I was testing the limits before a Marc by Marc Jacobs fashion show, plus why we have to be our own cavalry
Mark Duplass nailed it
Models Before Marc by Marc Jacobs
New York Fashion Week’s arrivals and departures can offer golden moments that street fashion photographers love to capture — and Marc by Marc Jacobs shows usually have some pretty good ‘docu’ opportunities.
As I was striding up to his show a decade ago, I passed his show’s backstage door and was intrigued by these models chilling beforehand. I must’ve been pretty early if they’re not in show mode, unlike this model in the middle video, Ruby Aldridge, who stepped out for a smoke break after HMU (hair and makeup and not ‘hit me up’ in the production world.)
I thought you may find it interesting to see the vibe. I’m missing a few fun shots I’ll add if I find them in my archives. MARC JACOBS and his more attainable MBMJ (Marc by Marc Jacobs) shows were always a trip, with a lot of camaraderie, before and after the event itself. (After an event can look something like this bottom video.)
The contrast is really motivating me to get that pro camera out of the closet.
As I inched closer, I wondered, “Hmmm, is there a spot for me up there?”
I kept inching closer and closer to the backstage steps — and nobody stopped me (back in the day) — so I just had to shoot my shot.
Look, going upstairs to get the shots wasn’t a big feat, but it leads to something top of mind. I find that many creatives have been conditioned to wait for someone to give them ‘permission,’ especially in entertainment.
Have you seen this Mark Duplass excerpt?
I also think we’re told ‘no’ so often that it wears us down, but this just landed in my IG feed and I think he makes a great point.
The cavalry isn’t coming.
This IG clip is from SXSW 2015 and Duplass emphatically tells indie filmmakers that, “The cavalry isn’t coming.”
Then, encourages them to be their own cavalry, with his action plan.
He got my attention, so I watched his 25 minute chat [at 2x the speed because we are unable to watch events unfold in real time.] True story: I woke up from a deep sleep the other night, lifting an imaginary phone up with my left hand, then made repeated swiping up gestures with my right hand. What have we become?
He talks about the grind of taking ‘general meetings’ when there aren’t specific job openings at the time, as future ‘potential opportunities.’ I personally love general meetings but, in my genre, it’s a better use of time to set a pitch meeting, instead. Two birds, one stone.
Even though I was the second choice for a recent celebrity series on a newer network, I now have an open door to pitch pop culture series, so that’s still a win.
For more context in the cooler full session, he talks about going to college in Austin and walks through his logic of how even making terrible short films could bring opportunity, building up to how to buck the system. The crowd cheers when he lands his emphatic denouement, “… because now — you are — the calvary.”
This is especially important to absorb during the strikes. We haven’t even addressed UNSCRIPTED yet. It’s coming, but I’ll leave that to paid journalists who I’m sure have their hands full.
I hope this resonates with even a couple readers. If we create our own intellectual property, there are a number of non traditional ways to retain ownership.
We are the calvary.
I promised you more fashion week flashbacks but had to work a lot and am also experimenting with some fashion GIFS. I’m holding those selfie stories until the start of the week because — I can’t bury an Anna Wintour story on a Friday. ;)
Have an inspired weekend and the Snack Size series is being renamed SUNDAY SNACK.
[Added on 9/26/23:]
