Once upon a time, there was an actor, an actor, a man in the shadows who loved life, comedy, and playing above all else. He played with the biggest and the biggest. True life is with intensity and enjoyment that he lives it. Meeting with Adam Karim who gave us time to answer our questions.
Adam Karim is currently living in Dubai, from posing with small brands to Adidas. Adam has the right personality of a true model.
How old are you and where you are from?
I am 27 and I grew up in Marrakesh, Morocco.
When you are not modeling/acting, what are the things you like to do in your free time?
I dedicate some of my time going to the gym, I hit the gym every day for at least one hour. Trying to do cardio and some lifting to keep me in shape. Besides that, I like to produce music for artists, trying to send different beats to contacts I have.
If you were not in the model and acting industry, what would be doing?
Since I have an MBA in marketing, I would probably be working in the marketing field and I am really good at it.
What does it take to be a model?
You should be fit but most importantly tall enough. Height is the most important thing in a modeling career.
Can a model find work without an agency?
No, It will be hard. A model should have a booker, the person who is going to take care of his work, work propositions. Being an independent model is hard because usually companies looking for models go after modeling agencies and they will not trust an independent model.
Can we work with any agency?
No, agencies can be scam sometimes. They will propose a job and treat you special with the only sake for money, they even not pay you or will pay you very late which can be frustrating for the model. Also, if an agency asks you to pay before joining an agency, it is a scam too. Never pay to get a job in an agency.
How can I make my body look like a model?
Well, first of all, it is food. You have to be careful with what you are eating, try to avoid eating a lot of carbs and junk foods. You need also to go to the gym at least once every two days. My schedule is that I go every day to the gym for 2 hours. It is time-consuming, but it is the price to pay to maintain a good overall body.
How did you get into modeling?
It was by a simple coincidence. I was walking down a street in Marrakesh. A guy came to talk to me and proposed to me if I was interested in posing for a branding cloth, not known at that time. Since I was in high school and needed some extra cash, I accepted the offer. Since that day, I started having roles and looking for photo shootings.
Do you need good quality pictures for your portfolio?
Of course, you need at least 10 pictures of you in different clothes and close up to your face. Quality pictures are mandatory for any model since they show the real face and clear body to the client. Never send selfies or pictures taken by phone to agencies or clients, they might think you are an amateur and not professional.
What are some qualities required for models?
Patience, modeling is not an easy job. Sometimes during my assignments, I had to stand up long hours, sometimes the entire day wearing different clothes under the sun or in the lights. At the end of the day, your eyes turn red and you are tired. It is not a fun job as people might think, It requires a lot of patience and It is not fun at all. You have also need some social skills as you are to deal with people on stage.
What is an exclusive contract?
An exclusive contract is a contract made between you and your agency so that you don’t go shoot with another agency. It has a lot of benefits and also some constraints.
Do I need modeling classes?
I don’t think you need them. You just need to know how to pose for different scenes or situations. My advice is to try to see modeling shooting sessions to see how they behave.
How much money can you make off the modeling?
For me it was hard especially when I got to work with agencies, you need to have your own money in order to live (pay for your rent, food, and transport). Expect the money to come later on. As I said earlier in the interview, some of the agencies will take time to pay you and there is nothing you can do about it.
