Picture Me

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david f @dfulmer 08/14/2012 This is an excellent documentary about a model, Sara Ziff, who was discovered on the street in New York by a photographer and went on to be featured in fashion shows in New York, Paris, and Milan, along with TV commercials for Clean and Clear and billboards in Times Square. It was made by her and her boyfriend who began filming themselves when she was 19 and used footage from the next four years to create this film. It includes interviews with other models, designers and photographers but whatâ(TM)s most interesting are the candid scenes of Ziffâ(TM)s life as she goes to castings, earns paychecks in excess of $100,000 and flies around Europe adhering to a hectic schedule of fittings and appearances that eventually drives her to tears. The film explores the dark side of modelling, like the obsession with youth and various kinds of exploitation of models but its strength is the documentation of the everyday life of a model around 2004. See more 04/13/2012 Great story behind the life of a model. It saddens me that (some) photographers are such scum. Definitely worth watching. See more 09/30/2011 If you did not like this film there might be a chance deep within you are jealous and actually think Sara is overreacting and not grateful enough for how easy she go it. There is another probability that you are just a dick. And the maybe you just did not like it which is totally valid. But this film first of all is a feel good story like any other that has been done and praised. Sure the insights to the model world might be nothing new for some, for for others like me, it is actually great to listen to in first person. What many people may not realized is that Sara accomplishes so much not because of hers look, but because of her attitude, and as said at the beginning of the film, that goes a long way, that to me is the best message of the film. See more 09/04/2011 This is a documentary in the first person which proposed to, through a study over the course of 5 years, to dispel the myths of some long held ideologies of the modelling world, warn young girls of the trials and tribulations of the profession, while also exposing a few darker secrets which are kept behind closed doors. Such a profound claim is unfortunately never really held up, because; shock, horror for the most part all it exposes is that models are pampered, image obsessed anorexics who at times have to deal with overzealous photographers who want to nothing more than to work a little closer than should be allowed. I mean, to an extent it is insightful, it exposes the demanding nature of modelling, the stress and pressure they put themselves under to perform their job, and how far in debt the agencies will put a model before she finally starts earning unbelievable amounts of money from a photo shoot (to the sum of $80,000 for a model just starting out!). But, along with an endearing girl who we can almost empathise with despite her vast advantages, these moments do not justify what is little more than a student film with a real lack of understanding for what makes a good documentary. It is not pretty animation sequences during the credits, it requires a strong narrative structure and some clever editing, neither of which this has, it should provide some informative answers to our questions of the job, but by the end of the somewhat short 80 minute length you have already long since become bored with such a vapid and unyielding existence. See more 09/02/2011 it was ok. a little dull at times, nevertheless interesting See more 07/03/2011 Such bullshit. Was hoping to see an honest "warts and all" controversial (as this was advertised) look at modeling, but it's mainly this Laura Ziff chick flashing her 100 thousand dollar checks, then crying about being exploited. Crying about being exploited while her boyfriend films her topless in a bathtub. No doubt it's a tough business. And the stories about 14 year old girls getting seduced by 45 year old photographers (I'm guessing Terry Richardson) is disturbing but I was hoping it was more of THAT and less of Laura Ziff griping about being tired and burnt out while people throw money and billboards at her. See more Read all reviews

Picture Me

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