Rotem Gor: "The world of modeling today has changed a lot, there is room for everyone" - voila! Fashion

Rotem Gor, founder and CEO of the international modeling agency R&R, and of the first digital modeling course in Israel (photo: Ivan Berkowitz)

30-year-old Rotem Gor lives in Evan Yehuda in a new house with an amazing view.

She is married with a one-year-old baby, studies economics and management at the Open University, and on the front of her work, Gor owns the modeling agency R&R and the digital modeling course "Modeling101", which actually functions as a separate business as it turned out to us.

Who is it for, how much does the course cost, what content will you get there and what are your chances of becoming a working model?

For all these, and much more, dive with us for a fascinating interview with the leading model agent who opens a window to the world of modeling for us.

Rotem Gor: "I am very foreign-oriented.

A very classic, very clean, natural look.

Not too sexy but more refined, like Dorit" (Photo: Simonel)

How many years ago did you found the international modeling agency R&R?

And why was another agency needed besides Roberto's agency?

"Because I wanted my own agency. When I started working as a saleswoman at Roberto's agency, it was right after the story with Maya Busquila who left, and others who left after her. At the time, they really turned their backs on him in the industry, in a horrible way. Then there were no really famous girls in the agency, that is, there were good models but not yet They broke through, like a loyal riff that was still anonymous. We opened the R&R agency 7.5 years ago, and it all started when I went with Sophia Machtner to Paris. We met the designer Raf Simons there, who at the time was the creative director of the fashion house Dior, I introduced Sophia to him and that led to In the end, Simmons signed her to a one-year contract with Dior. When we returned to Israel, there was a lot of buzz around it, and then I actually realized that this was my field - the international one."

"Yes. I always told Roberto that I was mainly interested in abroad, and he didn't touch on that but focused on the talents in Israel.

After Sofia was signed by an agency in Paris (on the recommendation of the former model and fashion anchor Miki Mammon) we opened contacts with all the agencies in the world.

Because actually when you have such a strong model, suddenly everyone wants to work with us.

At this point Robert said to me "Let's open an agency together that is yours, and you will run it the way you want", and that's how it was.

We opened the R&R agency and I got what I wanted, which is freedom of action, that's what was important to me.

Robert and I have a very different style in choosing models.

I appreciate his style, and also that of other agencies, but it's not me.

I am very foreign-oriented, a very classic, very clean, natural look. Not too sexy but more refined, like Dorit (Rebelis, TA) and Sofia (Mechtner, TA). I ​​don't have surgeries or excessive makeup And nails, you won't find those things with me."

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Rotem Gor: "We opened the R&R agency 7.5 years ago, and it all started when I went to Paris with Sofia Machtner" (Photo: Shay Arbel)

Among the more well-known representatives of Gore can be found Sofia Machtner, Noam Bohdana, Dorit Revalis, Avital Langer and Alma Kahn, who work and star abroad as well as in Israel. , when the sky was closed to anyone who didn't have a local passport and also the customers who stopped photo days, I had to reinvent myself. Then I really expanded the activity in Israel, also at the level of finding girls who are more suitable for the Israeli market. There are girls who work amazingly abroad and in Israel are less enthusiastic , and vice versa."

"The world today has changed a lot. If you had asked me this 7 years ago, when I founded the agency, I would have answered you: that she must be over 1.75 meters, must be 90-60-90, or less, and must be beautiful with a sharp face. But today it's really not like that. I have 1.60 tall models in the agency, I never would have thought that would happen, but today there is a place for it. I now represent Lia Shon, Margie's partner, who is relatively short. And I have a stunning new model, Lior Shulman, who is 1.65 and works amazingly. There is also a place for it abroad today, including on the runways at fashion shows, when once someone who was less than 1.75 meters had no chance to work.

Everything related to jobs that are beauty, jewelry, hair, etc. there is no height limit at all.

You can also see Bar Sommer, Neta Alchemister and Romi Frankel marching today."

Rotem Gor: "I have New Face girls who got straight into business and earned good sums at the beginning of their career, in the region of 10,000 shekels a month" (Photo: Omri Levy)

But they are a handful, and they are already talented.

"I agree with you that you have to be talented, that's part of the point. And Adin in Israel are already very open to it. If there is someone who is short, then maybe push her into the game and build a name for her, and then more options open up for her. But it's no different, by the way, from tall models, too They are expected to be a talent. It's like I'll tell you "don't start a startup, because there's only one example that works, like Wiz", but that doesn't mean it stops there. Even models who are 1.80 meters have only a few examples of those who are hugely successful. Dorit There is only one Rebellis in Israel, and yet there are plenty of other places in the middle."

"It's clear that someone who is 180 cm tall, thin and 17 years old has more opportunities than someone else, there's no doubt at all. But that doesn't mean that someone else doesn't have opportunities at all. On the contrary, she also has this opening that used to be non-existent."

"I have models in the agency who are plus, and also some who are curvy. I'm looking for an older model and I haven't found one yet, but I'm open to it and I'd love to."

Rotem Gor: "You don't have to take the course to be a model, but it helps a lot" (Photo: Dor Sharon)

And what about livelihood?

A New Face model, for example, can really exist with dignity?

After all, not all of them are Sophia Machtner

"It really depends on who. You can earn between zero shekels and one million shekels a month, or the sky is the limit."

"Certainly happily. I have New Face girls who immediately got into business and earned good sums at the very beginning, around 10,000 shekels a month. That is, they started around 2,000 shekels per day of photography and did a few days of photography a month. But the majority don't. The majority at first falter, do A day of photography here and a day there, do not reach serious amounts. Sometimes there are even those who are stuck for several years in the same place, also because, among other things, they have not been able to get out of their stardom. In the end, it very much depends on the model. How old she is, depends on her confidence, how she is Poses, depending on her demand and a lot of things. I have girls already after a year the price to work with them has doubled."

Rotem Gor: "At the height of the corona virus, when the heavens closed, I had to reinvent myself. Then I really expanded the activity in Israel" (Photo: Tal Abudi)

When did you launch the "Modeling101" digital course?

And what need did you identify that stemmed from?

"I launched the digital course about 7 months ago, in July 2021. It all started from my Instagram, I was constantly doing "questions and answers" and I received non-stop questions about the world of modeling, both from older men and women, even those who are not really their dream to model in practice, but it is very intriguing to them."

"First and foremost, the target audience is girls who want to be models. Both young and older. It is true that we speak in the female language in the course, but it is directed and of course suitable for boys as well. Beyond that, the course is intended for anyone who is interested in the world of fashion, even bloggers. For everyone Those who want to get a glimpse of how things work behind the scenes - to basic concepts that must be known, a glimpse into the experiences and personal stories of leading models and celebrities in the local industry, what is the price of fame and the difficulties that exist. There is a lesson on self-confidence and motivation, and a lot of content that is also relevant to other areas of life in general, Like, for example, how to get a job interview. It's just an interesting course. In addition, in a class called "Not all that glitters is gold", in which I talk about the dangers inherent in the world of fashion, whether it's about sexual harassment or changes in behavior that should arouse suspicion and more - this is actually a class that's open for free To everyone, even to those who didn't purchase the course, because I think it's really a super important topic.I have a very hard time with the exploitation that exists in the industry, and I recommend everyone to watch this class."

Rotem Gor: "I now represent Lia Shon, Margie's partner, who is relatively short. And I have a stunning new model, Lior Shulman, who is 1.65 and works amazingly" (Photo: Ivan Berkowitz)

Of course, before the interview we requested, and received, access to the course contents.

This is an intensive and comprehensive course, one that starts right from the basics, where you will be introduced to the world of actual concepts and practices, through testimonials of prominent figures in the fashion industry, to practices or photographed examples.

"You don't have to take the course to become a model, because it's a fact that there are working models who didn't take the course. But, it's very helpful. Once you have the tools and know the language, like in any profession, it makes it easier and shorter to understand how things work in the industry After all, at the agency, for example, they will give you walking lessons or how to get to an audition, but if you come already prepared, you have a significant advantage. You will also be better, and this will open more doors and opportunities for you. By the way, I had all my models watch the course, and the feedback I received from all of them It's that they got tools and learned new things, even the veteran and experienced ones. Sofia Machtner, for example, wrote to me after she watched the course that it was a shame it didn't exist when she was just starting out, that it would have saved her a lot of things and that I updated even her."

"First of all, let's start with what I don't promise - I will never promise that the person who completes the course will immediately become a working model. Just like someone who does a degree in economics, no one guarantees him or her that they will work in it. I actually provide the knowledge, the tools and a glimpse into the world The modeling, and from there it's in their hands."

Rotem Gor: "There is only one Dorit Rebellis in Israel, yet there is still plenty of room in the middle" (Photo: Dodi Hasson)

Is there an example of a course graduate who has already integrated into the industry?

"Yes, we have a model who purchased and took the course and today she is signed to the "Eleanor Shahar" agency. She has already walked in the Tel Aviv Fashion Week and done a campaign for Dodo Bar Or. Through the course I discover girls today, who sometimes come to us for auditions."

"True, not necessarily to me. As far as I'm concerned, I'm opening the door for them, in the end it's clearly their choice. I also completely separate the things - the course is a business in itself, and the R&R agency is a business in itself. Even if sometimes it might get a little mixed up, I makes sure there is a separation."

"I have great sensitivity to the issue, and there are quite a few stories about agencies or agents who take advantage of girls with books for thousands of shekels. And the truth is that all the marketing consultants I talked to about the course advised me to market it for many thousands of shekels, like real estate courses for example.

But there's no way I'd do that, after all, it's mostly 15-year-old girls that I want to have the tools and the chance.

I want everyone to watch the course, and it was very important to me that it be accessible.

Many times I also do sales, like at the end of a year for example, and then the price drops even more.

The course is not designed to give me crazy income, thank God I have enough from the agency.

Rather, it is mainly intended to give girls, who want and admire and are interested, the tools and a glimpse to see that it suits them at all.

I worked on this course for over six months, we invested like crazy.

I expand on the difficulties there may be, in the course I also talk a lot about the price of fame in the fashion world, which is not as glamorous as it seems from the outside, I show them the truth.

It is important to me that they see and understand before they enter this world.

There are even those who watched the course and said, or understood, that it was not for them."

Rotem Gor: "I want everyone to watch the course, and it was very important to me that it be accessible" (Photo: Shay Arbel)

Is there any accompaniment or follow-up at the end of the course?

"You can definitely talk to us, there are contact details that are of course published at the end of the course. But just like in any other online course - you enter through the link, purchase, and that's it, the whole course is open for viewing whenever convenient. I was thinking of doing some kind of continuation of the course, maybe say a concluding face-to-face meeting, but The truth is that he gives so many tools and comprehensive content that I no longer know what else can be given beyond that. Maybe in the future there will also be lectures, I don't know yet."

"The truth is that I don't talk about contracts at all in the course, it's not something I thought about. Because the truth is when you sign with an agency there isn't too much room for negotiation, except for clauses for example that a model prefers, say, her doctor and not on behalf of the agency, which is no problem to solve. But the power lies more with the agency than with the beginning model. Only a famous and super strong model can bargain."

Rotem Gor: "Obviously someone who is 1.80 meters tall, thin and 17 years old has more opportunities than someone else. But that doesn't mean that someone else has no opportunities at all" (Photo: Tomer Lupsko)

And what about models who want to be released from a contract prematurely?

"I can tell you that there are girls that I agreed to let go and some that I didn't, at the end of the day this is business. And it has more to do with my investment in the model than with her level of potential. For example, I let go of someone with crazy potential, who started with me at the age of 14 and who can't really do anything with her in the industry because her hands They were shackled, and then when she turned 16 she asked to leave on the grounds that we had done almost nothing for two years. So I released her with love and fun, despite all that she is stunning and now works very well at another agency, and that's because I didn't invest too much in her in terms of money and time. On the other hand, a model I built Her and I made a way with her and I also invested a lot of money and time in her, but just before we start to reap the fruits together she will come and tell me that she wants to leave? Well, this is unacceptable to me."

"We market the course on the Instagram page of the Modeling101 course, so it's worth following."

The writer, who is a 45-year-old plus model with a height of 1.64, came to the interview quite skeptical about the concept of an online modeling course, but left with a more comprehensive set of concepts and tools, as well as a number of refreshing insights into the world of modeling.

And even?

With the beginning of faith that there really is "a place for everyone".

Time will tell.

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