One of the highlights of the 2011 L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival program is the collaboration with the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) at Federation Square, whereby several films are to be shown related to all facets of fashion.
Fashion Models on Film runs from Thursday the 10th of March through to Thursday the 17th of March with four films, all with a different take on an area of the fashion industry.
Catwalk: Milan, Paris, New York is an oldie but a goodie, a 1996 film starring Christie Turlington showing the world how being blessed with good genes can be turned into a career as she goes from strength to strength on catwalks around the world. Joining Christie are supermodels Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Carla Bruni – now better known as the first lady of France – and Kate Moss. A who’s who of the fashion industry, Catwalk is a must see for any fashionista.
Dressed For Summer 2011 is the newest instalment in a decade long series by French fashion journalist and television host Agnes Boulard. Major trends and upcoming styles are showcased (for the European Summer) as well as the faces to watch in 2011.
Another vintage pick is Model, from 1980, where filmmaker Frederick Wiseman turned the camera on his New York modelling agency and documented an Oscar De La Renta fashion show, capturing the fashion industry before supermodels were a household name. Like Catwalk, Model features fashion faces you will know and love – a rare look into this incredible industry.
The final, and perhaps most fascinating film on the program, is Picture Me: A Model’s Diary. Shot during the 90s and released in 2009, the documentary follows model Sara Ziff through her rise from teen model to an international face in high demand.
Filmed by Sara’s boyfriend, Ole Schell, the film travels New York, Paris and Milan, often capturing the harder moments of life as a model rather than the glamour of couture and parties.
Originally part of their home video collection, Ole and Sara decided to release the film, and have gone behind the scenes with interviews of colleagues, photographers and designers, to chronicle the highs and lows of the fashion world.
From her first $80,000 cheque to tears in the bathtub, Sara’s journey is a painful and sad story. Many other models are interviewed in the film, addressing issues models face on a daily basis.
While looking on in awe, wishing to have an ‘easy’ life and earn the kind of money a model does, the girls themselves are often exhausted after 20 hour days, and are forced to put up with abuse designed to further their careers as well as constantly being criticised for their weight.
Sara scaled back her modelling in order to finish her studies in Political Science while Ole went on to film a documentary on entrepreneurs and youth culture in China. Sarah continues to be an activist for young models, ensuring that the experience is a good one for those coming up through the ranks.
If you can only see one film at Fashion on Film make it Picture Me. A moving piece made all the more so because it’s true. You will see the grass isn’t always greener on the side.
Visit AMCI for session times and tickets.
