It seems every five minutes we have a casting for a foreign brand. Maybe due to the economic crisis, the world is waking up to the growing middle class market in china. I did a show for a swiss watch company this past week. It seems foreign brand shows fall outside the China Fashion Week. Luxury brands who may find it hard to enter an already saturated market in europe are finding open arms in China.
Transitioning out of modelling can be difficult for many people. Believe it or not, there is something great about being in front of the camera and expressing or putting on a show. The show organizer was a very successful model in China for many years and then she transitioned out and into being director of a top chinese agency. Then she got married, had a baby, and is now organizing top luxury events in China. She really inspired me. I asked her if she missed modelling and she said, yes sometimes. I asked her how she balanced being a mother and having a career and she said she could never do it with out the support of her husband and family who often take care of her lovely baby girl when she is so tired or working late. I asked her if she would let her daughter become a model and she said, yes absolutely. She would not wish her to become a sports girl. She said the sport industry was so demanding and the over practice and time involved to become the best in China, hurts the bodies in the long term. Modelling, singing, music, art, were all excellent careers along with doctor, lawyer, and the rest. I asked her how did she learn to become director of an agency and then producing events and she said that she worked her way up in the agency, and events came from being in shows as a model. I'm really honored to have met her. I'm sure you feel the same.
On the watch show i tried on a dress that was blue green. It was so stunning with my hair that everyone including me was shocked. I have to get lots of things in this color!
Male models never like to get makeup put on, and Simon is no different. However he get's it twice as bad because he has long hair and when they need him to look classic, the hair stylists never know what to do. In this case we all had to laugh because he really did look kind of funny. At least he can take it like a man and say "whatever". Poor Simon. My makeup on the other hand was one of the best I've had. Simon played it off great in the show. You could never mistake him for a girl!
The number one thing that can cause you to loose a show is not arriving to the fitting. With the traffic the way it is, it can really happen often.
The NSR casting is always huge! Girls just line up and get looked at one by one. Who knows what they are looking for! How can they even tell the difference? What are they looking for? These and more questions, never answered in my mind.
There are two camps at the castings: the Chinese Crew and the Foreign Crew and because of the language (I guess) the two don't mix!
I hate to admit it, but we stopped in to MacDonalds nearby and got some lunch. There was this drawing on the board that was really looked like me today!
The Russian Team! I'm telling you, it's totally true--Russian girls are HOT. It's like beauty grows on trees over there--I just don't know. They are wild, fun, hard, stubborn, and seriously into fashion!
Sitting around waiting for our turn, we end up talking about the things that matter in our lives. Models have the unique ability to go deep with someone in a short period of time because we fly all over the world and don't have the time to slowly get to know someone. We just get to the point while waiting our turn in line.
Our booker Simon sits and waits with us, explaining to us about the casting, what we have to do, who is the client, and laughing with us to make the time pass. Simon rocks--he's really professional and he is SUPER connected to the top clients. I really appreciate him--i dont know how he does it, but he always does his best to make everything go smooth...which in China because of the language is really hard to do!
Bently has a model agency just for Chinese models--yea, Bently the car. They have a magazine too and I would not be surprised that they have television and more. They have a lot of the Chinese top models and they've got really hot guys!
I was invited the other day to be interviewed as the foreign model on B TV China's "Common Ground", discussing the differences between foreign models and Chinese models.
It is extremely hard to get on TV in China, and if you do--they say you are made--that's it, you can become famous. That said, meeting other male models who have been in China for a long time, they say Chinese people can't tell the difference between Caucasian people and you have no chance of ever becoming recognized. That would really be a pity because what I am here for is to promote my Anina Dress Up game! That said, the majority of models here DO all look the same: long brown hair or long blond hair--of course it's even hard for me to tell them apart sometimes (joking). I think that of all people, I have a good chance because I've got SHORT RED HAIR. How could they mistake that for someone else!?
I was on a pannel of other Chinese models--the guy I'm sitting next to is a top model in China turned actor. At one point they asked us to walk and then they explained that foreign models walk more aggressivly than Chinese models--and it's true. When I walked I looked like I was going to eat everyone for lunch said my translator! The also said that foreign models tend to be scouted (and I told my story of being discovered in the health food store) whereas Chinese models go to modelling school, are trained, and actually have a "degree" in modelling so to speak. It was so interesting to hear.
Dennis the host speaks English and Chinese so he translated when they asked me questions. He said my name 5 times on the television--so that was pretty good! I got voted the best outfit, the best walk, and the best model there by the pannel. It was a great experience and the director asked me if I have done any movies--I said, yes they have made movies about me and i would love to be in some Chinese movies but that I can not speak Chinese yet! So i could only play the SILENT NINJA that kills everyone and never says a word, or the GIRLFRIEND of the lead character who says, "What did they say baby?"!
8:30 AM pickup and we are waiting all for the drivers at the designated spot. Everyone is ready for the fashion show castings with high heels and tight clothing. We are already to start the day still sleepy from the night before (the Pink Susy Wong Party).
"Sena" and I cant really talk because she doesn't speak a lot of english, but it's one of those things where eyes and body language speak really loudly--we really feel close and smile with a glint in our eyes of mutual understanding. Oh, and today I discovered that her name is NOT Sena! The agency renamed her! Why? I have no idea--maybe Chinese people can't say her real name: Yanna. She's got super biiiig eyes and a lovely look.
Today I did a photo shoot with my roomate Susan and we really got made up! Our waky hair, adn nice makeup made us really have a lauch the whole day as we ran back and forth from the dressing room!
Miss Jin is from Taiwan and has built the lingerie and body sculpting company in the last 5 years--which is really fast considering her competitors have been in the industry since 10 years. Miss Jin is really amazing woman--she knows what she wants, she's clear, she works very hard, and with a great smile!
All the day we are talking in the car about how some people dont like to fight or discuss or even talk about problems (but they all talk behind people's back or to their best friends). I'm not like that, and sometimes it costs me the things I love the most because...it seems I'm difficult. But today we watched a great movie and at the end there was this excellent song that I think is so wonderful. Everyone though agreed in the end of the discussion...it's better to say the things and to discuss than to stay silent and dont talk about it.
The set of the talk show.
Yesterday on the plane i sat between several chinese business men. As i snapped my seat belt into it's lock, i glanced at the magazine that he was reading and there was my face! They could not believe it and proceeded to tell everyone around us. Then he started to teach me some simple chinese characters, and this one means people. Cool hey?
Meet Anna O. and Jovanna! Anna is from Russia and Jovanna is from Serbia.
I'm extremely impressed. Fortino Tapia has really hit the nail on the head and given us a glimpse of what the word "fashion video" could mean in the future. I think this is an awesome video and definitely moving in the direction of where fashion should be putting their heads. Every store these days has a video screen in it, and most fashion brands use this screen to display their fashion show. At fashion expo's like White in Milan, there were screens, hell there were even screens in the FullUp discotec in Florence. So what are fashionable people or people who want to attract the fashion crowd going to display on these screens? What is a fashion video these days: runway, backstage, interview with designer...? Nothing much new has come out of fashion video--as defined by Michele Adams from ftv in the 80's. One could argue that a fashion video is just a over glorified music video...but this is not an accurate thought. People like Fly magazine, a DVD magazine from NYC which hosts a variety of high quality fashion scenarios in video format, is a great example of where video and fashion could go. How to have the balance between art, and see the clothing? I think the Tapia brand is really pushing forward. Also check out the backstage videos on 360fashion by Fortino Tapia and tell me what you think of this video! Leave some commentair please.
From last week in amsterdam i forgot to post:
Already out the door, drink a tea, and already discovering new technologies and physical digital games. Two digital people in two cubes. When you magnet lock them together they start to interact. Some guy in the area makes them and sells them locally in amsterdam.
Back in the city feels so strange after flying all night long and having just been in luxurious Europe. It feels new and yet familiar, different than the other times. Right off the plane and i have to go change in 2 min and rush to a show casting for the upcoming fashion week! I just missed the Thais, Ivette, and the rest of the girls that were here before. Now everyone is new! Don't know anyone. That's model life. People come and go. I'm so tired! Finished the casting, unpack, sleep. Tomorrow big day.
