Iconography

Very rarely I come across people that are truly inspiring. It takes a lot to wow me nowadays, i don't know if it is the kind of work I do and the amount of impressive people I meet constantly, but I find myself being inspired by little things and certain characteristics rather than the entire "body of work" of a person. Eileen Ford had that quality, that "body of work"; her life story was a true lesson. Her passion and the way she carried her life and her business alongside her husband Jerry were truly moving.

When I spoke to her for this article I wrote for Look Books I was truly moved and completely humbled, here it was, a true legend of the fashion industry, a woman that broke the standards and set brand new ones for all those who followed. Eileen Ford had a dream and a passion, she believed in them and never gave up, building a family business that is now larger than life.

Have a read at the full article in THIS link - it's long, I warn you, but it's totally worth it!
xx
Gabriel

Iconography: Eileen & Jerry Ford

In fashion there is much talk about the legacy left by designers, photographers and magazines, but not many people look at a vital piece of the industry that connects all the dots: the modeling agency. Eileen and Jerry Ford, as you can probably tell by their name, were pioneers, founders of the Ford Model Agency, now simply known as Ford Models. One of the most established and recognizable brands in the world with offices spread throughout the continents, Ford is also the oldest and longest running modeling agency in the world, a true landmark of the fashion industry. For many people, the names Eileen and Jerry Ford won’t mean much, but in the small world of fashion, they are synonymous with royalty.

Eileen Otte met Gerard W. Ford in 1944 outside a drugstore near Columbia University, where he attended school for midshipman as part of his service with the United States Navy. The couple fell in love and got married later in that same year in San Francisco while Gerard, also simply known as Jerry, awaited to be shipped out to sea for the World War II.

With Jerry’s departure, Eileen returned to New York where she started working as a secretary for a photographer, as well as a stylist and a fashion reporter for the Tobe Report. While working in the photography studio, Mrs. Ford would constantly meet models and from those relationships, soon enough she also started working as a secretary to some of those girls who felt their agency wasn't efficient enough in taking care of their bookings, therefore, having their own secretary would guarantee that their clients would get the attention they needed and the girls wouldn't lose any jobs to other models.

Upon Jerry’s return from the war, he resumed his studies at Columbia University, for Business/Administration, while Eileen continued to work for the models out of her father's apartment. As business grew and Eileen acquired more models, she and Jerry came to the conclusion it was time to expand business and make a more serious investment towards it. Jerry saw how much passion Eileen had for her new found career but above all he saw great potential in it, as her success was increasing continuously. Jerry and Eileen then sold their car and moved their business into their own location at 949 Second Avenue, in Manhattan, above a woodwork shop. The location wasn't the most glamorous, but it was their own and  it would give them room to grow and expand their business. At this point Eileen was about to give birth to her first daughter Jamie and would have to step out to take care of her baby, that's when Jerry decided to step in to help, and what was supposed to be a temporary thing turned out to become a passion for him too.

With a great reputation for honesty and efficiency the Fords attracted a high volume of models and guaranteed the return of a huge clientele. There was no such thing as delayed payments and missed calls with the Fords, and even working out of a small office the couple managed to become one of the three most successful agencies in the country, grossing an average $250,000 in a year. Threatened to be put out of business by their main competitor, the agency Huntington Hartford, who said they would implement a weekly payment system through the use of vouchers, an innovation at the time, Jerry and Eileen  made yet another investment and pulled some money together to quickly implement the system in their own agency, which at the end turned out to be the best decision.

Representing talents like Jean Patchett, considered by Eileen the best model she has ever seen, the couple's careful managing skills attracted the attention of the iconic model Dorian Leigh, who by then also owned her own agency and was dissatisfied by the management her younger sister, Suzy Parker was getting from her managers at Huntington Hartford. In a smart and excited move, Eileen and Jerry signed on a pregnant Dorian Leigh and her young sister Suzy, without having even met the girl. Suzy was the opposite of her sister, tall and red-haired, she was different from any other girl available in the industry and went on to become the most famous and recognizable fashion model of the 1950’s, breaking boundaries and becoming the first model to achieve superstar status, headlining fashion magazines and making appearances in Hollywood films; Suzy Parker was a sensation and one of Ford’s biggest triumphs.

The Ford Model Agency had become the biggest in the world, working closely with Dorian Leigh’s agency in Paris they formed a successful network that guaranteed a rewarding career to the models they represented. With a keen eye for innovation, the Fords never limited themselves or their models. Dovima, one of the most iconic models of all time and known for Richard Avedon’s image “Dovima with Elephants” went on to become the highest paid model in the industry and earned the nickname of the “Dollar a Minute Girl” making an average $60 an hour. Following her modeling success, Dovima was given a speaking role in 1957’s Paramount movie Funny Face.Dovima showed great comedic talents in that role and her part in that movie opened the doors to other models, like the then famous Suzy Parker, to develop careers in the movie industry too.

Yves Saint Laurent once said that “a good model can advance fashion ten years”, but a good modeling agency and managing skills have proven to advance an entire industry. 

By 1974, The Fords were at the top of their game and had no competition, they had invented the contract for models, in which a model would exclusively represent a specific brand, securing higher fees and better exposure. Jean Shrimpton's contract with Yardley of London was the first one and Lauren Hutton and Evelyn Kuhn are said to be the first models to ever have exclusive contracts with Revlon, which then became and still remains one of the most sought after contracts in the industry.

With names like Candice Bergen, Ali MacGraw, Jerry Hall, Christie Brinkley and Rene Russo in their roster, they were unbeatable and were billing an average of $100k per week, as told by Mr. Ford to the The New York Times at the time. Even after the opening of the french powerhouse Elite Models’s office in New York, the Fords remained strong and ahead of the game. Always competing head to head and starting the “model wars”, in which models would switch agencies constantly according to who would make the better offer.

The Ford business remained strong and innovative, always together, Eileen and Jerry continued to pull through with passion and belief in what they were building. In the eighties the ever creative couple started the Ford Supermodel of the World contest, that remains to this day one of the largest modeling competitions in the world, moving hundreds of thousands of submissions yearly and from which talents like Victoria’s Secret model Adriana Lima have emerged.

In 1995, after 50 years in charge of the business, Eileen and Jerry stepped out into the spotlight for one last time to celebrate their agencies' 50th anniversary and allow for its empire to then be led by their daughter Katie Ford, who at that point was already a part of the booking team and modeling industry for quite some time.

Eileen and Jerry remained married, successful in business and in their personal life,  with a family that includes four children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. In a recent phone conversation, Eileen told me she turns 90 years old in March of this year and is excited to celebrate this iconic date with a lunch organized by her children. Jerry however won’t be there to celebrate, as he passed away at the age of 83 on august 24, 2008 and left behind a loving wife and a legacy that will be remembered throughout the times to come.Their work together in fashion was a labor of love that broke boundaries and revolutionized an entire industry, they have established philosophies of work that are still followed by most agencies around the world and they have set the standards really high for everyone that followed them.

The Ford family brings the family into the expression “Family Business”, in aspects never before seen in the fashion industry, from housing some of their models in their own homes to making sure that their models were cared for in every aspect, they gave their talent every tool they needed to succeed, from financial to emotional support, it wasn’t just about the profit, but mostly about the relationships created within the modeling agency.

Nowadays, Ford Models is no longer in the hands of the Ford family, but it remains one of the biggest and most powerful agencies in the industry representing established names like Emma Balfour, Ana Claudia Michels, Rose Cordero, Karmen Pedaru and Sigrid Agren; as well as rising new talent like Tao, Julia Nobis and Kate King. The interesting part however, is to think that some of this young talent represented by Ford Models, walks those hallways completely unaware of the history behind them, that this multi million dollar business once started in a small office on second avenue and was solely responsible to set an entire industry in motion.

To see Ford Models' website go to www.fordmodels.com 

Supermodel Blogger

Here is a new post in my Model Musing column at lookbooks.com - this week with supermodel blogger Emily Sandberg, you can check out her blog at www.supermodelblogger.com !

Model Musing: Emily Sandberg

What does a mime, a life guard, a minister, a mother and a blogger have in common? They are all one person: the iconic supermodel Emily Sandberg. With a long list of abilities, Emily has wowed the world with her modeling skills, which shot her to stardom.

Gracing the covers of  the Italian, French and Japanese editions of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Elle and having shot with some of the most renowned photographers in the industry, like Annie Leibovitz, Steven Meisel, Peter Lindbergh, Mario Testino and Craig McDean, among others for campaigns such as Versace, Fendi and DKNY, Emily has become a household name and makes use of her expertise in her now famous - and infamous - blogSupermodel Blogger in which she shares her experiences as a model, actress and mother with whoever is interested, and the following is huge.

Why do you love this picture?

It’s a portrait of me.  It’s very rare that a photographer is interested in capturing the person or personality of a model.  Most often - and it goes without saying that this is the basic job description of a model - she must project an image to be captured. It was refreshing to sit in front of a camera and just be me. 

Who took it? Were you excited to work with this photographer?

I’d never worked with Annie Leibovitz before and wasn’t sure what to expect. Knowing that they were shooting numerous portraits that day, I expected a factory atmosphere and distracted photographer just doing another job.  I was surprised at how present she was and the second I realized that she was “there” I felt thrilled to be seen and captured by her. I respect Annie and have been a fan of her images for quite some time.  

How long did this shoot last?

I was in hair and makeup for an hour and then I sat for Annie for an hour.  All in, from door to door, it took four hours out of my day. I’d say it was worth every second. 

Anything curious about location, environment, weather, etc? 

I’ve never seen such an archive. When Annie came over to shake my hand and introduce herself, she had with her a folder containing all of the strongest images from my career.  I was sort of shocked and asked her about it.  She told me she has a team who keeps a file on most models and actresses for reference materials.  Wow. 

Who else was in the crew?

Julien D’ys did hair.  Nicoletta Santoro styled. Unfortunately, I don’t remember who did makeup.  

What were you thinking when it was taken?

I cleared my mind. But in between takes, I was thinking “I hope this is going good for everyone”.

What direction did the photographer give you?

She told me to sit and be comfortable. Interestingly, the photographers I’ve worked with like Steven Meisel and Peter Lindbergh, who are able to capture the strongest images of me, simply ask me to be comfortable.  

How was working with Nicoletta Santoro?

She tends to dress me in masculine clothing with clean lines.  I love working with her, she’s always been protective of me and progressively definitive of my image with each shoot and each runway show we worked on together. 

What were you wearing?

I wore an Ann Taylor blouse and my own necklace. 

What was the theme of the shoot?

Ann Taylor was celebrating the golden 50th anniversary as a brand.  They chose to do a special campaign capturing portraits of supermodels past, present and future. 

Is there anything about the modeling career that you would change if you could?

 I would have hired a team of professionals, nutritionists, trainers, doctors, accountants and lawyers right away.  I would also have reached out to models that were ahead of me in the process for mentoring.  

 I learned a lot through trial and error.  There wasn’t any strategic planning happening in my career or in the careers of the girls around me.  Most were simply trying to survive and figure out what this crazy world was they had happened upon.  And then, it was “over”. Everyone, agents, photographers, designers, stylists, editors were all moving so fast, I don’t think anyone really has a sense of the larger picture of a model’s arc of career or how to sustain it or even what to do with a girl after her first cycle through the upper echelons of fashion.   

 If I could do it again, I wouldn’t try to keep up with the pace, I would set my own. 

You can follow Emily Sandberg on twitter (@Emmalish) and on her blog:www.supermodelblogger.com 

Emily Sandberg is represented by Trump Models.

Hot Like Fire

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is out and I have taken the opportunity to speak to the Brazilian bombshell Cintia Dicker for Modelinia - Have a read HERE!

One on One with Cintia Dicker

Brazilian redhead Cintia Dicker just doesn’t seem to stop, in between photo shoots, fashion shows and shoots for TV commercials she has another important task to add to her schedule this week: the launch of the Sports Illustrated 2012 Swimsuit Edition, in which she is featured for the third year in a row.

Cintia’s shoot took place in the middle of the African desert, in front of a huffing and puffing rhinoceros and on top of an elephant under the melting sun. “The rhinoceros must have been the scariest experience I have ever been through, he was grunting so loud that I could not contain my tears, we shot really quickly and moved on to the elephant, which was much nicer, the elephant was actually super cute!”

Cintia felt inspired and ended up buying a few of the pieces she wore, “I loved everything I wore, there were a lot of animal prints and those are always my top choices when it comes to bikinis; it went really well with the location, I am really excited about these pictures, I think they’ll look beautiful.”

She also had a couple of funny stories to tell us: “One of the girls in the crew left her bag unattended at the location and next thing you know there is a monkey going through her bag. The minute she saw that she thought to try and grab her bag back but was advised otherwise, so she just waited in awe, and the monkey then grabbed her cell phone and walked away. Everyone was stunned, it was really funny. On every day we would go from one location to another riding elephants. So, on the first day, (of course) I had to stop right behind the elephant and it was by nearly and inch, but the elephant kicked back, like a horse would, and nearly hit me! I started laughing, but in reality I was terrified, can you imagine getting kicked from an elephant? Ouch!

You Got the Love

It's Valentine's Day and I have posted this feature on cute model-couple Daniela Lopes and Diego Querzoli on Look Books for the Model Musing column of this week. Check it out HERE !
:)

Model Musing: Valentine's Day Edition

Married for two years, Brazilian models Daniela Lopes and Diego Querzoli are one of those couples who set standards for many others, particularly in the modeling industry. It’s not rare to find models meeting and going into relationships, but the crazy routine, busy schedules and extensive traveling tend to break the relationships with time, so to find a couple like Daniela and Diego, who have been together for eight years, is a rarity.

The couple have been represented by the same agency in Brazil since the beginning of their careers, and when they started their relationship, they decided to keep things in the hush-hush until they felt they really had something strong going between them. In the first few weeks together, Diego got called in for a job inspired by the movie “Blow Up” – the model that was originally meant to shoot with him got the pink eye and couldn’t go, so the crew had to find a replacement model in a rush and Diego overheard them mentioning Daniela’s name a few times so he immediately called Daniela in secrecy so she would call the agency to check in and see if there was “anything” going on. The agency immediately confirmed her on that booking and they had to work all day together “pretending” to be a couple, when in fact that was exactly what they were. The fun and excitement of keeping the secret from friends, agents and clients made it all even more interesting and when the news broke that they were together everyone was happy and excited for the both of them.

After many experiences together Daniela and Diego tell us why they like this image so much and share some of their knowledge on being a couple in the modeling industry.

Why do you love this image?

Because it’s just the two of us relaxing and enjoying ourselves, it didn’t feel like we were working at all.

How did the two of you meet?

Daniela: We met at a dinner party that our agency had put together after the shows, but we didn’t really talk, there were many people there, we really met at a job a month later.

Diego: Yes, I remember I was crossing the street to get to the location and I saw this beautiful girl walking towards the studio and I thought: “I am so lucky, I will spend the entire weekend shooting with that beautiful girl!”.

Was it love at first sight?

Daniela: Yes it was! Love at first sight, first talk, first date!

Diego: I suppose it was, but it didn’t really hit me until later on, because I called my agent later on, after the job had passed and I asked her about Daniela, and she told me that Daniela had made a comment about me too, so I guess it was meant to be?

Is it difficult to work as models and still maintain a well rounded relationship?

Not really, it’s just a job like any other, only with a lot more traveling and no routine.

Do clients prefer to work with you because you are a real couple?

Yes, usually when the clients are working on a project that requires a couple they prefer to shoot with real life couples, there’s more synergy and connection. (Diego) well I am sure they like working with her cause she is beautiful and an amazing model!

Do you prefer to work couple jobs together or are you open to shooting with other people too?

Well, it’s definitely easier to work together, but we are open to working with other people too, I mean, it’s just a job. We used to do “couple” jobs before we were together, with other people I mean, and it was never an issue, as long as it remains very professional everything is fine!

Any advices for the young couples in the modeling industry?

Don’t try to limit your partner.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done for each other?

The only thing we can think of is traveling for miles and miles to only be together for a very short amount of time!

Daniela Lopes and Diego Querzoli are both represented by Way Models in Brazil.

Melt your Heart

Check out my Model Musing column on Look Books to find out why the beauty Hannah Holman loves the picture below and how she will melt your heart away.
xo

Model Musing: Hannah Holman

With a face that resembles a very young Kim Basinger, circa 9 1/2 Weeks, and a personality that will make even the hardest of hearts melt, the blonde beauty Hannah Holman has established herself as one of the most successful models in a very competitive industry. Out of the mountains of Utah, Hannah started modeling at the very young age of 13, but it wasn't until the agent Doll Wright spotted her, years later, that Hannah really had her break. Doll believed in Hannah's talents, promoted her to the top clients in the industry and landed her in the Fall/Winter 2010 Miu Miu campaign as well as an exclusive for that season in Paris. 

Since then Hannah has become a familiar face to the fashion crowd and has graced the pages of magazines like Vogue USA, as well as covers for French,Russh and Citizen K and a wide range of editorials from W and V to 10and I-D. Even at the height of 5’8, Hannah walked the runways for heavy weights like Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Chanel among others; and shot campaigns for Marc by Marc Jacobs, See by Chloe, Moschino Cheap & Chic and landed a  fat contract for the fragrance, Daisy by Marc Jacobs.

Read on to hear why Holman finds this picutre a favorite.

Why do you love this picture?   

I was fairly new to the game so I didn't know what I was capable of .  When I saw how beautiful the photo was, I was proud and excited for my future in modeling.

Who took it?

An Australian photographer, Andrew O'Toole

How long did this shoot last? 

The shoot  was longer in the end than planned.  We were all having so much fun and couldn't stop.  We were greedy for more shots I suppose. 

Anything curious about the location, environment, weather, etc? 

I was in Australia in a hair salon, as it was a hair story for Harper's Bazaar Australia.   

Who else was in the crew? 

It was a small set up, especially towards the end when we stayed overtime. Hair was by Mathew Webb, who was the owner of the salon.

What were you thinking when it was taken? 

I was probably thinking too much!  

What direction did the photographer give you? 

He would let me move as I wished, which I love. It's very freeing and it clears the head.    

What was the theme of the shoot? 

Back then I didn't realize there were themes!  

What's your biggest challenge as a model?  

Balancing your real life with work.  Time fly's by so quickly and it's impossible to plan a holiday, because you'll most likely land a good job during that time. Murphy's law! 

Is there anything about the modeling career that you would change if you could? 

No more last minute/holiday spoiler/ confirmed night before jobs, because of that planning anything is a pain. 

Hannah Holman is represented by Ford Models and is also on TWITTER @HannahHol

An Affair with Fashion

Here is a link to a profile I wrote on Brazilian artist Andre Azevedo for Look Books - Chek it out!
:)

Andre Azevedo: An Artist's Love Affair with Fashion

With a smart eye for fashion and aesthetic, Brazilian artist Andre Azevedohas explored all different avenues of artistic work. From video making, to painting and art installations, he has dipped his toe in all kinds of waters and in each of those showed absolute control of his talent and imaginationby creating a body of work that travels through the most inventive to the most high maintenance crowds, all of which have their attention caught by the edgy look of whatever it is that Mr. Azevedo has created. Wether it’s a window for a fashion brand, a TV commercial, a painting or illustrations for a fashion magazine, Andre shows no fear in his work and with his work he conquers the minds of thousands.

With a background in graphic design,  Andre Azevedo saw his artistic career turn into a hobby for the ten years he worked as a model manager for one of Sao Paulo’s most prominent modeling agencies. In 2007, onthe verge of a nervous breakdown, Andre realized he needed to slow down and reacess his life; he quit his successful career in Sao Paulo, packed up his bags and paintings and moved back home to Curitiba, a quaint city with the best quality of life in the Brazil, but also a city that thriveson art and culture. 

The move to Curitiba was meant to be a hiatus, time that the model manager needed to find his true calling; and that’s where Andre Azevedo, the model manager, became Andre Azevedo, the artist. 

Making use of his connections in fashion, Andre went on to do freelance work in styling and fashion production in order to make a living while  in hisfree time he could pour his passion into canvases, screens and sheets of paper. It was clear from the beginning that his work had a strong link with the fashion images that were a part of his day to day life in Sao Paulo and that the human eastethic played an important role as a source of inspiration, and as he explains, “the human being is still the focus of my vision”. But if the human connection is so important, then why completely abandon such a successful career? Couldn’t it be a great source of inspiration as well as an ally? Andre explains that,  “in the beginning the proximity with the fashion universe and the amount of interesteing people I would meet was exciting and extremely stimulating, it made me more interested in fashion, but with time it also became really boring, that’s why I had to leave, but those subjects are still present in my work.”. 

In Curitiba, Mr. Azevedo also discovered a passion for the use of the internet and social media, and through them he also found a great tool to show his work and his ideas to the world. By spreading his work on his blog, Andre started seeing an overflow of followers and admirers, ranging from fashion editors to celebrities like Kanye West, who even posted a link to Andre’s work.

The internet was the biggest art dealer Mr. Azevedo could have asked for, all of a sudden he was receiving requests from other artists for contributions as well as commercial clients like Alfa Romeo and MTV to use his work in their new and creative advertising strategies. With much dedication, Mr. Azevedo took his time  making the right decisions. Calls from magazines such asTank and Made in Brazil started coming in and his collaborations started spreading out into the fashion industry. The Brazilian super-brand Forumasked Mr. Azevedo to develop a set of prints for a limited edition of t-shirts that were sold out and the classic brand Lacoste brought Andre in to participate in a project that culminated in a fashion show, a week of exhibitions and a limited edition book launched in Paris in 2011. Andre’s pannel produced for that exhibition in Rio de Janeiro was so well received that later it was also picked to be used in the windows of the Lacoste stores in Rio de Janeiro.

Publishing mega-house Taschen saw his talent and asked him to submit his work to their infamous catalog of the best illustrators in the world:Illustration Now! - for which he was then included in it’s fourth edition. Following Illustration Now! - Vol. 4, Mr. Azevedo has also been included in Taschen’s The Bigger Book of Fahsion Illustration due out this year.

When the subject of the commercial use of art is brought up, Mr. Azevedo has a very firm stand point: “I believe that the dream of most artists is to be able to stay in their studios and produce the work they feel the most inspired by for days and days, without any concerns of where its place in the art market or the price point, but for the most part I don’t believe that is a possibility. Even though many don’t see the commercial use of art in a good light, I don’t believe it makes less of my work as an artist, to me it’s a great compliment when I am asked to contribute to a fashion label or a major established brand like Lacoste or Alfa Romeo. In general my artistic freedom is never compromised, as I am usually given a theme or subject to work with and I am free to create on top of that.".

And so, after exploring so many different environments all there is left to wonder is; what else is there to do? “well, photography is still very intriguing to me, it demands a lot more discipline and it’s the only thing that never came naturally to me, like painting or drawing.”

We look forward to seeing Andre explore this new realm and we hope his photos are as seductive as his illustrations!

Visit Andre Azevedo's blog here.

Not as happy as it sounds

If you haven't yet watched Another Happy Day, then don't be fooled by the title, it's one of those sarcastic little things that you need to be able to pick up on. Like that movie Happiness; remember?

Well, don't get me wrong, Another Happy Day is one damn good movie; written and directed by a very talented Mr. Sam Levinson and with a cast that will take your breath away. From Ezra Miller and Ellen Barkin, to Ellen Burstyn and Demi Moore, this is a flawless movie, hissy fits included and all. It's not just a movie about a family falling apart, it's a movie about real families, and how real families have all kinds of craziness but all kinds of beauty within them too. This is a movie about the woman who wants her family to get along, about the boy who wants to be a part of, about the girl who needs a father, about the ex husband who has gone so far and grown so cold that he barely knows how to communicate with his loved ones. This is a movie about what happens with a family when honesty, tenderness and understanding walk out the door, because love is still there, but it's nothing more than an old idea or a dusty memory.

Don't be discouraged though - this is a movie that still manages to maintain its good spirits, for the most part. There is sense of humour within all the madness, there is irony too, just like our lives. Well, raise your hand if you never experienced one of those "well ain't this perfect!?!?" moments? As i thought, no hands went up.

Another Happy Day is a great movie because it hits the right chords for the right issues. Yes, not all families are that dysfunctional, but this is not the point. The point is, that there are people like that around us, constantly, we go through situations just as bad throughout several occasions in our lives. If we haven't yet, we surely will soon, so why not open our eyes and minds and examine something that is given to us by fictional characters, is entertaining, causes no pain and could very well prepare us for those not so happy moments?

This movie is all about reaction, it's an episode in the life of a family, and within that episode we are shown  a lifelong history of bad reactions. Separations, conversations, addiction, mental disorder, lies that come out and truths that are hidden, all of those bring out emotional and erratic reactions from each of the characters. Ellen Barkin's Lynn even tries to keep it together, but because of the way she reacted to things in the past, there is no way of fixing it anymore, she has set precedents and taken wrong decisions and now it's too late. It's too late for her and for all of them, this so called family hasn't been an actual family in a long time.

See, all our lives are based on how we carry ourselves and the actions we take. Every bad action will generate a bad reaction. In theory. As human beings equipped with brains that we are, we are capable of making decisions and controlling our emotions, however, some of us forget about that and allow for our emotions to take over and react on situations that could have had a much brighter outcome had we taken the time to ponder and make the right decision.

If this movie doesn't make you think about life and how you behave in your family and in society, than I don't know what will, and hopefully this was the goal here, because it's more than time for us all to pick up that long awaited wake up call. The phone is ringing, what will you do?

Walk the Walk

Here is a link to an interview with runway coach Connie Fleming on lookbooks.com !

:)

Walk the Walk: An interview with runway coach Connie Fleming

As New York Fashion Week approaches, hundreds of new faces roam through the streets of Manhattan, girls fighting for their own space under the spotlights of the runways; for many, one booking is the golden opportunity and key to a long and successful career, so getting the job isn't enough, the performance is all that matters. But how do these girls prepare for the dreaded castings? And ultimately, how do they know what to do when they are asked to walk the walk?

Connie Fleming is the answer to many of those young faces, who sometimes have learned "how to walk"  in their home countries or even at home, watching videos on YouTube, and need to perfect the techniques and many many times need to relearn from scratch.

Connie was catapulted into the fashion world in the 80's in the midst of the downtown fashion and performance art scene. She caught the attention of designers like Patricia Field and Andre Walker who booked her to model their collections and shortly after she fell into graces with the likes Thierry Mugler and Vivienne Westwood. Connie's career as a model was established and photographers like Steven Klein and Steven Meisel confirmed she was a must-book.

Having dabbled a little bit in the art scene and in production and casting for her long time friend Patricia Field, Connie gained enough experience and know how to then move on to a new realm and explore a career as a runway coach. 
 
With names like Arlenis Sosa, Hanne Gabby Odiele, Erin Heatherton and Brooklyn Decker on her resume, Connie has a brilliant array of experience to share with the young girls:  

What do you like about teaching these young girls to walk the runways?

Helping them to build their confidence and watching them grow and adapt to the creative process.

One would think that all they have to do is put on their outfit, a good face and walk; but if there is the need for a runway coach I am assuming there is a lot more to it?

Yes there's attitude, feeling, pace, connecting with the eyes. Being in the moment and part of the overall statement.

What is the most important thing for these girls to learn?

To be aware of the clients direction and style, the importance of creating a line or shape, and again being comfortable in their bodies.

Do the model's agents give you directions of something that they are looking for or interfere with your work in any way?

It's different for each girl and what she needs at the time. It might be a certain style for a specific show or to help ease them out of their shell.  I really haven't experienced an interfering vibe and ultimately the agent knows the model best.  More importantly they get feedback from casting directors and clients so it's more like everyone coming together to make the process work.

Is there anything that frustrates you as a runway coach?

Time, when there isn't enough of it to prepare a girl fully for show week.

Are you proud to see the girls you coached glowing in campaigns, editorials and fashion shows?

Naturally. It's great to see them utilize techniques we've practiced in class.

Do you still have a relationship with them?

We run into each other from time to time but they're off making fashion and i couldn't be happier for them.

What is the most important advice you would give to the young girls who aspire to become models?

Familiarize yourself with the business,  the designers, the labels, the websites  and magazines. And realize it's a tough business that can be quite harsh; it requires a thick skin to not take it all too personally.  

What do you still aim to achieve in this industry?

There are many avenues of the business that i would like to pursue.  I 'm working on several projects such as my illustrations which i've been working on for years and plan to exhibit soon.