Sabtu, 01 Februari 2014

Fashion Week stages 'fierce' casting call


At the front of the imaginary runway, things were getting hectic.


Gainesville Fashion Week, which arrives April 3, was holding its casting call Saturday. And by 2 p.m. the pace had revved up to account for an increase in talent. A line of models stretched through one door and threatened to reach the building entrance. Cues were becoming brusque. A model shifted from one precarious stiletto heel to the other at the designated starting point. A member of the team hovered nearby, rattling off last-minute instructions before the model was motioned to walk to the end of a room, pose and then return from whence she came.


Keep your hands close to your sides, your torso still and your face relaxed, the member of the team instructed. But don't keep your hands too close to your sides. Look neutral but engaging. Imply movement but don't move too much. Look sleek.


The model at the front was Mia Varner, just 16. Today would be her first time walking -- that is, runway walking. After it was over, she said all she could think of was the list of instructions reduced down to, 'Make sure you do it right.'


She had cycled through all the other stations at the casting call. First her waist, bust and hips were measured. Then she stood in front of a glossy white wall for headshots.


But now she had to walk.


When her cue came -- an OK sign from Shea Perez, director of models for Fashion Week -- Varner launched toward the seven judges on a couch at the end of the room.


Each judge served a purpose. Perez and three other team members were choosing who would model the clothing for the six shows. Two women from Gainesville Today were looking for a face for the next issue's cover. A representative from Premiere Modeling Management wanted to find its new star.


This year's theme is 'Growth,' which Tiffany Williams, producer and founder of Gainesville Fashion Week, said refers to the emerging talent that will make up the week of fashion shows. In fact, Williams said, in addition to seeking out designers, for the first time the team offered a designer casting call. She said it was meant to draw new talent, especially students.


Gainesville is one of the few places in Florida to offer a venue for students interested in the fashion industry, said Holly Kobus, talent coordinator.


She said the fact that, in a span of seven seasons, Gainesville Fashion Week has gone from being held at Sharab Lounge, a club, to the University Air Center, an airplane hangar, is a testament to the amount of local talent.


'It just shows there are so many people in this area who need an outlet to show their designs,' she said.


Williams said three designers came to show their work, bringing either his or her portfolio or clothing samples.


'It felt kind of like 'Project Runway,'' Alyssa Fisher, director of marketing and promotions, said. 'It felt very legitimate and professional.'


And Varner was among the young talent who strode down the carpet while the judges watched closely. At the end of the imaginary runway, she paused, pivoted and picked her way back. She was asked to do it again.


'More fierce,' Perez shouted over the pulsing rhythm of the house music played by the DJ a few feet away.


Being fierce is key, but it is an elusive quality that evades definition. Members of the Fashion Week team could agree only that fierce is essential but fickle.


'It's someone who just has natural confidence and grace,' said production assistant Kevin Huynh.


Perez said fierceness was a mixture of seriousness and being intent. To acquire it, she instructed models to relax their faces.


Executive chair Meshi Shoshana said it was being able to highlight the clothes and not distract from them.


And when a model took her first turn, co-producer Chin Chin Hao shook her head.


'More fierce,' she shouted over the music. To demonstrate, she firmly stomped one foot, thrust her hip to the side and made a quick gesture with her hand.


Savannah Travers, associate editor at Gainesville Today, followed up an invocation of 'fierce' with a pattern of snaps in the air, as though to diagram it.


'It's not one thing,' said production assistant Sarah Summerlin. 'It's just showing us you have that spark.'


The Gainesville Fashion Week team will offer call-backs for about 70 to 80 models at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Simon's Night Club & Entertainment.


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