Am I Model Material?
We typically think of a “model” as someone who is tall and thin with a blindingly beautiful face. They have no pores… the skin was airbrushed on at birth. The body is equally perfect —free of the defects sustained by mere mortals.
But look at ads in any consumer magazine or TV and we encounter the Maytag repairman, Mr. Whipple (Charmin toilet paper), and Col. Sanders. Even the Marlboro guys aren’t precisely “beautiful.” But they all do have one thing in common: they can ham it up in front of a camera. They have personality, they’re funny or interesting, and they’re fun to watch.
There are three main types of people cast for commercials and ads: Models (known as the beautiful people), real people, and character models. The first category would include people like Gisele Bundchen or Cindy Crawford. The second (real people) are hardly what you see when you walk out the door. They are way too attractive, tidy, “my-life-is-perfect” looking to be considered “typical.” But they may be ten pounds beyond perfect or their nose may have a little character or they may be 40 or 50 years old. In other words someone who can credibly pull off the role of a dapper CEO or surgeon.
The last category, character models or actors is everyone else. Danny DeVito, Steve Buscemi, Juan Valdes (Colombian Coffee), and the Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef” lady. There are agencies specifically devoted to representing character models.
A 40 year old agency founded in England, they represent models from every walk of life from the bizarre to the untraditionally beautiful.
So the issue is not whether you are as handsome as Brad Pitt. The real issue is finding your niche in an industry which needs an enormous variety of talent. And cultivating your skills as an actor or model. The real issue is: Do you enjoy working as a model? If the answer is “yes” chances are you love what you do and you’ll work hard to improve, get assignments, and succeed!
Adam White is an associate with Christian Lange Photography, a fashion and advertising photography studio in Knoxville, TN. Website: www.christianlange.com
