Who are you?

Knees weak, arms are heavy, mind racing, heart pacing, palms are sweaty; these are usually the reactions to an encounter with someone famous.  Naïve me, only managed to get a Hi how are you in before I was whisked away. Then again, I had no idea who I was talking to. To me she was a beautiful Korean model, to others she is a big time celebrity known as Nam Joo Kim.

In the eyes of a celebrity, I am sure that lack of recognition could be nice actually. I find myself by no means a celebrity in Seoul, but people take pictures of me on the street, ask for pictures at the coffee shop and congregate around me on the subway. And while I know that larger objects have a greater gravitational pull and I am bigger than the average Korean, I think those laws of gravity are flawed. Constantly afraid of letting this get to my head and develop an ego I fight that internal battle.

In the past week I have had 3 shoots, and actually have on more this coming Thursday. It was at the Macaw sportswear shoot where I bumped into this celebrity.  A fear developed quite early into the shooting when we learned that the wrong shoe size was brought for my monstrous feet. I walk around with a small clown shoe of 11.5 US. Unfortunately the much to small 9’s were sitting waiting for my feet to attempt to be jammed in. Thankfully there were alternative shoes that I could slide on.

Friday and Saturday I had the opportunity to shoot with Luel magazine again. This time I had 2 editorials in the magazine and will be on more than 15 pages. When there is that many photos of you in one magazine, you certainly need to be careful of avoiding the faces of Zoolander effect. This is a flaw in models where the fall back on looking the exact same in every photo. This Zoolander effect is what separates poor from successful models. The variation and ability to a demonstrate a chameleon like skill to transform and emphasize character in still frame is the key to success. 

There are times where I wish I could afford the clothes I wear in shoots, this shoot was certainly no exception. I had one Tom Ford set that was worth over 25k. But this wasn’t my favourite. A simple Turtleneck by Zegna made of Cashmere and Microsilk  and a suede jacket screamed Zach. I don’t know the price tag as of yet, but I know in a bellowing tone it beckons, HAHAHA when you win the lottery maybe. 

Good Things Keep on Running

Before I get started here is one of my latest pictures. And I am actively using my twitter now find me at @wintonyk and instagram username 'wintonyk' One Charlie Harper look alike coming your way. 

With a little CCR stuck in my head, I have just rolled into my place after another 10 k run. Finally they are getting a little easier. An old buddy from Jr. High and I have taken to getting back into the running groove.  Today my dog Diesel joined us. I think he is a little tired.  

One week after settling my feet back into Calgary I started bar tending. There is a Brewing Company and Restaurant called Brewster’s in Alberta and Saskatchewan. It’s been a great experience so far, and continues on from my previous bartending experience. As the name implies beer is the specialty, with an endless selection premium craft brewed beers, there is one no matter what your taste buds desire.  For me it’s our Bow Valley Brown Ale, but the River City Raspberry Ale is certainly the most popular.  

In the modeling world, I have been a little busy, for Calgary that is. Last week I managed to squeeze in 2 photo shoots. For the first one I had a wonderful “date” with a beautiful blonde woman from Saskatchewan. The whole team was great to work with, it’s such a pleasure working with a good photographer and team.  It creates a world of difference when everyone is professional and knows what they want from the shoot.

The second shoot was the following day shooting for Marks (formerly Mark’s Work Warehouse). When the company shifted it moved to a more general lifestyle store, selling some more casual clothes. This shoot was from the waist down for some new trendy jeans.  Once again everyone acted very professional making thing easy. Are you noticing a trend in Canada?

Not hating on the caliber of photographers I worked with in Asia, but there is certainly a degree of separation in talent and available resources. Whether it be lighting or creative direction I found this a nice treat.

Reason, Season or Lifetime

 It seems that this past week I have had a solid writing block. Enormous actually. Almost to the point of it being fed 50 000 big macs and not exercising for years. This big fat block sat in front of me whenever I opened up my computer to write. In all honesty, you never know why you just can’t get in the mood to express yourself. Fortunately it’s gone on a bit of a diet and taken off some of that weight.

I am going to get a little serious in a moment, but first an update on BKK Shenanigans.  I am working about twice a week lately. Last week I posted my “guilty of stealing your heart picture” and worked the following day as an English football player. This week, I shot for a magazine with Kevin for Guy Laroche and Thursday I will be doing my last job in Thailand. Working right down to the wire.

My buddy was in town this past weekend and we hit up the weekend market. There is so many interesting things there for dirt cheap. While you can bargain a bit many are pretty firm on their prices. I realized I am a weird shopper. I am your typical man, I prefer shopping when I know exactly what I need. When I don’t? Well I walk around aimlessly like a beachball at a Bieber concert. I pop up once and a while, but for the most part I just bounce around. It wasn’t until I was left on my own. 1 hour left in the famous market to shop for gifts. The beast of frustration was unleashed and wham wham wham, I spent nearly 60 CAD, buying gifts for 9 people, 2 t shirts for myself and a pair of headphones. That’s what I call efficiency.

Although my reluctant shopping did come with a price, and no I am not talking dolla bills. I walked around the market for close to 5 hours. An injury that looks like the evil face of that nasty chuahaha the neighbour owns has creeped back into my life. After a hike gone wrong (I hiked down the mountain far to fast), I created myself some wonderful knee issues. These have been mostly non-existent since I arrived in Asia. Well it returned, chewing my up in agony along the way. Fortunately a few days rest has dulled the uncomfortable feelings. 

I leave BKK on Thursday for a better place. Koh Tao that is. I am embarking on an adventure to become a certified open water diver, followed by the mayhem that is full moon party. I am not a big partier, but this year I will be attending 2 of the worlds greatest parties of 2012. Best Parties of 2012. The second party you shouldn't even have to guess. 

Well the time has come. My period of modeling life in Bangkok is quickly coming to a close, goodbyes are beginning and some friendships may seize to exist, while others continue to blossom. That is really the life of modeling internationally. A past client of mine sent me an email (ugh a forwarded email I thought), but despite being chain mail it had a great message. I can’t take credit for writing this although I think the original author is unknown.

“People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. 

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. 

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season. 

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.”

Oh boy its all mushy mushy, it seems like a sisterhood of the traveling pants on crack. Those that know me know that I don’t dare go anywhere near those kind of movies. Although after falling asleep on my friends couch I was terrified to see a horse talking about sex. I fell asleep thinking of bloody knuckles and flying fists only to awake to this torture.

Back on topic, this is a good message. As much as I wish to remain close with everyone I meet, it’s inevitable that distance will dimish the relationship. I saw this upon graduation from high school, completion of university, moving to Asia, leaving Singapore, and now leaving Bangkok. Some are hurt by this realization and others remain stoic. I for one am not exactly the best at expressing my feelings (it’s a work in progress), but I am very logical in my thought patterns. I have understood that some friends are single serving, while others prevail. Frequently you can tell who will survive as a lasting friendship and you will know which ones are a season or reason.

We all hit that wall

Yesterday an excruciatingly long day for me. As I mentioned monday night I wrapped up around 4 am with super sports, and had to be out of the house by 9 am. Well tuesday wrapped very late as well, I think when my head hit the pillow it was also 4.


It took forever or so it seemed until we finally started shooting my part yesterday. I think it was close to 4 in the afternoon when we shot my first couple scenes. Essentially I was to look into the mirror check out my scruff and then decide I needed to shave. Eventually we moved to a new location. An awesome hotel in the penthouse to shoot my bedroom, shaving and getting dressed. Oh I guess I should provide a run down of the story. I am lying in bed, messy room, unshaven when I get shaken from my sleep from a text message. It's my girlfriend, she has just finished in the pool and wants to meet in half an hour. I check out my beard and need to shave. So I grab the razor and shaving cream(these are the products), shave, spray body spray, get dressed, while my gf does essentially the female equivalents. That was all filmed yesterday in what was nearly a 24 hour day for much of the crew. Wednesday the plan was to pick my gf up in my sports car, a mx5.

I started writing this on my phone the other day while traveling to the set. So I figure now that I have a bit of time from the crazy schedule I can get my shit back together.  As it turned out we stopped in a town that was made to look like the streets of France or Spain or Portugal. Or at least what I imagine old streets would look like in some of these countries, with sandstone buildings and the like. I only had one scene to film on this location, the instructions were simple. Speed into the parking lot, and stop right in front of your girlfriend. Let her walk around the car and check out her sexy smooth legs, get in smile at her then speed away.

Following that scene things became a lot more fun. Accompanied by a police escort we pulled into the Thai mountains and starting setting up. Quickly the police had shut down the highway and we prepared to shoot.  10 people were rigged up for safety in the back of a truck, the pistons on the helicopter started firing and I peeled away. As I drove down the highway, beautiful passenger beside me the helicopter whisked around capturing landscapes and the car. A few times the helicopter would come within 5 feet of the car while moving at 50 km/h. At another point we rigged up a camera to the side of the car looking in. This helped achieve close ups of my freshly shaved face and her sexy shaved legs.

Finally after a number of long days, 5 jobs over 6 days, I was given the opportunity to rest. Well very brief rest, Thursday was set up to have 4 castings.

This one is going to involve some acting

 

In the past I have never really regarded myself as an actor, but this aspect of work is starting to inch its way more and more into my daily life. While in Canada, modeling was modeling, while in Singapore, it was modeling with a few additional movements and the odd acting on camera. Now that I am in Bangkok, there are many more TVC (TV commercial) castings that all involve acting to some degree or another.  

I have had a casting for at least 3 TVC this week, and I have to more on Sunday. Hopefully I start to become more comfortable and normal looking with it so that I can get booked. It was great for one I just had to talk and eat a salad (you know me and my veggies). Personally I am starting to feel like I am not looking as awkward when doing some of these things, but you never know.

My past acting experience (with the exception of a few corporate video jobs) ended when I was in grade 9. I was the leader of the green elf gang (the short elves) in a Romeo and Juliet type production, with a knife fight and everything haha. 

I am trying to provide a very quick update for you guys, as I am about to run to a shoot this morning. Another interesting aspect of my Bangkok life is that I have work of some sort, every single day. It’s nice; the time has been flying by. The downside of course is that I haven’t exactly had much opportunity to explore.

Here are some examples of a few meals I have dug into lately. The first was 45 baht at the food court outside my gym.

Followed by what I like to cook at home. Chicken, brown rice and vegetables, I could not believe how much I missed that meal, can and likely will eat that or some form almost every day.

And the last meal is a Thai Curry Rice dish that was a bit more expensive, 149 baht at a restaurant. You will also notice a pair of hipster socks as its recently been discovered that Kevin is a bit of a hipster. 

I will also share with you some pictures of my recent changes to my appearance. The result of the job I will be working today has led me to the challenging task of removing the majority of my body hair. This is truly weird for me as the last time I shaved my legs was Mr. Mount competition where I lost to Mr. MacAulay in his daisy duke shorts.

I have told a few of you what the job would be. For those I haven’t told, any guesses?

In Russia, Megafon phones you

 

Sunday as I mentioned was great day as I found out that I had booked the job. Getting that first job out of the way with is nice, kind of a breaking the bubble moment for me. 

The fitting was scheduled for Monday. These people sure work fast, the shoot was Tuesday. I found this fitting kind of funny, as it really wasn’t to see how the clothes fit as much as to see how the clothes looked together. My shot for this ad, involved me and 3 other business professionals.  Myself being the yuppie hotshot, show dresses a little trendier and my counterparts being in their early to mid 30’s. The shirt they provided for me was too large, and had a very thick collar (not exactly trendy, but roll with it. My well-fitted navy suit would hide the size factor of the shirt.  Did I mention the suit would be outside?

The remainder of Monday was laid back. I went to the gym for a few hours and hit up the food court in Seacon Square mall. A chest/shoulder workout was on the menu for the day:

Set 1,2,3

Decline DB Press

Set 4,5,6,7

Seated Arnold Press

-       Pushups to fail

Set 8,9,10

Bent Over Cable Punch

Set 11,12,13

Front Plate Raise

-       Pushups to fail

-       Double Crunch 15

Set 14,15,16

Smith Machine Pressed Leg Raise

-       Inverted Pull-ups w/ L-sit

Yesterday ended up being a very long day for me. Almost 12 hours from the time I left until the time I came home.  I had the shoot, which started out waiting for hair and makeup with a gay gentleman and a lady boy, which I have no problems with until they hit on you the entire time. Awkward to say the least. 

It was a scorcher of a day yesterday, easily encroaching on 40, if not hotter, and to top it off the humidity was insane. But welcome to Thailand that’s pretty much every day. We shot eating sandwiches and running from one meeting to another while going through the park. How strange is it so have to bite into a subway sub for me. I have not had real bread in my mouth in years. I immediately spat out the bread once it touched my lips. Thank god I wasn’t in Singapore for that, would have got a fine.  

Upon wrapping up my driver was waiting for me to take me to the next casting. This one was for Zalora.th an online clothing catalogue. Everyone there was very pleasant and fun. The casting was short, sweet and efficient.

Following this casting I had what I thought was a casting but was actually a fitting. Curated fashion is a designer in Bangkok here and there will be a show Sunday for it. I am fortunate enough to have been booked for this as well. The downside is that we got lost on our way to the fitting during rush hour BKK traffic, what a nightmare. 

Sorry Guys no pics today.