Is Model Management Model Management?

I've just taken Roxanne through the slew of model agencies in Rosebank Mall. I foolishly hoped it would not be a painful process. Roxanne has shrunk 3 or 4 centimetres since we last spoke, it seems. She was measured at 171cm, somewhat below Ice's modest 174cm limit.

We shopped around a bit more. Pitch and counterpitch. What do you want? What is your experience? How old are you? It's a painful experience - I'm guessing - because the primary motivators for most models and the agencies that manage them is greed and vanity. This is an incredibly thin veneer. As such, agencies start off charging the model R500 or more for shooting a bunch of photos against a sterile white background (no matter what they have in their portfolio) and then make dodgy promises like: "I see you have the X factor, but get on with your studying because we might not call you for months." Thanks buddy. What a great deal. So we're talking about a return of investment of something like less than R100 a month for the first few months.

The fella we spoke to astutely observed that the 19-22 year age group is the least active, gets the least work. Huh? He pointed out that Brad Pitt won some or other contract with Levi's and that the money - for modelling - is now going to older people. What he should have said is this age group is probably the most competitive, hence little work has to be spread very very thin. I bet they say the opposite to 35 year olds who stroll in looking for modelling jobs. "All the teeangers are getting work; I mean, Avril Lavigne and Britney Spars and Paris Hilton have changed the world haven't they." But then add, thoughtfully, "There is something about you...pay us R500 for a quick shoot and we can get you on Top Billing in a couple of months, maybe a few years at most."

Unfortunately if you're the pretty person being appraised, what are you left to do? Write a cheque? Not so fast. How well known is the agency actually? How well do you know this guy that's asking you for money? What's his experience? How many models are on their books? How grotty are their offices? Is the tattooed hunk with honey coated words saying anything beyond the Gambling Game (promising lots but delivering as little as possible). The litmus test is this: is the perso taking a personal interest in you, who you are - Tyra Banks style?

Our guy seemed to have very little interest in Roxanne herself, and a cursory interest in me. It's probably unavoidable: you see people as posters and paper. Unfortunately, to the extent that models allow themselves to be dehumanised, their ultimate worth (both as models and flesh and blood organisms) decreases rapidly.

Why is Ryk Neethling the celebrity that he is? Not because he is just someone nice to look at. There are plenty of other male models. With Ryk there is a story to tell, there is substance behind the style. There is hard work, achievement and ethics. And we have gotten to know who he is through numerous interviews and comments over the years. The difference between a model who just lends her face to MacDonalds and Bic ad nauseum and someone like Ryk (a certain kind of celebrity) is being a bit discerning, giving oneself credit that one is more substantive than a color coating for paper, and most important, communicating as far as possible a story along with the imagery. I believe Roxanne can be that, a personality, the question is, does she?

Increasingly, it seems to me, that the story is what gives us value. Without a story, who are we? This is the reason we flock to the movies; because our lives are not complete without a story. Even less so if we have no story to tell about ourselves.

Candice (PHOTOGRAPHY)

Candice: Getting High (PICTURES)

What's Worse: Burping or Doing Nothing (SURVIVOR COOK ISLANDS UPDATE)

So on Survivor last night, Candice got booted off. I think her throwing a tantrum was a fatal flaw. Poor girl went to exile island like 4 times or something.

It was interesting seeing the animosity build up against Jonathan though. This guy is a bit insecure, and perhaps a little too direct (obvious is another word). He's not quite as bad as some of them made him out to be. If you selfishly want something and that conflicts with someone elses selfish desire for the same thing, does that make the person who succeeds in getting something (at the expense of another) wrong? No, it's the nature of the game, and often, life.

Maybe he was a bit cocky with his beer, hot dog and pizza (he burped in front of his starving companions), but he also got off his butt and went fishing, while the other 3 in the tribe played wait-and-see (or wait-and-whine, or wait-and-blame).

How can you blame Jonathan for not sharing his catch with people that were glaring at him, resorting to kindergarten name calling and all the rest.

Meanwhile, Yule turns out to be tremendously intelligent. He has made two immensely strong decisions strategically.

1) Turning Jonathan - a swing vote - during a crucial vote just after the merge. This led Yule's group to switch from inferior numbers at tribal council, to a majority. He was able to secure Jonathan's vote by showing that he had the hidden immunity necklace, another coup. Yule was able to find it on Exile Island, those who went before him - could not.

2) Not voting Jonathan off was also a clever vote, because 3 members within the tribe is still a fairly large unknown quantity (who might win immunity for themselves).

It goes to show though that in the game of survivor, the most indecent thing of all is - not burping - but freeloading.

Candice on Wednesdays

Wednesday 23rd of May - Itinerary

Going to PMB, to pick up my busted bumper, and...... a pair a GUESS jeans I have just bought for.... Wan Meeeeleon dollarz... which I may add: the store had specifically tailored to my exact size....
....Then........ Darryl ( cutie bean friend that went with me to sani pass) and I are taking a drive through the country and stopping of at a Lipizzaner stud farm, and their 100 year old Victorian Manor house, turned Country Guest House. After admiring these awesome creatures which are born black and turn white once mature, and of course the architecture of the House, the in-house Sangoma, Sara and her trainee Muvo, will be elevating their souls to the astral planes with their ancestors, casting the bones and sharing some light on my murky future....

....Then, with new insights to contemplate on our way, and promises of wealth, wisdom and wanton, we will drive happily through the untouched Kirkwood Forest Nature reserve to our humble little Honeymoon Luxury 3 bedroom Cottage, equipped with a Jacuzzi bath, which we will fire up to a moderate temperature of 38 Deg. We will be wined and dined, exclusively by the hotel staff, as we are the only guests booked in, play a few games of snooker, and hopefully remember what we got up to when we wake up on our Extra King size beds...

...After putting the pieces together of who won the last pool game, and what happened after that, a leisurely greasy breakfast awaits us, overlooking one the many trout dams and indigenous forests on the remote estate....

With filled bellies, and rejuvenated spirits, we meander back through the scenic Karkloof reserve, with the sun on our backs, until we reach the exhilarating canopy tour ( which after all this, really was the point of our whole excursion in the first place )

....at the heart of the reserve
Strapped in to our harnesses, and locked onto the canopy cable, at the top of the forest canopy we glide above the terrestrial creatures and share the eye view of the broad variety of bird life that inhabits this magnificent piece of Africa. After picking up quite a lot of speed, and careening over vast crevices and deep, water filled gorges, a couple of waterfalls, cliff faces and over many trees and underbrush, we only hope to keep in what we had for breakfast....

.... However, beyond our safe landing pad, there is a spectacular little restaurant in the forest, amongst the fairies and fauns to fill any spills, or hungry tummies....

....After the batteries of our cameras are spent, our sense for wild adventure has been curbed, and the golden disk of day moves towards the jagged silhouette of the the Great Berg, we finally return home. On a quiet road. With only the sound of the wind, the gurgling of the Mooi, and the distant braying of the cattle calling the others ahead of them on their way home. And to my own piece of heaven we go, just around the Bend....
.... So! What you doing on Wednesday?