So the rumors about kids modeling in Japan are true. We had known that several modeling agencies from Tokyo came to base, about every six months, to recruit American children for television, commercial and print work. What we didn't realize was that the modeling fair weekend was going to be the week we got here. We went to "see what it was all about" and hit the ground running...we got seven calls in the first week. That was really crazy since I didn't even know how to get to the other side of base! Since then, I have mastered the train and subway systems and have been quite busy with the jobs that Tyler, Sarah and Hannah have gotten so far. Here are a few examples of their work: Hannah did the video spot, Tyler did a "combi mini" catalog, and Sarah did a magazine shoot for "Oceans" and an advertizing deal for "Rubies" Halloween costumes among others...
It has also been interesting to learn how weird and bad the lives of the "real" models is. The Dutch gal who was supposed to be Hannah's "Mom" gave me a behind-the-scenes low-down. Most of the models live together...sometimes eight girls to an apartment. They are only allowed to come to Japan if they are sponsored by a particular agency. The contracts are for six to eight weeks long...only. The girls get their rent provided up-front by the agency, but they have to pay it back when they get a paying job. This gal was twenty and was old. She lives with four girls who are all 15, three from Poland, one from Holland. These girls go out drinking every night and come home at wee hours. I guess there is a bar that lets models in free and provides food vouchers and free drinks. They save up the food vouchers for parties...they will get together and spend their vouchers all at once to have a Birthday or some other celebration. They rarely make enough to go out otherwise. This leaves them prey to obviously unsavory characters, one of whom hangs out at the "model bars" and sells drugs...or gives them out at first. The "Dad" was Russian and looked like he had a rough night. No, my kids will never become "real" models...it is just for fun now!
3 comments:
Hannah is so cute! Your kids are doing really well it sounds like. That's cool they're making a little money for you ;). Keep me updated on everything in Japan! You are so lucky. We miss you guys so much!
How exciting! River did a little modeling a few years ago and he always asks me when he can do more. I tell him we would need to move to California . . . but I guess we really need to move to Japan! =)
My son did the winter catalog for Combi-Mini and let me tell you, what a long freakin day that was!!!! Every time Ty would fall asleep, they'd have me change his clothes, which ofc wakes him right back up and boy was he cranky by lunch time. The photo shoot started at 9am and I didn't get home until like 7pm. I was smelly, sweaty, and Ty was screaming cus he was hungry. I ended up having to feed him on the trains, which ofc no one would give up their seat to me until 3 stops before mine.
Kiana had two jobs right after that but I never made it to them because the trains were soooo packed that Kiana flipped out. They seriously scheduled the shoot during rush hour so the trains were dangerously packed. N it's not like a 20 min ride. The shoots were scheduled for right in the middle of Tokyo so the train ride is like an hour and a half. N man was it packed!!! I'm talking sardines in a can, shoving people in there just to get the doors to close. I'm claustrophobic and so I was trying so hard to stick with the ride, but as soon as Kiana started freaking out I was done and headed back home. I'm not sure if Sugar n Spice will ever hire us again since I canceled on two jobs because of the trains. It's not easy being a model that's for sure!!!!
So I give you kudos for being able to take 3 kids for all their shoots. How many have they done so far?
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