It may not be the best time for advertisers, some agencies may be wondering what opportunities will be out there in the brave new future for the UK. However, my new venture as a fittings model seems to be working the way I thought it would. I expected to hear sporadically about work, but I've had a few bookings and some firm offers. The great part about it is that when I am used to be the form size for clothes, I'll know I can purchase from those brands when they're in store. It's a win-win. I get to try on new styles. Someone comes along and takes the garments away after. I've always been bad at hanging things back up again, relying on Wardrobe to clear up. It's just the way I've had to be with so many costume changes for shows and dance. Like a chef who has someone to clear down after, the main event happens at the eye of the storm.
Finding neutral underwear in my skin tone is a torment for a plus sized model. I can find few bras which blend in to make it all about the outer garment. All the bras which are the right size are nowhere near plain enough, without seams and embellishments. Those which are the right colour are tiny.
Another nightmare has been getting paid for a job which happened a few months ago. What started out as a simple extra job on a US film quickly descended into farce. Without naming names, it's the latest in a franchise of a schlocky film which I should never have accepted in the first place. We were treated badly when we arrived, the timings were way off and we noticed that the director was being slapdash about Health and Safety. Already tired when I arrived after working the day before on a video shoot, I was exhausted by the wrap. None of us were paid, and it turns out the camera crew, production staff and as far as I can tell, the main actors found their payments have been withheld. Now we're in a weird contractual struggle with the US backer. We've even been told to start our own correspondence with them. I've basically had to tell myself that I'm never going to get paid for this work.
Little household emergencies can happen at any time. The electrics blew while I was running a washload which fried the washing machine's electrics and I had to get an electrician in and order a new washer/dryer.
The allotment is a calming influence at the moment. All the planting has started to come up on the side which was prepared. The other half of the allotment has been rotivated. The hard work and fresh air is a perfect antidote to the chaos of sudden calls from a booking agents and the randomness of the different roles I undertake.
Back from the allotment and after a soak, facepack, hair and nails, I'm ready again for a call for a casting. At one point I was portraying a social worker for a Barnardo's shoot, and needed to work with children, which ties in easily with all my dance and cheer work.
The ironic part is keeping outfits serviceable and myself in good order, only to find that I was booked on a job for Fear The Walking Dead where I was bloodied up and in make up as a zombie as PR for the new series. We also shot a fun shambling sports event in full make up with a comedian Joe Tasker at the top of the Telecom Tower. I hate heights. The zombie look was real for me... For a dancer it's anti-intuitive to practically dislocate your shoulders to zombie-walk. Tiring but fun. I'd show you photos but with all the terror attacks in London at the moment, it seems wrong to show how realistic the make up was. Here's me 45 minutes into having the prosthetics removed - all the baby oil really dissolves the rubber.
Met up with Adam Pearson (the so-called modern day Elephant Man) who appeared in the Undateables and now has his own food programme. He was offering me crisps around the Fitzrovia area on the way to shoot at the Telecom Tower. An interesting guy who embraces the opportunities he is offered.
Me in 80s red tracksuit a still from Zara Larsson's 'Don't let me be yours' video, link here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbZ7BG1adGI
Keep out of the rain until next time.
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