Celebrity Who?

I think for the great majority of people we dream of making it somewhere. Being big, being recognizable as a celebrity is the most common way of getting there. Having camera’s follow, waltzing down the red carpet amongst a countless number of adoring fans.  With the potential for this to happen, I would be lying if I wasn’t even a little bit excited. Of course at the same time I try and remain as humble and professional as I can. 

2 years ago, when I first departed overseas, one of my closest friends expressed her worry that I would change going into the industry (modelling/acting industry). A fear that over time vanity would take over, searching for that attention. I promised that I would not change, and I fully intend on keeping that promise.

Since I have started letting my face get out there, I have worked my way into some recognizable roles from the Sport Chek home page at Christmas, to ads for a steakhouse before your movie, a couple billboards in Bangkok and even 2 globally released TV commercials. For the progression of a career in the industry these are all fantastic moves on getting to a recognizable face.  Of course nothing will compare to the potential that Go Fish has for myself and other cast members. 

My first experiences with being “famous” happened in Singapore, when Chinese tourists there would be amazed by my white skin and height, requesting pictures. This however was purely due to what I just said and nothing to do with being recognizable.  It wasn’t until I arrived in Korea that I saw a greater awe factor. In South Korea, they are highly educated but also have a strong love for American culture and persona associated with the upper echelon of celebrity. A tall, handsome, Caucasian goes into a coffee shop; men and women both young and old stop and stare. The brave whip out their latest computer phone, while the shy try to hide their similar actions.  The gutsiest of all sum up the courage to ask to take a picture while you sip on your raspberry double espresso at the local Mango. As a modest individual I would happily oblige and get back to what I was doing. Some would take this opportunity to brag and make a big deal out of it. Upon my return to Bangkok this past year, I was recognized by several young girls from my wedding with Thai airways in Phuket. 

Back to what I originally came to post about: This past Friday, I was invited with a great number of those involved with the show to appear as celebrity guests at a charity event. This would be my first official red carpet event, and the first time I was called a celebrity. To all in attendance I am a nobody, someone with potential at best. I like that idea personally, for me it’s grounding. The experience of a limo picking us up, pulling up to a red carpet outside Cowboys Casino and of course an introduction to the attendees. 

It was a fun experience, one to learn from. Although I don’t want my brush with fame to overshadow the reason we were there. The event was held by YYCharity to help raise funds for Pulmonary Hypertension(http://www.phacanada.ca/en/), Calgary Health Trust (http://www.calgaryhealthtrust.ca/) and Leukemia/Lymphoma (http://www.llscanada.org/). If you have some spare funds, I highly encourage your to donate to these causes. Speaking of celebrity they kind of take a back seat to donations compared to Breast/Prostate cancer.

Speaking of that endless pursuit, many take the fake it til you make it approach. One of my best friends recently moved to LA. Whether it be culture shock or the true plasticity of people in LA, she is struggling with finding people who are truly genuine to themselves. I am sure this happens everywhere, but its especially pronounced in LA as I have heard. Personally I have never understood hiding who you really are, but as evidence from her experience many people will to earn their shot at being famous.

I am going to end with this great quote:
Your only obligation in any lifetime is to be true to yourself. Being true to anyone else or anything else is not only impossible, but the mark of a fake messiah.
Richard Bach 
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/fake.html#u8pM7HIaay8jG5qh.99 

It’s the little things

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, places self-actualization on the top of its pyramid. The theory being that we cannot move onto the next level without satisfying its predecessor.  For those unfamiliar with the pyramid, here it is:

With my contract coming to a close in Korea, I managed to have a bit of extra time on my hands. Coupled with a well-timed National Holiday for their election (by the way we should do that in Canada, and make voting a requirement), I managed to sneak out of Seoul for a couple days and enlighten my life while meeting some great new friends. 

Onto the KTX I departed Seoul for the gyeongsangbuk-do province. Located in literally the middle of South Korea. My guardian angel from Singapore was in the country and invited me to visit an orphanage.  It was this experience that opened my eyes.

The orphanage hosts 120 children from infant to 18 years old.  The piano teacher and her brother picked myself and a friend up from the train station. After a bit of chatting it was time to go to the baby room.  The babies have just finished napping and eating and ready to play. It was perfect timing to arrive.  

In a fan fair of pandemonium the children had new people to play with. The three of us were mobbed. The most exciting thing for them was my height and my hat. Here is the excitement of one child as he decided the best way for me to wear my cap.  The animation in their eyes and joy of having new people around to play building blocks with was very rewarding.  

Before taking off I spent a bit of time with some of the slightly older kids (about 3-10). One kid took a real shine too me. The curiosity was fashioned around my facial hair and massive Adam’s apple.  The joys of fun, were followed by tears when I had to leave. The adventure made my day and those kids left an impact on my life.

Say you don’t know how to do it now, so you run

Silly hole in my sock. 

After a long hiatus from video/acting, last week I managed to squeak my way into a Samsung promo video.  The last video I filmed was the Thai Airways TVC in May when I wed a beautiful Thai woman. Oh lets get the right song on first. 

Like a flash in the pan this job was booked. Within 2 days I had a one to one meeting with the director, and started filming. The shoot took place on Wednesday, a day that originally was supposed to be busy. But, as if there isn’t always a but, Mother Nature decided to sprinkle a dusting of the fantastic white stuff. My eyes began to glisten at the site of snow.

Unfortunately most Korean drivers (from what I see) don’t know how to handle the snow. Hammering the gas and spinning leading to jammed traffic. It doesn’t appear like threshold breaking is taught here either as I everyone’s tires are locking up. I have never seen so many car accidents in my life.

                                              

Zooming up and down, swirling around a camera shot past my face. “Be natural” I am instructed from my booker/translator as I deal with the fear of a camera coming within inches of my face and swinging back out. Maybe it was a bit of film rust? Is that what you call it when its been a while since you  have been in front of the video camera and need to shake off the cobwebs? Either way it took around 5 or 10 minutes for me to fully feel comfortable with the environment and movements I needed to make.  

And as quickly as the job was booked, I was done. With less than 40 minutes in front of the camera the director was ecstatic about my performance and that we had finished far ahead of schedule.  I had fun and can’t wait to do another, hopefully the next one is a big TVC though. 

Double Face

I don't really have much explanation as to why I have been tardi with writing. So many idea have been floating through my head of late its ridiculous. To start with I messed up on my website ( I am writing a new one via HTML coding, CSS and Java and learning all along the way). That frustrated me enough to take a break from dreamweaver and start learning the korean language. 

To be honest, I think a lot of what I learn will stick. My approach to learning is different than my weak attempt at learning Thai. Korean is a phonetic language and I am starting with the alphabet. After learning the characters, I have taken to trying to read the street signs as I walk. Although my understanding of direct exchanges of words is rudimentary, I already feel as though my base of reading is coming along quite well. 

Flash back to the modelling world. My editorial shots from Luel magazine came out. I posted a few on my instagram and twitter over (follow me @wintonyk). Here are the rest:

After being slow, this week has really started to pick up with castings. We had a couple on Sunday, one of which was just for me (Hyundai TVC). Yesterday evening I had an emergency casting for Samsung Promo video, well its booked and I am working tomorrow evening. Coming up there is also a booking for Macaw golf and hopefully some more magazines. Only time will tell. After being slow things are starting to look optimistic. 

Taking Care of Business

Only slightly bronzed for brand image shots

Things have started to pick up for me here in Seoul lately. After the past 2 Saturdays passed by working an event for J. Estina (a luxury handbag and jewelry company). And for the following 2 Saturdays I will be doing the same thing. 

After a few weeks, action has started to pick up and with that my schedule has as well.  I booked a big underwear job (underwear boxes and point of sale displays) and 2 days of magazine shooting.  Rather than a bunch of writing (ie I am very tired from todays work) I thought I would take the time to share the pictures instead.

And a few of my friends in Thailand will appreciate this invention. Its a service button on our table for dinner.