Go Fishing with a reel of course

Handsome Neighbour?

In spirit of doing some more acting, I thought I would share with you my reel I just put together. It contains clips from some of my commercials and a bit from a photoshoot as well. All to the tune of a song that will easily get stuck in your head.  Kick back and enjoy!

Fishing is exactly what I am doing on Go Fish. I am working my magic on the ladies of the show to try and get myself a date. Keep an eye out for when things get released.

Hell yeah! Science! (Latest TVC is out)

A few months back, I wrote about my scientist job. Think, think, think, oh yes a unique biomarker derivative. It was a fun commercial to shoot, but also extra exciting because I had the opportunity to speak in the commercial.

While I am working on finding the full English version (which I doubt I will find), you can hear me in the background with the Thai voiceover… as always enjoy.

While on the topic of science, I thought I would take this opportunity to talk about 2 more things.

• My favourite TV show: Breaking Bad (a bit of science spiced in there)
• A common nutrition myth

On the Breaking Bad note, I have been watching it again on Netflix. While not completely immersed as I was on the plane to Korea last fall, I can say I thoroughly enjoy the show. The gradual change of protagonist to antagonist is unique for a mainstream show. My favourite movie the godfather follows a very similar structure this way. Of course, I find it further interesting when they add the bits of Chemistry whether in the production of meth or how hydrofluoric acid won’t eat through a particular plastic. Those moments make me go aha!

As I have discussed many times, my background is a Bachelor of Science: Applied human nutrition. A facebook conversation with a few friends the other day lead me to something I should share with everyone. The nutrition myth: Margarine is one molecule away from plastic.  I have heard this so many times. 

Let’s start with what plastic is. Plastics are made up of smaller molecules linked together in a long chain. The main component of plastics is usually petroleum based products, which is where people become scared of this myth.  The thought of consuming a plastic bag, being the same as consuming car oil is rather repulsive. Plastics can also be made from wood, corn, other plants, and even sugar. Check out this about bio plastic. (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/star.19930450806/abstract)

So as you can see one fear is that plastic and margarine can both be made from vegetable oil, however that is where their congruency meets demise. Furthermore the thought that just one molecule could change margarine completely is a little naive. With margarine there are hundreds of molecules that vary from plastic. Many other simple even life giving substances can be made deadly with a change of molecule. Even without change sometimes. For example: H₂O is water, but HF (hydrofluoric acid) in the right concentrations is used to etch glass or even burn your skin (Breaking Bad did this if you remember).  Or standard table salt sodium chloride/NaCl as another example: pure sodium in water reacts rather explosively. And Cl or chlorine, we know as a common antiseptic, but was used in World War 1 as a weapon. Clearly 1 molecule can make a difference.

I hope that clarifies things a little for you about that 1 molecule thing with margarine.

One last note. Thanks everyone for the support so far. I should be cracking 20 000 views very soon. 

Sharpen your tools

In any industry you require a certain set of skills and tools to get your tasks done. Unfortunately modelling doesn’t provide the greatest use of my brain, but does require maintenance of my physical self. The minimal stimulation is balanced off by my strange desire to read scientific journals and non-fiction books ( currently on 7 habits of highly effective people). I frequently discuss what I do to maintain my physique (currently boxing is my sweet tooth). Diet is something crucial as well that I have mentioned. Also very important is maintaining a clear complexion. With all the makeup I have had smeared on my face, sometimes it takes more effort than others.

When I was in Korea, my roommate, said to me you can always tell the models that work a lot by the complexion of their skin. He told me they all have pimples and oily skin because of the makeup. While there is some truth to this, I feel there is much more than that. Genetics is a big part, diet comes into play and of course how your treat your skin.

While I do get the odd pimple, my skin is for the most part rather dry. After running out of my normal moisturizer, I came across an opportunity to try something new (unfortunately not available in Canada yet). I met with the people at V10+ and discussed my skin concerns.  The obvious makeup problem came about so a good cleanser is important. Issues of dry skin, resulted in the hyaluronic serum.  A good sunscreen is essential too, especially being in the hot tropical sun, and needing to have pasty white skin as a model. And lastly a once a per week exfoliating water base peel.  Frequently I laugh at my knowledge as a man that has developed with skincare and cosmetics. 

I always said modelling wouldn’t change me, well it has. My knowledge of makeup and maintaining good skin is far higher than 99% of straight guys. Oddly enough I know which makeup feels like a layer of mud on your face and which ones breath. With that experience I have truly gained value for good skincare. 

For the past few weeks I have been trying these products out. The hyaluronic serum stuff is unreal. I am used to a cream, but with 3 drops from a dropper and rubbed over my face, I get rid of that dry stiff skin feeling and don't have the cream residue on my fingers. Which turns out to be a real pain when everything these days is touch screen.

The other one that I really like is this water base peel. It's pretty cool. Just a little bit left to dry on your skin for a few seconds. Then rubbing it all you can see all the dead skin that you have left over. Seriously no wonder my skin is so dry. I am results driven so seeing what the product does at the moment of use is rewarding.

Personally sunscreen is sunscreen for me, but when in Asia as a caucasian model it is crucial to maintain that healthy white skin. And I have never really used a cleanser much, so I haven't noticed the same impact as with the other 2 products. 

The day that never ends

After spending nearly the past 6 months in SE asia…again I find myself trapped in a time capsule sending me back in time. Of course I am referring to the plane that sends me across the international dateline.  And what would this trip be without a bit of adventure and reflection.

Fresh on my mind I thought nothing better than to sum up the adventure of my work experience since I departed Canada in January. Reviewing my tally’s I completed work for:

•        2 tv commercials
•        5 magazines
•        2 billboards
•        more fashion shows than I could imagine have ever doing around 8
•        1 advertising campaign
•        6 ultra luxury events
•        5 lookbooks

There is possibly more but that’s about as far as my memory serves me with this regard. It’s been a relatively productive experience, but as that goes I have also managed to grow more as a person.

Last year around the same time (possibly a week later), I wrote a post called, reason, season and lifetime. (Reason Season Lifetime Post)This was related to an outstanding email I received from a past client. To prevent blatant repition I thought best to just some it up before continuing to my next point. 

People are introduced to your life in many ways, each person serves a purpose in some respect or another. For some the role is small, and others it grows to serve a larger impact in your personal development.  Without placing people into specific boxes you naturally discover where someone sits in that scale of reason, season and lifetime.  Using my past adventures as examples I thought I may enlighten you:

Photobomb Success

The reason: The easiest example for this would be a client on a job. Maybe a photographer or stylist, While sometimes you get along great and others its an oil and water separation you work together for the purpose of completing a job.

A season: I will continue with a model example again. A seasonal influence on your life is frequently a roommate or classmate, maybe someone that you work on a project with. For the month, 2 months or an extended amount of time, you help each other out. However, at the end of that period, lets say a modelling contract, you essentially stop communicating. The relationship provided what it needed during the season, but no longer is something that has extended influence. I find many of the people I meet slide into this category whether it was university, modelling or otherwise.

Lastly, a lifetime. As you travel about your daily life or around the world there are people you connect with on a deeper level. These people, make extended efforts to maintain a line of friendship and you do the same. Sometimes its that gym rat buddy from university, a roommate from travels abroad or even just a happenchance encounter that blossomed into something more than a passing of shoulders. These are my favourite obviously, at the same time they are also rare. 

As I go back and read this I can name specific people who each sat into a particular category I mentioned above. While some influenced me more than others each person is very important in my life and I thank them for it. My travels have extended my friendships far beyond the reaches of Canada’s vast boarders and interestingly enough introduced me to some amazing people on my global doorstep.

Oops, almost forgot about the adventure of the day. The genius I am booked a 7 am flight out of Singapore to come home. Silly and smart at the same time, I realized that by pulling an all nighter with a friend and a few coconuts would help me crush 8 hours of the 20 something of travel time.

In standard fashion I arrived 2 hours early for my international flight. Upon boarding we sat waiting on the plane for an additional 3 hours while one of the doors was not closing properly. Eventually we were all deplaned. The good news is, the plane was safe to fly, the bad news was the door would be inoperable and safety standards stated that rows 18-38 needed to board a different plane. Guess who had lucky seat number 34C.

As luck would have it I missed my connection towards SFO almost instantly, so I felt no pressure to get anywhere ultra quickly. I obviously wanted to get home, but the few empty seats I would rather surrender to someone on business or travelling with children, and that I did.  Alternatively, I was rebooked for a 12:45 flight to Hong Kong, then through Vancouver and finally making it back to cowtown. The downside I wouldn’t be flying on United’s old school fleet. Gosh darn it.

I seriously have to commend all the customer service and everyone from United, Cathay and Air Canada for their efforts. This messed up door created quite the shit storm, and while some passengers reacted poorly, these staff managed to stay calm and get shit done.

Unfortunately with all that commotion, my bag is sitting somewhere. As of this exact moment, I have no clue, and neither do the airlines. But they are seriously working hard on it and I have great appreciation for that. Lost baggage claim is all ready, and despite it originating with United’s issues all the 3 airlines have put in a diligent effort to find it for me.

I am a lucky person to be honest. My flight is taking back home, where I have most my clothes so a few days without that suitcase isn’t going to hurt me (unless I want to play squash) and despite a large delay, I am only arriving home 5 hours later than originally scheduled while following a vastly different route.

I am always listening to music as I write my blogs, one of the few times I listen to music (its usually audiobooks and podcasts). As I pitter patter across the keys I can see fingers rattling off the ivory keys to the tune of Mozart (concerto of two pianos and orchestra in e flat).

A wealth of experience

Much of my writing lately has been more insightful and less about modeling. I have been bouncing around SE Asia for the past almost 6 months now and feel like sometimes its good to understand what’s going on in my crazy little head. Between the outrageous puddle building boxing sessions, my rants about models and everything else I hope to have provided some more insight into who I am. 

Last week I had the opportunity to live a life I otherwise would never live. I feel so incredibly blessed to have been raised the way I have and create a respect for money and avoiding the outrageous. Singapore is a country full of outrageous. Brazen spending is evident by the 5 Louis Vuitton store and 10 Coach handbag stores. Basic automobiles cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and real estate prices blow your mind.

Myself and a few other buddies attended an event in Sentosa Cove. The crème de la crème of Singapore residences located on the southern tip of Singapore. The ultra prices ranging in the 30 million range, create a very exclusive environment to call home. Not to be outdone driveways are filled with Ferrari and Bentley, with countertops christened by bottles of the finest single malts imported from Scotland. 

Can you feel me getting into character? Representing Zilli, a very high fashion brand from Italy, I became increasingly aware and concerned with having as James Earl Jones once put the best of the best. The softest silks, the most pristine leather, were essential for my taste. Of course a pallet designed elegant Macallan single malts never hurts as well.

3 others and myself mingled as though we were actually capable of affording said 30 million dollar house or thousands worth of clothing.  Personally I had a blast, and it rubbed off on the attendees of the event as well. Clinking glasses with CEOs, CFOs, CCOs and inevitably a UFO tossed in for good measure. My complaint of modeling sometimes is that I struggle to find interesting individuals that can carry an intellectual conversation; fortunately this wasn’t the case that evening.  It was also refreshing to see that the individuals I spoke with were all down to earth. Not one had the stereotypical arrogance associated with wealth.  Which goes to show, no matter where you sit on that food chain, humility can be found.