Confirmed. Just got the email that I landed another commercial, this time for a liquor company. Even though the pay wasn’t great, I felt like this was a big deal. After all, I just styled a big deal shoot similar a few weeks prior. You ever get that feeling like “Wow, this is happening. I’m on my way,” after working so hard for something? This was that moment.
I replied with the few details she asked for and then closed down the email that confirmed me with the call time, the set location and the wardrobe treatment. I looked up to the sky as I clenched my phone in both my hands and shook them, saying out loud “Yesss! Thank you!” I plugged the address into my GPS and it told me I was four and a half hours aways away. Yikes! Granted, I checked this in the middle of rush hour, but who wouldn’t want to drive that far to the Hamptons to shoot a commercial? I was so excited.
I headed back to set, floating somewhere between cloud nine and reality. Thirty minutes later, I felt my phone vibrate, notifying me that I had a new email.
I replied, “Really? Do you happen to know the reason? Thanks!” She said didn’t know but that she’d let me know when production gets back to her. But she knew and so did I. I sent another email suggesting that if it were because of my measurements, I was fit and had a flat stomach and could provide more pictures if needed. Too much? Perhaps. But I knew why this was happening, but it was worth giving it a shot. I had nothing to lose at this point. The only thing that transpired between me getting booked from my headshot and them “making changes” was me sending them my sizes.
PLEASE ALSO SEND ME A PHOTO OF A VALID ID (please see attached)
Production is requiring that you send photos of your wardrobe and send it to me ASAP. (I’m on set now. Will send as soon as I get home!)
Name: Merideth Morgan
Well, this was first (that I am privy of) and certainly won’t be the last time something like this happens to someone who isn’t straight sizes. I took it like a champ because I have thick skin. But I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that it hurt. It’s par for the course, no matter what size you are. Rejection comes way more often than actually landing a gig. It’s just really interesting to me that people still have this warped concept of beauty. That, because of my size, will it make the pictures less stunning or “appalling to look at?” Or because my size isn’t really the look they’re going for? But, you just booked me from my headshot. So my face is good enough, but my body isn’t?
The more I think we are moving away from the stick thin model there are instances like this that we aren’t at all. How can you deem someone worthy for your commercial based on their size? Beauty is beauty. How is my size a measurement of my worth? You booked me because I fit the bill of what you wanted in your advertisement based on my headshot. How did this suddenly change because of a few numbers? I’m afraid we still have a long way to go…
