Shooting on location is indeed not an easy task. It takes many people to make it all happen: hair, makeup, driver, assistant, designer, models, people to carry, and more. Shooting outside you must be prepared for bitter cold- a frozen model is a useless model. Red hands hard to photoshop, red nose not the right atmosphere-unless you are a raindeer. These are body things you can not controll, but these are some steps clients can take to reduce the stress of it:
1. Warm water bottle for models warm their hands while waiting
2. Big coat for model to stay warm while waiting
3. Keep the car doors closed to keep the car a warm haven
4. Have an assistant throw the coat on the model quick if photographer changes memory card
5. Carb snacks
6. Lunch break
7. Work quickly and efficiently
8. Hot tea in a thermos
9. Morale-if your model know you appreciate their efforts it will warm them from inside
Every model must have the ability to act a little - Become something she's not every day. This is the mark of a great model to be able to assume other roles and become the living painting. Today we are the romantic girls in the forest, so long hair is it.
Every model must have the ability to act a little - Become something she's not every day. This is the mark of a great model to be able to assume other roles and become the living painting. Today we are the romantic girls in the forest, so long hair is it.
Sometimes I think, what's yours comes to you. Since I left my agency in Beijing, I know that lots of clients are still calling them asking for me. I found out they were saying that I'm not in town and of course sending the girls they have. Unavoidable. But what's yours is yours, and at the Lacoste party I was introduced to a German designer working for a Chinese company in Beijing, who knew exactly who I am. He proceeded to lament how he wanted me for his editorial shooting and now he had already booked two models but he really only wanted me. I told him if he wanted to work together no problem. He said he could not cancell the girls though, but then called the next day because the agency had cancelled a girl on him. Lucky day for me! So up at 6am and out the door to the photo shooting for Pelle Moda. The shooting outside in the freezing cold and I got long light red hair wig.
Sometimes I think, what's yours comes to you. Since I left my agency in Beijing, I know that lots of clients are still calling them asking for me. I found out they were saying that I'm not in town and of course sending the girls they have. Unavoidable. But what's yours is yours, and at the Lacoste party I was introduced to a German designer working for a Chinese company in Beijing, who knew exactly who I am. He proceeded to lament how he wanted me for his editorial shooting and now he had already booked two models but he really only wanted me. I told him if he wanted to work together no problem. He said he could not cancell the girls though, but then called the next day because the agency had cancelled a girl on him. Lucky day for me! So up at 6am and out the door to the photo shooting for Pelle Moda. The shooting outside in the freezing cold and I got long light red hair wig.
The new USA Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, is charming, experiences, and speaks fluent Mandarin. Together with his wife he's setting an example of international style. They have 7 children, some their own and several adopted. His youngest daughter is Asian and she knows her fashion brand names! She designed her own dress, and I fell in love with her golden shoes. Ambassador Huntsman was very kind to receive me at the Marine Ball and very happy to hear that as an American, I was reaching such success in China. His wife was excited by my offer to invite her to fashion events and encouraging to me to contact her any time. Ambassador Huntsman was very proud of his youngest daughter, who loves fashion and writes about it in her 11th grade class. I was very honored to finally be invited to the USA Embassy and meet the Ambassador finally. I always thought it was funny that the Australian, Italian, French, and English Embassy's always invite me to their offices or events, but until the Marine Ball I had never been invited by the Americans (and I'm American!).
"With Jon Huntsman representing the United States in China, I'm confident that we will launch a new era of partnership between our two nations that will advance our shared dreams of opportunity and security in America, in Asia, and around the world," Obama said in the White House Diplomatic Reception Room.
It will be exciting to see how Ambassador Huntsman interconnects with China, and I am curious to get to know them better. The Marine Ball was definitely impressive! He was really happy to introduce his daughter to China's Top Foreign Model.
The new USA Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, is charming, experiences, and speaks fluent Mandarin. Together with his wife he's setting an example of international style. They have 7 children, some their own and several adopted. His youngest daughter is Asian and she knows her fashion brand names! She designed her own dress, and I fell in love with her golden shoes. Ambassador Huntsman was very kind to receive me at the Marine Ball and very happy to hear that as an American, I was reaching such success in China. His wife was excited by my offer to invite her to fashion events and encouraging to me to contact her any time. Ambassador Huntsman was very proud of his youngest daughter, who loves fashion and writes about it in her 11th grade class. I was very honored to finally be invited to the USA Embassy and meet the Ambassador finally. I always thought it was funny that the Australian, Italian, French, and English Embassy's always invite me to their offices or events, but until the Marine Ball I had never been invited by the Americans (and I'm American!).
"With Jon Huntsman representing the United States in China, I'm confident that we will launch a new era of partnership between our two nations that will advance our shared dreams of opportunity and security in America, in Asia, and around the world," Obama said in the White House Diplomatic Reception Room.
It will be exciting to see how Ambassador Huntsman interconnects with China, and I am curious to get to know them better. The Marine Ball was definitely impressive! He was really happy to introduce his daughter to China's Top Foreign Model.
Many of the women who attended were dressed elegantly, but I was one of the youngest to attend. I really liked this gentilman's USA tie! Very patriotic fashion statement. Everyone was extremely proud of the Marines capabilities to protect the United States.
The Military Ball was a treat--there is something to be said for men in uniforms. It was very interesting to see what Military fashion is all about. So many stars and medals. Everything has meaning. Even the way the ropes were tied on their uniforms showed their position, rank, and job. The event was held in one of the top hotels in Beijing--it was definitely daunting to be in a room full of generals, ambassadors, and men who can really kick some serious a***s.
White Collar is the number one domestic brand in China. For the year and half I've been travelling back and forth to China, I've always been in the last selection but not got the campaign. This season I landed the campaign and the catalog! The other day we went to the White Collar office and they gave me the catalog. I'm all the way through. The concept of the catalog is to show all the week of a White Collar woman. From family to superstar to business woman to academic, this catalog really shows how the asian mind sees women. Mao said men and women are equall, and i find there are more women entrepreneurs, CEO, and support for a womans multi dimensional lifestyle than in the west. Here you see more women having a good mix of family life and high powered career. I think it's because they can have family help them with their kids, they can hire nanny for low cost, and the society here is more supportive of women. So i really like this catalog, not only for the photos but also for the message behind.
White Collar is the number one domestic brand in China. For the year and half I've been travelling back and forth to China, I've always been in the last selection but not got the campaign. This season I landed the campaign and the catalog! The other day we went to the White Collar office and they gave me the catalog. I'm all the way through. The concept of the catalog is to show all the week of a White Collar woman. From family to superstar to business woman to academic, this catalog really shows how the asian mind sees women. Mao said men and women are equall, and i find there are more women entrepreneurs, CEO, and support for a womans multi dimensional lifestyle than in the west. Here you see more women having a good mix of family life and high powered career. I think it's because they can have family help them with their kids, they can hire nanny for low cost, and the society here is more supportive of women. So i really like this catalog, not only for the photos but also for the message behind.
It's always a strange feeling to see your face so big around town. I've had a super stressful week where I decided to leave my agency, so seeing this poster made me feel good. I don't really remember taking this photo, but my friend Jess assures me that i look beautiful. Funny how we see ourselves differently than others. Sometimes my best photos are indeed the photos of me where I think I look my worst. I wonder if that happens to other models too?
It's always a strange feeling to see your face so big around town. I've had a super stressful week where I decided to leave my agency, so seeing this poster made me feel good. I don't really remember taking this photo, but my friend Jess assures me that i look beautiful. Funny how we see ourselves differently than others. Sometimes my best photos are indeed the photos of me where I think I look my worst. I wonder if that happens to other models too?
Elyse Ribbons, or Cheeky Monkey as I call her, presented tonight as guest speaker of the TEDxBeijing event in Beijing, China. Lately I have been thinking of seeing how my skills are at acting are doing. My last film was Pedra Mendalza, and then the two PBS documentaries. So the thought came into my head, not unlike a "spirit of genius" from Greek days, to call Elyse on my cell. She answered and I congratulated her on her speech and said I would be at the event, and asked her if she heard of anything acting wise to please think of me. She said she was just about to press the buttons to start to call around for a part of a robot model in her play at the TEDxBeijing. She said I could play that part and we met later days to practice. She made me do the French personality in the Starbucks, so I did. Then she showed me how she wanted it done and I did it like that. The whole role was to be very suggestive.
On the day of the performance, I got up really early and went to two castings, and then missed the third to go to the TEDxBeijing event. We practiced in another room next to the main stage. The location was at IMAGE BASE where my agency are located. Right in the middle of top studios and movie production houses, not unlike the one located at Wanda Plaza, and smaller than 798 (but as posh). The event was in a wonderful location I will for sure frequent more often, CNEX. There's a cafe and then a large stage speaking room for 150 people, and some additional rooms with couches and lounge chairs. Very cool.
Elyse Ribbons, or Cheeky Monkey as I call her, presented tonight as guest speaker of the TEDxBeijing event in Beijing, China. Lately I have been thinking of seeing how my skills are at acting are doing. My last film was Pedra Mendalza, and then the two PBS documentaries. So the thought came into my head, not unlike a "spirit of genius" from Greek days, to call Elyse on my cell. She answered and I congratulated her on her speech and said I would be at the event, and asked her if she heard of anything acting wise to please think of me. She said she was just about to press the buttons to start to call around for a part of a robot model in her play at the TEDxBeijing. She said I could play that part and we met later days to practice. She made me do the French personality in the Starbucks, so I did. Then she showed me how she wanted it done and I did it like that. The whole role was to be very suggestive.
On the day of the performance, I got up really early and went to two castings, and then missed the third to go to the TEDxBeijing event. We practiced in another room next to the main stage. The location was at IMAGE BASE where my agency are located. Right in the middle of top studios and movie production houses, not unlike the one located at Wanda Plaza, and smaller than 798 (but as posh). The event was in a wonderful location I will for sure frequent more often, CNEX. There's a cafe and then a large stage speaking room for 150 people, and some additional rooms with couches and lounge chairs. Very cool.
Not even one day off. Thank gosh I'm not sick any more. Just tired and dark circles under eyes. Must try to get more sleep. Today at the casting I pass posters of me. Sometimes I think, wow is that really me??
Not even one day off. Thank gosh I'm not sick any more. Just tired and dark circles under eyes. Must try to get more sleep. Today at the casting I pass posters of me. Sometimes I think, wow is that really me??
I look good blonde. . . If i only didn't have a brain. Hair and makeup can do a lot to hide the fashion week flu. Everyone gets it by the end of fashion week cuz you are so run down. It lasts only a day or two but it makes it hard to work as you use your body's reserves. Thank god fashion week is now over!!
In the hotel lobby i saw a classic sight: the world map as they are in China. Suddenly things don't look so far apart.
Hawaii. Never been there. Kind of in the middle. My aunt lives there. And Hong Kong, now i see why so many asians went to Cali. And now i know why when flying to USA they fly through Tokyo. Hmmm. Interesting. I wonder if Russian maps put Russia in the middle? And middle east put them in the middle. I've only seen the maps in USA style. This was an eye opener.
I know someone who will love this painting. The clothing was inspired by her paintings, the bags were painted, and also some silk printing of her designs.
I got the Red Earth Show together with Victoria and because it's makeup we had both some really crazy eyes and nails. I feel like a smurf. . . La la lala la la. . .
After the show presentation Victoria and I had to go to take pictures of our makeup. Victoria looks like a fairy tale girl. She says they always make her a barbie.
This camera guy is really at it today. He's sticking his camera in my face every five min. Big lense. So close. What's he taking a photo of? My retina? I don't understand optics but so long lense how can he be so close?
My roommate Ricky got booked for the Armani Show in Dalian, China. Dalian is fast becoming a hot spot for luxury and fashion--no wonder when we see that it's a port down, it's architecture is modern and new, and it's got a large growing Fashion Expo where brands are fast flocking internationally to show their brands to buyers. With a topography catering to youth--a huge skate park for roller blading, biking, and skateboarding--and monuments reflecting the local ethnic taste, Dalian is really aiming to become a fashion hotspot in the ocean of China.
Dr. Raby, Ambassador of Australia came to the show to see me present. I'm very honored. 360Fashion Network has a growing membership of Australians and next year is the celebration of Australia in China so perfect timing to show off their talented fashion professionals!
I'm the MC for the DGVI fashion show. I never did the MC before so I'm practicing my speech over and over (it's long with a toast) so I can say the whole thing without looking a my paper. I have to say a toast too to all the officials and all my friends from the Embassies are coming so it better be good. I've got my special lucky bracelet for good luck. This show is super sexy look so I've got puffy hair and sexy eyes. People are really stress backstage and yelling hurry up we are late. It's normal. I'm glad both victoria and jessica are here backstage!
I'm so busy I can not even think straight. I'm just moving from here to there, fitting, rehearsal, photoshoot, magazine interview, and home so late and then up again 5.30 am for fashion show. No chance to do anything but this, and only chinese food to eat but at the lunch they take me to another appointment. Jessica is backstage with me and we had to sit through a whole drama of how the foreign stylist did not like the makeup from the make up artists. So we had to have the makeup redone. Crazy. This show is for sure one of the best from fashion week because they use foreign talent for style it up, the bring in some foreign models from Canada, and use a foreign director. Rock On!
Big casting in the agency the other day with all the hottest male models in Beijing. It's fun to see what the Chinese think is beautiful. So many tall guys from China. Funny how the world perception is that Chinese are short. In the north, everyone is tall and all the models are tall male and female. It's a misconception that this photo proves incorrect. There are a lot of tall people in China.
The other day we went to a casting for bathing suits and in the studio they only had one gas heater. Noone wanted to get that shooting. As we crowded around the heater freezing, we all prayed not to get picked. Are they serious about only one heater for the whole studio? Models need heat to generate feelings and be limber to pose. You can not very well act while you are thinking, 'i'm so cold'. Escaped that one!
There are so many Chinese, it's only natural that there be a large selection. For Chinese models trying out for the China Fashion Week, it must be so stressful. I think that it must be very hard to stand there in black looking generic, while being chosen. We did notice that Chinese models tend to walk very basic, where foreign models walk more strong. The models wearing black made it easier to see the differences in their faces and bodies. I know it's hard for foreigners to tell the difference between Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. I wonder if it makes a difference to casting directors who are Chinese.
My roommate and I just get home when the agency call and we have to speed out for another casting. Noodles in hand and armed with chapstick, he's ready for anything kamakazi the Chinese may throw at us out of the blue. We did have a laugh at the Men's Nivea lip balm that is shaped like a lipstick. 'Very wierd.' he says, 'I guess their customers are more feminine than man!' He then pretends to put it on as a girl.
Agency booker's go completely mad during fashion week. They can not even answer your call or tell you what your schedule is! 3 phones are not even enough to answer and text from. Fashion gets out of hand!
Do we look happy??! Do we look relaxed? Do we look like skinny fish stuck in a peetree dish? How tall am I? How long are my legs? Yeah. We are really not happy about this car situation at all! 4 girls in a potential 3 person area, and two in the back. Agency don't want to pay a taxi and the other girls don't speak up. So i'm stuck and it sucks. Fashion week blues.
The Beijing Fashion Week is upon us and it's going to be a rough week without sleep, food, and all the things we are craving now. The sun is shining in my heart and i'm living my dream!
russian style catalogs have a distinct aura of gaud flashy tacky new rich taste. My friend irina found my face plastered all over the russian area in Beijing and snapped my photo with her iphone. hey, whatever, payme :D
I don't even know what day it is today but i know that this next week i will work several job, show, fitting, every day. I just want to get some sleep. Just want one day off please. I'm hiding in bed even though i know i HAVE TO GET UP cuz this morning i've a request for Givenchy Show. I really so want to stay in bed where it's warm but now my booker is calling and roommates knocking at my door. I got to move my body asap- not an easy task today. I will start singing 'i've got sunshine on a cloudy day. . .it's cold outside, i've got the month of may...' ok i'm getting up now.
Dressing for fashion week when it's sub zero outside is a challenge. Thank gosh our last casting was in the Beijing Hotel. We were all ready to turn into ice queens. Our booker had to say so many times 'take off your jackets' because none of the girls wanted to even walk without their jacket off! When the cold comes into you, nothing will get it out. I wore a really really short skirt yesterday, and only stockings light! I thought my legs would freeze off and how would i walk after that in the fashion week?
You got it. Models are like mail men, they go out no matter what the weather. It's hard to look sexy though, with a ton of layers on! Last night the casting went until 9.30 pm and when we came home i could hardly walk forward there was so much wind. My new roommate, manuel, and i suddenly got so hungry and since i have no food in the house, and he does not know where to shop, we were forced to go out. We skated around on the ice and even throw some snowball. All fun but it made me really think- gosh, is there no where else to go and work in winter? Why i'm always shooting summer in the snow? Why not go work in a place that's warm for 3 months! Why i'm always shooting short dress in the winter outside! I start to run through all the warm place to work when it's winter here. Australia, thailand, south africa, brazil. I am seriously thinking where can i go to work where it's warm. I'm not sure i can deal with this another season. On our way back to the flat, manuel had to grab me and pull me forward cuz the wind was so strong!
Everyone today on the casting is really beat from the Halloween party. Not only did we have casting until 23:00 last night, but we had Halloween Party at several clubs. It's not something I make a habit of, but my roommates made me promise to go out with them and with my new resolve to give more time to friends, I had to keep my word. I did not stay long but I still catch some shut eye in the car today as it snows outside. Now we are waiting for fashion week casting and it's 19:00. It's still not finished. I have two more casting for fashion week and it's so cold outside! We are all jittering in our short skirts. Several of my friend did not even come to casting today because they have no winter clothes and afraid to get sick.
I catch few sec snooze between casting. It's nice to get sms in these times from people abroad. Helps keep the stamina and morale up during this crazy crunch time.
While over at 798 for our castings we have 1 hour where we were free, so I went checking out exhibitions around the compound. I loved these camo-robots--would be great to have them hanging on my keychain.
China fashion week heats up with more and more castings as designers come to Beijing from all over China. Don't expect to get a seat when you do come to a big casting because there are so many Chinese models. Our numbers when as we wait our turn are 66, 88, and even in the 90's.
I took the subway for one of the first times the other day after acupuncture and was really surprised to see great mural art happening. Space, birds, geometry were themes playing throughout the long backdrop of the number 2 line. It was really a pleasure to see. When you are being driven around all day, you can miss out on seeing some of the ways that the country are making China a pleasure to live in for it's citizens. It reminds me of the New York art, and the Paris Metro. I think it's much better to put art in the subways, than big advertising television screens.
You know something is happening when everywhere you go people are talking about you, and even when you go to get your hair styled at the hairdresser, the staff come to you and ask you if it's you int he magazine. It's really a great feeling to know that your brand is building and you are becoming more known. It's super fun to play superstar. It's really what every girl dreams of in modelling. The trick I'm trying is to enjoy it while it's happening.
The other day was the most important fashion week casting: JEFFEN. Jeffen is the first Chinese brand to become an international brand. With partnerships with international compaies such as Swarovski, showcasing every season in Paris, and a strong brand image--JEFFEN by Frankie is indeed the most professional brand I've ever worked with. I had the pleasure to do their spring summer campaign last season, but I didnt know if they'd put me in the fashion show. It was really stressful to compete and in the end, they only chose me and 4 other foreign models. A few days later, I had to go back, and my agency said that it was because I had the fitting--but it was wrong information--it was the callback for the fashion show. I was so mad because I didn't dress properly, my hair was a mess, and my makeup was not right for the a casting. They ordered all the managers for the foreign models out of the room, and then the designer talked for 20 minutes in Chinese, surely explaining about the collection and how he wanted us to walk--which I could not understand a word of! I couldnt figure anything out what was going on and neither could the other foreign models! It was beyond stressful. Luckily there were 3 Chinese models who walked again in front of me, so I just followed their style and somehow, luckily, Frankie's finger twitched right and I joined the ranks of girls who would do the show. In the end, he only chose 2 foreign models, one of which is me.
So the other day i went to get fit for the DGVI show because i will be the MC for the show. I invited all the ambassadors who are my friends and they all agreed to come see me which will be great. On this day i had good hair, ha ha, and my 'sister' victoria came to the casting. Unfortunately, the clothes are so tight not a lot of girls can fit in them! Including me, which is why the casting director made me the MC. The pressure in fashion week to be so thin is tough. In photos it's different. It's why i'm excited to be MC. I hope that i can start to evolve my career into television, MC, and movies. So i'm very thrilled to make this first step into trying out this new form of entertainment!
Really my hair is a problem. So damaged from all the work, it needs a rest. And since i had to cut it, i really don't know what to do with it. I keep putting it up but my trainer says to put it down. It's a full on disaster. I may as well stay home and do nothing than come for this casting. You have on idea how much pressure is on you when you are here and you are known. Everyone judge you. Worst is how to feel good and walk good when you feel a misfit. My phone can play some music so i listen to that. I wish my trainer were here, she'd fix me. I really do not know what to do with this hair. My agency booker is really angry with me as it is the second time on his casting that i have hair problems. You may think, it's hair, they can do your hair. Or you may think, gee anina only has hair to worry about, not like world hunger. But everyone has their thing that can ruin their status and their name. Today I'm the one messing up, not my agency. This sucks. That's all i can say right now.
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