And Now for a taste of things to come. Happy New Year.

Well it’s been several months since my last update, while it has been a little bit of tardiness; it’s been pleasant to announce I have been busy.  My career pathway has been changing, my TV show has finally aired, and I am ready to kick ass in 2014. Where to start?

How about with Go Fish? Over the summer I had an incredible opportunity to participate in the filming of a new Canadian comedy TV show, based in my fine city of Calgary. After countless hours of editing, it aired on December 16 on ShawTV (that’s channel 10 for those in Calgary). The hype was there and expectations were there, however you will have to watch it yourself to develop your own thoughts. For me I had to wait a week from airing to see because I was in Montreal, however I will get to that in a moment. In the meantime, here is one of my scenes for your enjoyment.

Trailing off from that I have the most exciting news since I started this blog, career wise for me at least. Whenever I have been back in Canada I have been working at the bar and trying to get into the pharmaceutical industry.  Well after numerous interviews, I received an exciting phone call at the end of October. Servier Canada became my new employer as of November 4^th.  Servier is a French based private pharma company with its Canadian head office in Laval, QC.  From the 4^th until just before Christmas I spent 4 weeks in Laval training. After the New Year I was and am ready to kick ass in the field. 

This career transition is one I have been talking about for a number of years, which is what makes it so fulfilling now. I had mentioned my struggles with communication with models, agents and clients, or sometimes the challenge or finding intellectual stimulation when at a fashion show. These aspects are a thing of the past. With a new and continually expanding science field, I have the opportunity to continually reach cerebral provocation.  Of course I do believe deeply in the necessity of these hypertensive and diabetic medications for patients that are uncontrolled through diet and exercise. Nutrition and exercise is rooted in my belief of first line treatment, however I recognize that not everyone will follow this and sometimes it’s not enough, this is where medicine comes in.

Overall the 2013 saw another adventure through SE Asia.  I was reacquainted with numerous friends as well as introduced to countless more. I feel forever thankful and privileged for the opportunities that were provided for me, and eternally excited for what 2014 has forthcoming.

Big Announcement! A game of cards – Go Fish (Guess who's gonna be on a National TV Series)

About 3 weeks ago I made an announcement on my Facebook. I have had these plans to write about it, but really wanted to tell you about the joys of my siblings wedding. 

So here it is, we have started production on a new TV series based and filmed here in Calgary.  A few weeks ago, I was chosen to be a supporting cast member on a comedy series called Go Fish. It’s a very fitting title especially with some of my Singapore friends whom I taught to play the game. Here is the synopsis taken from iperformarts (production company):

"This TV comedy series follows five roommates as they try to make their way through the world. Each of them is following a dream, however, in the pursuit of their goals they often find themselves in hilarious predicaments which sabotage any progress that they may be making.

Each of the roommates have different goals, one wants to be a Lawyer, one is trying to become a fitness instructor, another is a model, and one is an actress. The fifth roommate is the very rich owner of the house that they all live in, and wants to get married….

Each episode follows the girls through one day in a series of short chronological skits."

A lonely little goldfish is the physical manifestation of each roommates failures, this fish seems to suffer an untimely demise in each episode, and is promptly replaced by whoever caused the fishes end. No one seems to even notice that the fish is different each time.

So where do I come in? One of the lasts pieces to the puzzle, I ended up casting for the show a few short days after getting back from my last Asia trip. As I mentioned my role is as support so I won’t be appearing in every episode, but will be a reoccurring character, the handsome neighbour.  My character lives next door to the girls, and is constantly trying to get a date or phone number at least. Without giving too much away, let's just say that I am a bit of eye candy on screen with my wardrobe. 

My experiences overseas filming television commercials have led to an interest in acting. I constantly talk about challenges and adventure is this is exactly how I see it. Excited to work on this production would be an understatement.  

I would like to share more, and I may share bit by bit as production goes along, but for the most part you are just going to have to stay tuned for when the show airs here in Canada (and for those overseas I will be certain to share online links).

Show me what you’re made of

I have recently discussed how much I despise shows. The castings that make the Godfather feel like a blink of an eye, followed by fittings and a waiting period with the sedative power of 100cc of ketamine (horse tranquilizer).  Also discussed recently was how I just don’t book them, well something changed. What? I honestly couldn’t tell you, I have put on a couple kilos of muscle so I am certainly not smaller.  

In the past week the number of shoes has shot up to 4. My legs walked and posed for H.E. by Mango, Hugo Boss, Supersports (I work frequently for them) and just yesterday Guy Laroche. With the exception of H.E. I can provide explanations of my bookings. You ready for em?

Let’s start with Hugo Boss. This is personally one of my favourite designers, which provides a slight bonus. Other than making the round side of a hippopotamus look attractive, these clothes fit me perfectly. My body shape have wider shoulders and back, tapering into a thin waist and then thick legs. Boss suits need no tailoring to fit me properly. The glove fits so I walked.

Guy Laroche and Supersports. Well that answer is simple, clothing doesn’t really have to fit when it’s a speedo/underwear. If walking around in small underwear isn’t awkward enough, lets throw you in front of a hundred people with a spotlight on your genitals.

My opinion hasn’t really changed at all about fashion shows, as a matter of fact its likely been reinforced negatively. Although its not all complaints, the Guy Laroche show was a lingerie show with 13 beautiful and a thai celebrity (Kae Chollada or something). Worst case scenario I would still regard that as a positive experience for any straight guy. Unfortunately I cannot embed the pics but you can enjoy this link. Big thanks to the guy that edited me out of the video, you don't need to see that :P Guy Laroche Lingerie

Is this real life?

We can all take different approaches to every situation; some can lead to untold stress, a feeling of hopelessness or on the positive side a series of enlightenment. The end of last week raised many stressful feelings, but in the end I refused to let it keep me down. 

Thursday and Friday were precisely days that could go either way. Starting out with 3 castings and by midday there were 5.  3 castings were for higher fashion (2 shows and a magazine) and 2 were commercial.

I am not sure if I have ever enlightened you to the two primary types of models. First there is high fashion, these are the ultra skinny, tall, and possess very unique looks. These models are usually associated with Milan, Paris and Tokyo.  High fashion models work mostly magazines, fashions shows and big name designers like Louis Vuitton and Prada. 

Contrast to high fashion is the type of model I am. Commercial models are more normal looking.  Not quite as tall, much more muscular, and often referred to as being esthetically attractive. Trying to explain this as modestly as I can, but commercial models are referred to as handsome while high fashion has this x factor that leaves you curious. Commercial models work for clients like Samsung and Coca cola.  Typically people will associate themselves with a commercial model and that’s why it’s used in more common advertising. 

Showing up at a casting it becomes immediately obvious when I don’t fit in. At 185 cm and 78 kg, I appear giant like and even obese next to the high fashion 189 cm and 60 kg guys. My barrel chest of 39.5 inches dwarfs the 34 and 36 inch chest of these boys who are barely men.  Unfortunately this is what clients like for high fashion. This could explain why after 6 years of modelling I have yet to book a fashion show from a casting.  I am fine with this though, I am happy with my body, my size and I have no desire to drop 20 kg. 

These castings can take a very long time as 80 models are asked to show up at the same time.  Right now, modelling is my job and I will continue to arrive on time to them as long as necessary. My point of stress arrives when I miss a commercial type casting (catalogue for jeans) by attending a useless casting.  The last casting of the day was quite possibly as far from my apartment as I can get along the train line.  With poor directions and a unorganized client, I arrived less than happy.  Sitting as number 15, and having 14 long gone I waited and waited. After 2 and half hours I decided “fuck this!” It was 50m down the road the client ran to get me. Apparently my booker called and told them to get their ass in gear. No longer caring about booking this particular job, I explained to the clients that they were being very unprofessional and that they have wasted my time and I am now wasting their time as I would never work for them. 

This is a long story as I am counting 2 days. After the first day of frustrating shenanigans, I decided not to let it get to me, laugh at the situation if you will.

I booked a TVC and had a fitting. The clients were great, I met some co-actors and ran around with a smile. Following I attended a casting to play a surfer getting attacked by a shark. With an espresso in hand I was enjoying life.  

Stricken by time I was afraid I missed a castings. I was not the only one. 2 other models and I met up and ventured to the furthest west we could get in Bangkok to meet the clients. Waiting, waiting, the clients stuck around until 5:30 for us.  A 3 hour trip involving bus, then walking, followed by train, more walking, another train and then taxi we made it.  A quick 15 minute turnaround and one more casting to go.

This venture would send me to the farthest north part of Bangkok, via train and then taxi. Well it would be via taxi if it wasn’t Friday at 8 pm and the notorious traffic jams are in full force.  With no taxi’s willing to take us for less than 400 baht (which may not seem like much, but my most expensive taxi to date has been 200 baht and even that was an hour and over 30 km). With the client refusing to meet us another day, I spent half an hour on the phone with my agent trying to negotiate.

With stress budding, happiness was far from my thoughts. My buddy said lets just go home its not worth the trouble. He was right, the negatives were building and I needed to remove myself from the situation.

Arriving for the model dinner I had calmed down. Laughing at how silly the situation this really was. The stress of Friday was all rather insignificant. In reality I am living an adventure everyday. Few get the opportunity to take these shots and many can only dream.  In the end I am really asking, “is this real life?”

Run through the jungle

Skipping over some of the action from recent work, this past Tuesday I found myself in the jungle. Sweltering heat, through dense trees, this Canadian that is built for cold weather dripped lakes of water from arrival to departure. As part of an advertorial for April’s Hommes edition of L’Officiel, their photography, and fashion teams piled into a luxury Lexus van alongside me for our destination.

Just over an hour from the bustling polluted city of Bangkok, the air cleared up. With clean air surrounding me, it was no easier to breath with the weight of a million micron sized water droplets marching over me like a stampede of elephants. Humidity here was quite possibly the highest I have experienced outside of being submersed in water.  With humidity at such high levels, my fears of blood sucking mosquitoes were at an all time high. It must be the birds or the bats in the area because not a single mosquito was to be seen, rather hundreds if not thousands of beautiful butterfly fluttering by.  

The entire team was awesome to work with. While not perfect just about everyone spoke some degree of English which makes communication far easier. Fortunately as well I wasn’t receiving command like “big pose”, “more attitude” or “cool guy”. Those of course are the standards things photographers ask for. For you rookie models, “cool guy” is just smile without teeth.  

Once you get into modelling more, you have your cues. Of course the biggest cue is *click* . The click of the shutter is what tells you to move. Every time I hear that sound on set I know to move. When you move, you literally just move. No thinking, it becomes a flow of eyes, arms, legs and torso any number of directions. Off set, my ears perk up like a dog when a can of tuna is opened. Unfortunately due to the nature of our location we had a generator booming the song of its people (brrrrrrrrrrrrrr). Making due with instinct I continued my flow hoping things would turn out for the best.  

Unfortunately I can’t share any of those photos but here are a few on location and behind the scenes shots.