#StaySafeAtHomeWith ... Maikls Mihelsons

Riga, 28 April 2020

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Who are you (the long answer, no cheating by just giving your name!) and what is your profession (as in, how do you define it, rather than just the job title it has)?

My name is Maikls, but that’s not all… Safe to say that I am a human. Still breathing and doing #stayhome. I'm a son, brother, friend and a boyfriend.

My profession as a model could be put in different words, but I could say that in a way it is a set of performance. In a way similar to acting… Different day, different setup; runway, clothes, magazines, photo shoots, designers, castings, hair, make-up, etc.  Since all this has stopped, I try to stay home as much as I can.

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Who would you confine with?

In a perfect world I would be with my family in a country house by the sea.

What's your work-from-home style?

Washing and sanitizing hands ;) Well there is not much going on anyways. So I spend some time reading books, getting some fresh air, and roller-skating.

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 Tell us something about yourself that isn't on your resume (a secret skill, a hobby, a previous job or fun fact about you).

I used to play basketball for a long time. I started when I was about 6 years old and played all through high school. I was born into an athletic family: my dad was a professional volleyball player.

Fun fact: me and my sister, when we were little, we used to play dress-up and act like male and female models. Actually not my idea, but my sisters.

What's the first place you'd want to go when it's safe again to travel and go out?

First thing first… I would go out for dinner or hang out with my closest friends. My sister has been living abroad and it would be nice to see her and my little niece. To get back into traveling for modeling wouldn’t be bad either. 

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 Who is in your fantasy Zoom party (Skype or FaceTime)?

Kobe Bryant. RIP. I would love to Skype with him. He had an amazing work ethic, skills and a beautiful family. I would want to know the key to his success and how he balanced professional sports with family life. 

And other legends like Michael Jordon & Magic Johnson.

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Maikls is represented by The Bro Models

interviewed by Lily Templeton

&

captured by Allan Hamitouche

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Production by Michaël Marson

Casting director William Lhoest at WL Casting

#StaySafeAtHomeWith ... Ben Allen

London, 8th April 2020

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Who are you (the long answer, no cheating by just giving your name!) and what is your profession (as in, how do you define it, rather than just the job title it has)?

I am a 24 year old from South East London. Half American, Quarter English, Quarter Australian. I’m a model of almost 10 years (yikes) and actor in training. I love my job, I’m always thankful for the places it has taken me, the wonderful friends/girlfriend of 4 years I have and the opportunities to work with people I consider genius.

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Who would you confine with?

My girlfriend Lexi. We are split to be closer to our families, so she is back in America and I’m in London. We are used to distance and time apart through our work, but not having an end date in lockdown restrictions and not really knowing how long it will be until it’s safe and responsible to travel again is tough, but it is a small hardship compared to what many are experiencing now. My heart goes out to all those nurses and doctors working so diligently, saving lives whilst risking their own, to return home at the end of these unimaginable days and not be able to touch your partner or children. I can’t even imagine what they are going through.

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 What's your work-from-home style?

I’m fortunate to have a house that backs on to a small private wood with a tennis court - so I’ve been playing tennis everyday with my friend Kit who has moved in for lockdown. Begin the day with early tennis, once done we get some music on (radiooooo.com and NTS have really kept me sane the past few weeks), get breakfast going and start the day. If I have lines to learn for acting classes I’ll read through them in the garden, if not I may read a book, do some gardening. Whatever allows me to savor the beautiful springtime we’ve been blessed with in London this year. It’s been great having a friend move in for this period, we’ve cooked everyday. Watched some fantastic movies. I’m now obsessed with the Safdie Brothers. I’ve gone on many walks with my mum, which has been special. Time can move so fast, juggling all the elements of the modern lives we lead. Having moved out of my mums house 2 years ago and spending time in Denver with Lexi or generally on the road with work - our moments together, naturally, have become invaluable. So to have had all this time together the past few weeks has been so precious to me. I imagine many of us post-lockdown will reevaluate what elements of our lives, truly, mean the most to us. I definitely will be. I’ve been writing some of these thoughts every night before bed to look back upon, when the routines of old and the craziness that comes with that, ensues again.

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 Tell us something about yourself that isn't on your resume (a secret skill, a hobby, a previous job or fun fact about you).

Well currently, I’m doing acting lessons in London (even during the lockdown we have classes on Zoom!) and for the past few months, I have been working towards launching a knitwear line. A fun fact about me - due to terrible 16 year judgment of the Caribbean tide patterns, I found myself drifting out to the Atlantic Ocean on a paddleboard. Some 20 minutes later, to my life-continuing relief, I spot a figure on the horizon coming to my rescue - it was Bryan Adams, Mr Summer of ’69 himself. I laid flat on my board, exhausted and exasperated, as he paddled the two of us back to shore and to the safety of solid ground. That is how Bryan Adams saved my life. You can’t make this shit up.

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 What's the first place you'd want to go when it's safe again to travel and go out?

My favorite restaurant and my favorite pub.

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 Who is in your fantasy Zoom party (Skype or FaceTime)?

Dave Chappelle, Salvador Dali, Anthony Bourdain, Gucci Mane, Karl Marx.

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Ben is represented by Select Model London

interviewed by Lily Templeton

&

captured by Allan Hamitouche

…

Production by Michaël Marson

Casting director William Lhoest at WL Casting

#StaySafeAtHomeWith ... Luca Lemaire

Brussels, 7th April 2020

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Who are you (the long answer, no cheating by just giving your name!) and what is your profession (as in, how do you define it, rather than just the job title it has)?

I’m Luca, which means light. But I’m not feeling especially brighter than everybody. In fact I like to be alone, experiencing stuff on my own, living a bit in the shadow and not showing to everybody how I am deep inside.

Besides being a model, I’m a student. I’m finishing my masters degree in Industrial Design and I’m working on several design projects. I like to create, find solutions, to think about society, people, customs, … and that’s what I love about being a designer. I like being a model because it’s like a break in my normal life. It allows me to travel around the world, meet amazing people, acting and be different, then I come back and I’m ready to do what I have to do.  

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Who would you confine with?

My mother. That’s who I’m confined with during this time. We are the same, it’s easy to live together and we know each other very well, we actually know when the other needs space or not. We debate a lot about the situation here, and what’s happening after the confinement. So she’s actually the best person I could imagine to be confined with.

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 What's your work-from-home style?

Music is really important to me; it helps me a lot to organize my days. First I bought an alarm clock before the lock-down (best idea) so I wake up every morning around 7:30 with classical music and news, I have my breakfast (without coffee), run 5-6 kilometers with energetic music, have a shower, and I’m ready to work with several breaks during which I clean, I draw, I read books, … always with appropriate music in the background, My neighbors hate me now, haha. Working from home is new for me and in a certain way I'm starting to like it.

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 Tell us something about yourself that isn't on your resume (a secret skill, a hobby, a previous job or fun fact about you).

Before the lock-down I used to dance Tango, and I miss it a lot. I try to dance alone, and you would probably laugh at me if you'd see me.  

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What's the first place you'd want to go when it's safe again to travel and go out?

I would like to cycle for 1 month with friends to the south of France and why not in Sicily, but it would take an additional month ... I miss Italy a lot, especially the south where my family comes from. 

Who is in your fantasy Zoom party (Skype or FaceTime)?

Can I ignore this question? In fact, I'm not on Zoom, Skype nor FaceTime. I mainly use it for work because no other alternative exists. I have only called my friends once so far. I prefer to call them for 5 minutes on the phone to be sure everything is fine and to see them for real when we can! If I didn't have a phone, I would probably send letters, rather than FaceTime, Zoom or Skype them.

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Luca is represented by Hakim Model Management

interviewed by Lily Templeton

&

captured by Allan Hamitouche

via video cam

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Production by Michaël Marson

Casting director William Lhoest at WL Casting

#StaySafeAtHomeWith ... Fernando Albaladejo

Sitges, 8th April 2020

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Who are you (the long answer, no cheating by just giving your name!) and what is your profession (as in, how do you define it, rather than just the job title it has)?

I would define myself as a rational, creative and adventurous person. Currently, I am studying architecture, which I love, because I can develop my most creative and technical part. Modeling appeared unexpectedly in my life, and it perfectly suits my way of life. It allows me to travel, meet new people and places. Just the opposite of what is currently happening. The thing that I enjoy the most in my day to day is sports, adventures, the beach, the mountains, … In the future I would love to combine this way of living with modeling, sports and architecture.

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Who would you confine with?

I am confined to my home with my family; my mother, my father and my cat.

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What's your work-from-home style?

Since the beginning of the confinement, the university students have been working from home, doing jobs and classes online. And at the modeling level, this online shootings project seems to me a fantastic initiative.

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Tell us something about yourself that isn't on your resume (a secret skill, a hobby, a previous job or fun fact about you).

I am trying to get full control of my body. Get balance, strength, stability ... 

To be able to do exercises like the pine, the somersault...

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What's the first place you'd want to go when it's safe again to travel and go out?

The first thing I will do is see my friends outdoors. Now we realize the importance of relating and breathing fresh air.

Who is in your fantasy Zoom party (Skype or FaceTime)?

All my friends on the same call, it would be difficult, but it would be good to try.

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Fernando is represented by Hakim Model Management

interviewed by Lily Templeton

&

captured by Allan Hamitouche

via video cam

…

Production by Michaël Marson

Casting director William Lhoest at WL Casting