STRANGE FRUIT

T& L

Selected Artists & ICons

ISSUE : 13

All Photography by Lawrence James Thomas

PAUL SKULFOUR JAMES FARRAR MATT TRETHE MILLIE SIMONDS Strange fruit movie https://vimeo.com/955858820?share=copy in

strange fruit

shot and styled by lawrence james thomas .film by lawrence james thomas

It all started when Tandy Anderson ,who is one of the founders of select ,asked me to think of a photo story that would make use of Paul Sculfor’s face which she said has acquired the look of the forties or fifties screen star .Slowly I began to piece together a film noir detective story that would feel like a period piece Lawrence James Thomas .Photographer and director

‘As I’m older these days, it was important for us to do a project that focussed on character.

Lawrence talked about a story that would be set in the Forties. I love that period. So we started talking about cops and mystery and the American South.’ Paul Sculfor, model, actor and presenter

‘The idea was to shoot in Majorca, but make it double for Louisiana. I spent months trawling around

second-hand clothes shops, picking out Forties and Fifties garments.

I wanted that big-collared white shirt look. The clothes we used were vintage - even the shoes. I styled it myself - it wasn’t styling really, more wardrobe. I do like using old clothes in shoots and films. You can be more creative as it doesn’t matter if you wreck them!’

Lawrence James Thomas photographer and director

We shot the story in Calla San Vincens in Majorca, over a week - stills and video at the same time. The story featured three men and a girl. Paul and I have had experience of acting, but Matt hadn’t done any before. But he came into it and did really well.’ James Farrar, model and actor

Tve only done little bits of what you might call acting - nothing serious - for video being shot while we do campaigns. More and more people want video, and want to see you moving, making it look real. I love that approach - I prefer working with movement and where you can show your character a little bit. It’s more natural.’ Matt Trethe, model

First and foremost I’m an actor, so I love it

when the photographer gives you the opportunity to adopt a role.

And there’s no better way of getting into a role than through the clothes.

I did a TV show set in the Sixties, where mu character was based on real gangsters.

As soon as I put on this particular suit, I became a gangster.’

James Farrar, model and actor

The whole project was not really what I would call modelling. It was more character driven, and we had fun with making a short film too. Lawrence didn’t have a script as such, it was more about the mood, the clothes and the energy between the guys. We had to improvise. But models are going to have to become more like actors, as digital channels require video. For me that’s great. Sometimes I can get a little bored, when it’s just posing for the camera. So, I always try and narrate something in my mind about who I am supposed to be in the shot - to keep myself entertained. And I do believe that something of that comes across in the pictures.

Paul Sculfor, model, actor and presenter

I loved working with Lawrence. The way he shoots, he gets you to use your imagination.

It did feel different, to work in this way. At the beginning, we were getting used to what characters we were playing - as I put on the outfits, I really did start to feel like a detective.

We all stayed in character for much of the time we were shooting. Often when we work as models, things happen very quickly. Its good to have time. 10 get into character, let the story flow and see where it goes.

Matt Trethe, model

What I m after is atmosphere. In a way, that is what fashion really is. If you think of Seventies fashion, for example, it’s not just about the clothes. It’s about the people, the films, the amazing music. That s what this story was based on - atmosphere. I didn’t have a rigid plot. We discussed ideas about what might be happening, but I wanted to leave it open-ended.’ Lawrence James Thomas ,photographer and director

Artists & Icons

Select Model Management Tel: +44 (0) 20 7299 1322 E-mail: men@ selectmodel.com

All Photography by Lawrence James Thomas