With the tagline ‘12 Girls, 6 Weeks, 1 Contract’, RTÉ and Dublin-based Sideline Productions introduce their new show, ‘The Model Scouts’ which looks to follow on from the success of last year’s ‘The Model Agents’. The new series is expected to broadcast in the Autumn of this year or Spring 2011.
RTÉ and Sideline Productions have teamed up with IMG, one of the most successful talent management companies in the world, to search for a new Irish model with the potential to take the fashion industry by storm.
The big prize on offer this year to the winner, is a one year contract with IMG Models who handle an impressive international portfolio of models including Giselle Bundchen, Heidi Klum, Naomi Campbell, Lily Cole, Mischa Barton and Liv Tyler. Other prizes will include a front cover fashion shoot and the opportunity to be the face of a major Irish fashion launch.
‘The Model Scouts’ will broadcast on RTÉ2 as a six part series and will shadow Jeni Rose and David Cunningham, (Vice Presidents of International Development at IMG Models in Paris and New York respectively) as they scour the length and breadth of the country to find a young Irish girl that they can develop long term into a major international success. David and Jeni have been involved in the scouting and development of some of the industry’s most famous faces, including: Gemma Ward, Mischa Barton, Erin Wasson, Angela Lindvall, Daria Werbowy, Lara Stone, Jessica Stam and Sasha Pivovarova, amongst others.
Jeni Rose says: "IMG has been approached a number of times by TV companies or broadcasters worldwide to participate in various model search programs and we have always declined. When David and I saw the RTÉ/ Sideline model series from last season we were intrigued. This production very successfully took a familiar genre of programming and gave it a fresh modern spin.
”We both felt very comfortable to associate ourselves with the show because of the respectful and sensitive treatment the young girls received and also the series highlighted the real process a young girl would follow in order to become a model. Many people underestimate what a difficult job it is to be a model. When a young girl succeeds it's because of her determination and of hard work, plus gentle guidance and huge support from her management.
“Sideline/RTÉ have done an excellent job of portraying this side of the fashion business and therefore we are thrilled to participate in the "The Model Scouts" for 2010."
‘The Model Scouts’ series director is Sarah Share, producer of the IFTA nominated ‘Killers – O’Reilly’. The producers involved are Una Shinners (Class Act, Baby on Board) and Katie Giles (The Model Agent, Operation transformation). The show was created by executive producer Billy McGrath for Sideline International and negotiations are continuing for both the series and the format to be represented worldwide by IMG Entertainment (part of IMG World) one of the biggest TV programming distributors in the world.
Would be applicants and anyone looking for more information should visit www.rte.ie/tv/themodelscouts to access an application form, casting dates (see below) and view an exclusive video promo filmed with Jeni Rose and David Cunningham during a visit to Dublin in November 2009. The closing date for applications is Monday 1st March 2010.
