Danielle LaRue - Fashion Model – Part 2

OTHER PARTS | ALL STORY LIST

I followed Jennifer to her office. She asked me to have a seat, and there was a tray with some ice water if I was thirsty. She told me a little about the production studio, and she was starting as a director, and though she wanted to direct a movie, she had to start somewhere and found directing commercials was a great start to her career. I asked her, what did you do before this?

"I worked for a modeling agency as an executive assistant and sometimes as a model. Connie was my boss. It's a long story, but I didn't know Connie was my mother until later in our relationship."

"I was surprised that you were chosen to do our commercial, given my agency is so close to Los Angeles. "

"I think it was all about the price; we probably undercut the big LA production studios."

"I hope you are not offended by this, Danielle, but how long has it been since you transitioned?"

"Wow! How did you know?"

"It takes one to know one, dear. I transitioned about 5 years ago now."

"I just had my bottom surgery in the summer last year."

"You do look fabulous though, you have feminine features, but your hips are a little on the narrow side. Your hands and feet are also a little large for your size, but they will both shrink while you are on hormones."

"I am hoping my pelvis will grow wider since I am only 18, and I have been told this can still happen. I didn't know that about my hands and feet shrinking; that's cool, actually."

"I am sure it will happen to you. You are lucky to have been able to transition at such an early age. I was already in my mid 20's before I started, and then it was a hormone imbalance that started me down this road."

"So, Jennifer, what will we be doing this week?"

"Well, you are here to model your spring line in a few indoor and outdoor locations.  We want to portray you as a young happy Amelia's girl, enjoying life around town and with friends. We have a party scene, some work scenes, a restaurant scene. There are also some outdoor shots where we will have you walking down the street. Of course, it's winter right now, but Atlanta doesn't get snow in the winter, so that it might be a little chilly, but we will pretend it's springtime.  There are a few lines for you to say, but not much dialog; we need mostly the shots of you in the clothes. We will be shooting several commercials at the same time but will be using different scenes and clothes in each one. We will start shooting tomorrow morning. We have your wardrobe here and will be doing all the interior shots first and then will be going outside for the exterior shots. There are approximately 100 different outfits we have, and we will be doing the same shots with different outfits, sending the proofs back to Sacramento, and they will advise us which outfits they will want us to use when we edit the final commercial cuts. There may also be reshoots as well, so be ready for some long days ahead. We will generally work a 16-hour day, and the set will be catered, so you won't have to worry about leaving for meals."

"Are you busy tonight?"

"Not really."

"Good, if you like, I was going to go out with my partner and my mother and have a party at my honorary auntie's home. We are having a party for our little girl. You can come along with me if you like, and then I can drop you off at your hotel. I am sure they would love to meet you."

"That sounds like a great time to me. Count me in."

We chatted a bit more, and Jennifer showed me my script, which was like one page with a couple of lines. We went back to the wardrobe area, and I got a chance to see the fashions I would be wearing. There were about 5 racks of outfits in different styles and colors. I figured this would take at least a week to model all of these or longer. I met the other people who would be making the commercial; there were the makeup artist and hairstylist, wardrobe, the production crew, the camera crew, electricians, and set design. Some actors and actresses would be interacting with me in various scenes, as well as background performers. Jennifer said not to worry; she had everything under control. All the interior shots were in the studio, and they had office sets, restaurant sets, nightclub sets. It was all cool to see. It was much cheaper to build a set rather than pay to use a real restaurant, for instance. Most of these sets just had the furniture that was needed for the shot and background walls behind the shot.

In many cases, only the things a camera would view in the shot were present. The camera crew was practicing setting up for a restaurant shot when I was there. They were figuring out the line of sight, the field of view, proper lighting, and the marks where the actors would be standing to get the proper shot according to the storyboard for each scene. I was amazed at all the work that went into these shots that would only last for a few seconds.

Six o'clock came around, and Jennifer came by and told me we would be leaving for dinner. The crews were still working hard setting up the scenes, but we would be starting to shoot tomorrow.

I followed Jennifer back to the lobby, where I gathered my bags, and we rolled them out to her car. We were able to lift both into her trunk, and then we were off.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"The party is being held at my auntie's home. She loves to throw parties for us there."

We drove out to a suburb of Atlanta with very large homes, and pulled up to a beautiful mansion, parked, and then we walked up to the home. There were already a couple of other cars in the drive, so I figured we were not the first to arrive. Jennifer rang the bell, and the door opened. An older woman answered the door and let us in.

"Jennifer, my dear, how are you? "

"I'm fine, Auntie Virginia. I hope we aren't too late."

"And who is the beautiful young woman you have with you?"

"This is Danielle LaRue; she is a model from California out here to shoot a TV commercial which I am directing."

"Oh, that's wonderful, dear, and she gave me a hug."

We followed Virginia into her house and entered a living room area which had a few other people. I was introduced to a middle-aged woman named Connie Sackett, who is Jennifer's mother. There was a beautiful woman there with a young girl, her name was Christy, and she was Jennifer's partner. And the girl was named Stephanie. She was very pretty but was on the quiet side.

Virginia came around with a tray holding flutes of champagne, and we all had a toast to our good health.  Connie spoke up and told me. I was talking on the phone to Jennifer earlier, and she told me you had had an amazing transition. I must say, you are a stunningly beautiful young woman; no wonder you are a model. I have been in the fashion industry for many years, and I know talent when I see it, and you have talent in spades, girl! I have recently opened my fashion modeling agency here in Atlanta. Perhaps one day I could convince you to come out here to work for us. I replied that would be great, but I am under contract to work for my present agency for now, but I will keep it in mind. Connie grinned and told me; you have a natural beauty as well, dear. You may not know this, but there are three transgender women in this room tonight, You, Jennifer, and little Stephanie here. Jennifer and Christie adopted her after she was abandoned by her parents simply because she wanted to wear a dress and didn't want to wear boy's clothing. We are celebrating because the adoption papers came through today, and she is officially our daughter, added Jennifer. I put up my glass and toasted to their continuing happy family.

Virginia's maid announced that dinner was ready, so we followed her into the dining room, and all took a seat at the table.

Dinner was delicious, and so was dessert. I have to watch what I eat, so I didn't have large portions but still tried everything.

Christy was also working as a model in Connie's agency, and she was very experienced in the fashion world. I told her that I was looking at a Vogue magazine on the flight to Atlanta, and I thought I saw her in there. Yes, she said, we completed that shoot last month; it was a blast to do it. Connie also told me stories about her past in the fashion industry, and she was an amazing woman. It turned out that Virginia Castle was the owner of Castle Fashions.

"I remember seeing your label when I was working at Amelia's. Castle makes very high-quality women's fashions. I have modeled a few of your dresses."

"Thank you, my dear; Amelia's has been a long-time customer of ours. You will probably be modeling some of our fashions in your commercial. Amelia's purchased much of our spring line this year."

"You will for sure see some of Virginia's fashions Danielle, I think there are at least 10 dresses from Castle in the studio," added Jennifer.

"I just have to say; I feel very honored to meet such high-profile women in the fashion industry. I hope I can achieve the success that you women have made. I really mean it; all of you have just blown me away with your accomplishments."

Stephanie added, "I have great moms too!"

We all laughed.

"Tell me a little about yourself, Stephanie," I asked.

"Well, two years ago, I told my old mom and dad that I didn't want to wear boys' clothes anymore. I wanted to wear girls' clothes because I am a girl, not a boy. They took me to see doctors and more doctors who would talk to me and ask me questions. I told them I am a girl, and I don't know why I look like a boy, but I'm not a boy. My parents let me wear a dress, and then we went to church. People there laughed at me for wearing a dress, and I told them off. The church preacher came over and talked to mom and dad too, and they all looked very upset. Mom and dad brought me home and started yelling at each other for hours.

I felt sad and went into my room. The next day they took me into a big building, and they talked with some people there, and then they left without me. I started to cry, and a woman came up and consoled me and told me I had to make the best of it, and I would be living there from now on. They soon put me in a foster home, but I never was at any home for long, and I went back to the building again, and I was there for a while, and then one day, I met Jennifer and Christy. We sat down and talked with each other, and I liked them a lot. They came back and met me again and talked with me some more and then came back again, and this time they asked me if I wanted to come home with them. I jumped up and down and said YES! And I have been with my new moms ever since. They are the greatest moms in the world! And now they are my official moms too!"

The maid brought in a little cake with candles on it and sat it in front of Stephanie, and we sang happy birthday to you since it was 1 year that she came to live with Jennifer and Christy to start her new life. We clapped and cheered when she blew out the candles. Of course, no birthday was complete without gifts, and Stephanie got a few things from her moms, grandma, and great aunt. I think Virginia must have given her a dozen dresses in her size of all different colors and patterns.

I told Stephanie a little about myself and how I was also alone in the world until a nice woman decided to help me and take me in when I was in a terrible fix. She also saw that I was special and helped me to become a girl as well. She ended up adopting me and will always be my mom too. She will always have a special place in my heart. Stephanie got out of her seat and walked over and hugged me, and said, we can be sisters, you and me. I said that I would like that very much, sisters for life!

We talked for a couple more hours, and Jennifer said it's time for Christy and me to take Stephanie home. We can go in the same car together, and we will drop you off at your hotel Danielle.

We said our goodbyes and kissed and hugged each other, and left for my hotel. I sat in the back with Stephanie, and she told me more about her life with Jennifer and Christy and how much she enjoyed living with them; I told her that she will be a great woman one day and do great things. She said, a matter of fact, that's my plan; I want to be the first woman president. I do not doubt that she will give it her best effort too.

Jennifer dropped me off at the hotel, and I hugged her and Christy goodnight. Stephanie fell asleep in the seat, and I didn't want to wake her up. We took my bags out of the trunk, and she told me the limo would be around at 7:00 am to pick me up tomorrow. I thanked them both for their hospitality again and entered the hotel.

I checked into my room, stripped down, and had a bath in this huge tub in the bathroom. It has a Jacuzzi label on it and water jets that felt great. I dried off and put on a nightie, and turned in for the night.

The next day I woke up and showered, made myself up and changed into a dark blue dress, and went down for breakfast. I was waiting in the lobby when the limo pulled in. I walked outside and said good morning to Terrance as he opened the door for me, and I slipped into the back.

We made small talk as he drove me over to the studio. He parked in front and opened the door for me, and helped me out of the car. Have a nice day Miss.

The first day of shooting began, I was made up, and my hair was styled for the shot; I put on the first dress and walked on the set. Jennifer showed me my mark on the floor, and pointed at the mark on the wall opposite me, and told me to slowly walk towards that mark and wave and smile at my friends who are coming to greet me. I stood on the mark, and Jen told me that when I say action, just do what I told you to do. I must have repeated that walk about 10 times; each time, Jennifer told me to change something slightly. She added I was doing great, but we like to get a variety of shots, and we will choose the best out of them later. Then I went back to the wardrobe department, changed my dress, and went out and repeated it all over again. This went on for an hour, and I had 6 dress changes with around 10 shots for each dress.  We then moved on to a new scene where I was walking up to friends at a club to meet them. It was the same thing; I would walk up to the other actors in a slightly different way each time, and I wore different dresses for this shot as well. It was all very tedious and exacting. Let me tell you, acting is not glamorous; it is a lot of hard work. This continued until we stopped for lunch and ate at a small buffet (they called it the craft table) they had set up for us. We then started back shooting until we stopped for dinner, and around 16 hours after we had started, we broke for the night. My feet were killing me, and I was going to make good use of the jacuzzi tub when I got back to the hotel.

Jennifer walked out with me, and we got in her car. As she drove me back, she told me that I take direction very well and always understood what she wanted me to do. I have to say you are a natural at this, Danielle you seem to have a talent for this as well. I replied that I felt it wasn't much different than modeling, we have to look proper for the correct shot, and if the photographer wanted me to change something, I just did it. Well, you are doing great. Terrance will be by tomorrow at 7 am to pick you up. See you tomorrow.

I went up to my room and filled the tub, and in no time, I was soaking my tired muscles in the tub with all those wonderful bubbles.

For the next two days, I performed the interior shots at the studio, and then as Jennifer was driving me home, she said we will be on location tomorrow. Terrance will pick you up at 9 since we have to set up the location before we can start the shoot there. There is no point in you coming too early.

Terrance was nothing if not very punctual; at 9 am on the dot, he pulled up to my hotel, where I was waiting for him. He helped me in, and we went off to the first location.

Today it was in downtown Atlanta, and we had half the street blocked off. Between shoots, people were allowed to walk through, so it was a little hectic, but Jennifer had planned things well, and the location manager had it down to a science. They showed me to a trailer where they did my makeup and hair and found me the first outfit they would be filming. Once again, the scene was described to me by Jennifer. I was walking up the sidewalk and saw my boyfriend, and we ran to each other and embraced, and he picked me up and spun me around.  I probably did that scene 100 times after all the dress changes. I felt sorry for the actor who was playing my boyfriend as he had to pick me up every time and spin me around. I would change up little things like how I waved, the way I smiled, how fast or slow I ran, and how I held my arms. We broke for lunch and continued after lunch with a similar scene, but this time it was other girls I was meeting. We mixed it up as well with different variations and different outfits until we broke for dinner. They waited until it was dark, and we had a special nighttime shoot where I would meet up with friends and my boyfriend at night. We ran through the various dresses and variations of the scene, and it was finally a wrap for the night. Jennifer took me back to the hotel and told me I was doing a great job, and I made it look easy. I just said I was just happy I wasn't screwing it up. We laughed, and Jennifer dropped me off and told me Terrance would be by at 9 am tomorrow.

Today we were shooting in a park by the river, and when Terrance brought me to the location, I went over to my makeup trailer and changed into the first dress. This time it was fairly easy; I was walking with my boyfriend in the park, holding hands and smiling at each other. I did it over with different variations and different dresses. We broke for lunch and were back at it all afternoon. I performed a similar scene but with my girlfriends. We tried it with one, two and three other girls, with different variations and different dresses. This one was a lot of fun as we were supposed to be talking with each other, but the commercial would be playing music, so we could say anything to each other, and it was a lot of fun.

We also did a scene in the park, with just myself looking at the camera, and I had a line. It was sort of corny, but I said it anyway.  Spring Fashions at Amelia's they're fabulous! Or, Spring Fashions at Amelia's, they won't last long! Spring Fashions at Amelia's, come in today!  After the line, I would swirl too, or not, since they tried different things. There were several more that I forgot, but you get the idea.

We had one more day of shooting and were back in the park again, but this time it was a family BBQ, and I was wandering around smiling and mingling with the other people in the shot.  We broke for lunch, and then in the afternoon, my 'boyfriend' was back, and they had shots of us flying a kite. There wasn't a real kite in the sky, they would add it later, but they had a boom that they attached a thick string to and made it appear like we were looking up at a kite and trying to keep it in the air. That was fun and took some imagination, but we pulled it off. Finally, the shooting was over, and we had gone through all the various scenes for all the commercials. Jennifer called it a wrap, and the crew packed everything up.  There was a wrap party afterward that Jennifer organized at a local restaurant & bar, and we had the entire place to ourselves.

We had the place after 9 pm, and it took that long to pack everything up on the set and stow it in the trailers.

Jennifer and I walked into the place around 9:30, and the crew cheered and clapped for us. I smiled and hugged everyone and told them how much I had enjoyed making the commercials with them all, and we proceeded to have a great time. I didn't drink; I just had sparkling water, but I did have some champagne for toasts at dinner.  I was tired by the time I got back to my hotel. Jennifer dropped me off, and we hugged each other, and she told me to keep in touch, as we are all sisters.

The next day Terrance came by in the morning to pick me up, and he took me to the airport. I went through security and boarded the plane, and enjoyed the business class flight back to Sacramento. I called Scott from Atlanta when I boarded the plane and told him I would see him in around 5 hours. He was waiting for me at the gate when I arrived, and I jumped into his arms and gave him a big kiss, and we hugged. Did you miss me? I asked him, and he replied only every hour, and we laughed.  Scott and I were getting serious, and I was wondering when or if I would tell him I was transgender, but I never felt it was the right time, so I continued to keep that to myself. As far as everyone was concerned, I was a girl, and I didn't see any good reason to tell him otherwise.

On Monday, I was back at the agency, and there were more photoshoots. After the grueling pace of the commercial shoot, this was easy and relaxing in comparison. I was made up and changed several times into many of the outfits I modeled on the commercial, but these were still shots for catalogs and print ads, so all I had to do was look at the camera and give the photographer what he asked me to do. Cindy Rome dropped by to say hi and see how I was doing. She told me that Jennifer had called her and said I was a pleasure to work with, and she wished some actors were as professional as I was. I told her I had a great experience, and although the hours were long, it was rewarding to do it. Cindy told me that the commercials were being edited, and we would probably have copies in a week or two, and I would see them at a screening in the office.  I told her I had no doubt she would love them since they were so much fun to make.

Since lunch was coming up, she asked if I wanted to join her for lunch, and I thought that was a great idea. We walked over to a nearby restaurant and sat down together. She smiled and told me; I have to thank you for all your hard work here. I was a little worried when we first hired you, but you had a solid portfolio of work, so we decided, due to Ms. LaRue's recommendation, that we would hire you, even though you are only 18 years old. You have more maturity and professionalism than models who are 10 years older than you. You have impressed me. I look at your photos, and there is never a bad angle or a wasted shot; they are always all great shots. It seems you have a natural ability and know where the light is and how to present your best angle to the camera. I don't know what your secret is, but keep doing what you are doing. I also wanted to tell you that we have several store grand openings coming up later in the spring, and the commercials will be airing by that time, so we would like you to visit these stores and say hello to the customers since you are Amelia's girl. We will have more details on the locations and dates as they get closer.

The waitress brought over the lunch we ordered, and we enjoyed chatting through lunch, and we returned to the photoshoot, Ms. Rome wished me well and left for her office, and I worked the rest of the day.