Like professional boundaries, the actor and model must learn to set safe emotional boundaries with industry personnel. I once had a model who developed a personal relationship with a production manager, whom she had worked with on set several times. The model and production manager started collaborating outside of their professional atmosphere on projects they shared an interest in. It seemed like a great way to develop a partnership!
Over time, the model began to rely on the production manager personally. She shared painful events as they happened in her family. She shared her fears about romantic relationships and even some stories about her current beau. She welcomed the chance to connect and trust the production manager, who seemed willing to offer advice and showed an interest in her problems.
A very short while after their personal relationship had been cultivated, the model went to go-sees where the production manager was in charge. The production manager did not show the model favor, which caused the model's feelings to be hurt. Worse than that, the production manager started being “unavailable” when the model would try to make contact personally. Since then, the model has not booked any work with the production manager’s studio. Although the production manager will still remain civil and seemingly kind to the model, the consequences of her emotional weight proved too much and cost her a client long term.
Talent are hired for a reason . . . perhaps the actor or model is highly skilled; perhaps he/she has something unique to offer; and perhaps the talent just happened to be in the right place at the right time. But no matter the reason, there is one variable we can be sure played into the decision – the mystery of the unknown. Clients want to be intrigued in their encounters with any actor or model. The intrigue is what keeps them coming back. Total transparency loses the intrigue and leads to boredom with anyone. Keep your ace in the hole – no one needs to know everything!
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