In an outlying area from Toronto, I found that the modeling school offered an eight-week course for $200. The instruction was fairly basic and was given with the lesser-sophisticated girl in mind. Another option for schooling is, of course, to head to the big city first to see what it has to offer. The little area did offer work immediately on the local level, as the school worked as an agent to all the youngsters.
The school in the metropolis started at $1,000 for a thirty-nine hour course that addressed all the ground-laying work such as personal grooming, posing, makeup, and how to present yourself for the neophyte model.
Schools in Canada must meet a carefully registered curriculum set at the government level. They must pass the government's standards to qualify for accreditation.
It is of utmost importance that you check the credentials of the modeling school that you are considering before you pay any tuition. It is quite easy to do this as any accredited school is registered with the Canadian government.
A SAMPLE SCHOOL
All schools will differ somewhat, so this chapter will use one particular school as an example, and variations will be the norm. The modeling curriculum was recently broken down to three categories and sections of classes. The first course is an introduction to modeling through self-awareness. Emphasis is placed on the individual's ideal weight, diet, and exercise. Hair, skin, poise, personality, self-presentation, and etiquette are stressed, as is self-assurance.
Posture, makeup, and wardrobe are detailed for the individual. The age group involved in this curriculum would usually be around thirteen to eighteen for the young women. As this course is basically geared toward the true novice in the modeling world, stress is put on the really basic but professional tricks of the trade. A model must have the capability to "sell" herself, and a client must see a polished, self-assured model if the job is to be hers.
If you are interested in high fashion work, this is the time to discover if you have the real essentials. Everyone can benefit from this introduction course simply to improve their general appearance. However, if you plan to work in the fashion arena of runway and photography, you will probably consider continuation in these courses. You should be between five feet nine inches to six feet tall, well proportioned and square-shouldered, and possess attractive facial features.
The Canadian market does use some shorter models and fuller figures for runway shows at locations like malls, where a more average and heavier woman would be the audience and thus the prospective buyer. Even petite sizes to model junior fashions have some work offers. Specific work through the agency could call for large sizes from 14-20, as well. The type of work would dictate the contents of the school's courses.
Another segment of this particular school offers film workshops for ages thirteen and up. These classes cost $700. Emphasized are the audition, voice, monologue, and scenes using interaction with others. Adapting to the camera is critical for commercial work. Special delivery to the camera is taught. Acting "natural" in front of a camera is more often learned than inherited. Clever acting techniques come into play here to produce a genuine appearance and make a believable situation out of a very artificial one. Videotape is used to allow the student to judge his or her credibility.
The advanced course consists of personal style development by the model. The all important model's bag is detailed so that you will be prepared for all the possibilities that different jobs require. Portfolios and their importance are pinpointed. The Zed card, head shots, and resumes for casting are defined. The ability to handle your finances is critical, as vouchers (how you get paid) will be your own responsibility. A real sense of professionalism is reached in this course, and private attention is given to the individual's strong points and particular talents.
Modeling Classes for Men
The curriculum is not as intricate for men who wish to model. The classes are again grouped into consecutive courses at the particular school chosen as the sample. The basic grooming course is much like that of the women's instruction for the introduction to modeling. The detail for makeup and hairstyle would not be lengthy for the men. The stress for the following courses would be on runway, photographs, films, and video, with all the similar needs used to prepare the women models. Men must learn to sell themselves also, so strong points are brought out by the personal instruction. The entire program for men would run around $700. The course runs for thirteen weeks, three hours at a time on weekdays. There is also a ten-week program for TV acting and commercials. Men involved in the program are reminded that the tuition is tax deductible.
Modeling Classes for Children
The age group for the children's modeling curriculum is from tot to preteen. There are eight two-hour classes wherein the child is taught how to respond to the varied possible situations posed during modeling for photographs, runway, and commercial work. The sample school's tuition is $450. This school is Canadian non-tax exempt. Vocational learning for children is not tax deductible, though children can work and must pay taxes accordingly.
WHERE TO FIND WORK IN CANADA
There are two modeling centers in Canada. The main area for all work is Toronto, where about twenty-five hundred models are currently doing some form of work. The industry has seen tremendous growth in the past years. The most recent modeling center is Vancouver, British Columbia.
Montreal is the other major city for modeling work to be found in Canada. It is estimated that a model who is well established and in demand would be able to command from $75,000 to $100,000 per year.
Work in Montreal would necessitate your having at minimum a basic understanding and command of the French language.
UNIONS
The union for screen acting in Canada is ACTRA. If commercial work is done under this union, the pay scale without voice is $520 and the residual is paid for every thirteen weeks that the commercial is aired. You will need six credits to become a member and only three credits for the same membership if you are an ethnic model, as there is less call for that area in Canada. If you are not a member of ACTRA, the pay scale is usually half of the union wage. Dues are $130 per year plus working dues 1.75 percent of gross income.
BEFORE YOU PROCEED
Several of the Canadian modeling agencies and schools wish to alert potential models who are just starting out to some serious frauds that have left ethical agents quite concerned. They would ask that you approach modeling with a serious eye toward legitimate and honest modeling establishments. If you are a young person, involve your parents, don't answer ads in the paper, and check to make certain that the agency is legitimate or that the school is listed by the Canadian Board of Colleges and Universities. Modeling can be a very rewarding profession, but you will have to be careful not to be naive, as there have been some unpleasant situations due to frauds created by a very few unethical people.
