Have you ever wondered what it is truly like being a young model in such a diverse industry as Fashion? Shawn Butcher, the Los Angeles artist explores this notion we all have to admit we have wondered, within the short film “new faces”. An unscripted 6 minute film that provides a brief insight into the mind of young models who are well on their way to becoming more involved in the Fashion Industry this year.
The film follows the journey of young models; Oli Donoso, Tamirys Melo, Elizabeth Salt and Liberty Mann. It begins as a collage of their morning routine up until their casting calls, in their element in the eyes of the camera, and explores the different point of view from each model, which makes it difficult to differentiate between who is saying what, but we believe this is intentional, as they are different faces but all sharing this exciting journey together, within the Fashion World and its culture. The film opens with the girls waking up as one tells the fear she still holds for the industry, “I still get a little nervous before big castings, so I try and sleep in as much as possible”.
As the girls rise and begin their routine and one model admits, “I’m kind of lucky to a certain extent. Everyone just gets to travel and live in different countries and explore”, which is a statement that most of us would dream of saying, yet it is said unenthusiastically and calm, perhaps from the exhaustion that such a job and lifestyle would give a teenage girl.
The scene and perspective then shifts to a foreign model who leaves a voicemail for her mother, whom she knows is working, telling her about a new opportunity for the day and explains to her how beautiful the city of London is, “I wish you could see it with your own eyes”. The thankful model then explains how she understands the opportunity she has and what she wishes to do with it, “To give you everything I’ve always wanted to”.
One model on a bus (we are guessing heading to the casting) explains that she began modelling as a young teen and had quite a slow start, but recently after changing agencies has been given more opportunity and believes she has, “only just started modeling”. She then explains how she believes the new agency has her best interest when it comes to what she wants, “They say this is here, but it’s completely up to you and you can choose to go to school, and I want to keep it that way”.
This collage of unscripted voices and perspectives of these young women and their journey within the Fashion Industry is universal to the reader, but the position of where these models are and the real-life aspect of this short film is what makes it so unique and makes you want to see a follow up in the future of where these aspiring models are and what they have accomplished.
When you witness the beauty that these girls’ bring in front of the camera during the last scene, you are encapsulated under the ‘magic’ and spell they cast in front of the camera, clearly gaining the support of the viewer. The humanisation of the models in contrast with this scene creates an even greater sense of beauty when you think of the up and coming model scene then you may have before you viewed the film.
