shifting sand. From the moment you enter the modeling world you will be asked to adapt to; different time zones, cultures, climates, hair, clothes and levels of professionalism! Your ability to do this will translate into an amazing career if that’s what you want. This holds true if your goal is AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, or more local work.

On many photo shoots at the level of ANTM, you are ranked straight up and out of just about ALL of your comfort zones, ALL at once! There is not much time for patience and “thinking” ones way through. You are now on a very emotionally charged journey. There are a number of ways to approach your submersion into this world, you can fight it, and each other, which we have seen plenty of, or you can TRUST in the ones telling you what to correct and how! If you have an agent you trust, then TRUST them! Take direction, which is all too often received as criticism. Perez is criticism, Mr. J is fabulous direction.

Alexandra and Krista very successfully displayed how adaptation, in the form of making the uncomfortable look relaxed and comfortable, worked for them in the “Hobbit” shoot. They both carried that through to Tyra’s “Find the Light” shoot, with Alexandra looking “ethnic”. Adaptation equals versatility in the modeling biz and that can only mean one thing to any model, lots of bookings, which is the point after all. Make sure your repertoire includes the ability to take on any assigned role, and when you think about the length of time you are actually asked to “pretend” it’s not too much to ask you to be PREPARED for anything.

Many of the themes for the show really are the same as the needs from the industry. They are repeated on the show and in this blog in various forms, because they bear repeating and if applied, can only help you on the path to your dreams. For the purposes of those not on the show, and trying to build a career, you must begin with hiring an agent that you trust. Like all aspects of this or any business, do your research and once that work is done and you have placed yourself in an agents hands, start and continue to take direction well and no matter what level of this business you are in, you will be busy.

Tip: If you Respect the Industry, it will respect you right back!

Be Prepared

April 28, 2010
I would dare to guess that at this level of the Business, most would agree that it’s not “what” you wear but “how” you wear it, that matters and this week’s first challenge brought that lesson home to the girls
Using Emotion and being Prepared were the theme’s this week.
The girls were brilliantly challenged when ALL of them had to model the same dress with the beautiful New Zealand as the backdrop. So, there were really two challenges to overcome, that of shining in the same dress and not getting lost to the scenery. Some were successful, some, not so much. The ones that succeeded, TOTALLY tapped into the role they were asked to play . Raina and Alexandra showed how it’s done, to perfection.

GO-SEES – Ladies, ladies, ladies, and guys too, be Professional!
The lesson was on being prepared, which translates to professional, even if it is at the end of a 22-hour flight to a shoot location. Listen up – this is the part of your dream of being a super model where you get hired and paid, so on and so forth – don’t go on Go-See’s with Uggs, or any other kind of boots, a beleaguered unprepared appearance. Homeless people are not getting bookings. Help them out please, whenever you can, don’t show up on any booking looking like one.

During the runway portion of each girl’s go-see, it was clearly evident that the general thinking is still “I am thin, tall, and good looking so I don’t need to go to the gym.” YES, yes you do need to go, at least minimally. With today’s technology available you might want to film yourselves practicing the cat walk in a swimsuit. Pound it out the way you will need to for a fashion show and review the footage. See what the camera and the rest of us see. If you notice that your upper thighs could use some toning, get to the gym and take care of your investment.

Tip: Don’t take either, your last failure or success with you on the next shoot. Don’t waste energy on what is done and cannot be changed. Pack a good attitude and you will find yourself always prepared.

Like Location, ATTITUDE is everything!

April 13, 2010
Attitude, attitude, attitude like location, is everything!
Raina showed how real confidence is expressed through her attitude. She consistently displays a genuine LOVE for what she is doing and it shows when she embraces criticism as a chance to grow instead of as an insult. She “shows up” physically and emotionally for all of her assignments happy to do what is asked
It was decided that Angelea was the “winner” of last night’s photo shoot. Brenda called it when she said that the only reason Angelea took a good photo was because her assigned role of “fashionista” or as Brenda called it “snobby” was no stretch for Angelea and we absolutely agree. While Angelea won this one, it pointed out the importance of all of the contestants and models who are serious about their careers, to be prepared. You will, throughout your careers, be asked to extend yourself emotionally into a role that you may not be familiar with on a daily basis. You will be asked to project “characters” that are foreign to you. Time spent practicing taking on different roles would not be a waste of time at all.
Alasia found herself completely out of water for the Industry Meet and Greet and worried about “how to act” in front of these people. Normally I would say to “act” the way you normally should, friendly, open, and sending the message that you are there to help them sell their products to the world. Instead her energy was spent thinking that the other girls were trying to break her “confidence”. When did cursing, screaming, name-calling and many other forms of bad behaviour pass as confidence?
Behaving like a Diva before you get your foot in the door is not going to further your cause. At the end of the day, modeling is a “business” and that means time truly is money. Energy wasted on reigning in bad behaviour, time spent telling and showing you every move in front of a camera, will not get you invited back. The focus of this week’s show was Interfacing with the Industry, but in truth that is a constant focus in the industry as without skills in this area, whatever “beauty” you possess will not be seen by those that can help you get to where you want to be.
Tips: During any and all shoots you are being asked to take on the role of….for the time it takes to shoot a few rolls of film. Practice outside of your comfort zone. Work with an aspiring photog to discover what your best angles and looks are.

If it is true, and I believe it is, that the best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour then we should be prepared for Angelea and a couple of the others to continue fighting a process for power and control, the hole time losing both.
Remember girls and guys, that who you “are”, be it confident or lacking, will shine through. One will help you build a career and the other will not.
We are creating a segment called The Model’s Tool Kit. It will contain the things that all aspiring and successful models should have with them at all times.
The first is; Learn to dress your body type. Play with this, have fun. It will take getting in front of a mirror and trying things on, playing with different concepts and finding what works for you. You are, at the end of the day, your own calling card.