Behind the Image is an ongoing MODELS.com series taking a more personal look at both established and emerging creative talent.
Piotr Chamier, casting director
Hometown: Szczecin, Poland
Based: London, UK
Representation: Streeters ((worldwide))
How would you describe your work? What’s your trademark?
When I’m asked what I do in life, I always say that ‘I choose beautiful people for beautiful projects.’ And the definition of beauty is wide and exciting. There should not be boundaries and everyone’s perceptions are different.
How did you get into your chosen career?
Back in my late teenage years, I started as a model — a very short-lived and unsuccessful career, but it introduced me to the industry. And maybe due to this ‘zero-luck’ experience, I had the desire to sit on the other side of the table and make the choices myself. It just somehow came to me naturally without thinking about it too much, my fascination with faces and personalities has always been there.
What other jobs have you had?
Following my fashion design studies in Paris, I worked at Acne Studios in the womenswear design team, then moved to Berlin for a moment switching my path to photo production. That’s why I always try to be extremely nice to all the producers, I know what they’re going through.
What have you watched/heard/read lately that has inspired you?
I do have a tradition of dedicating every second Saturday to art gallery visits. Louise Giovanelli’s show at White Cube was truly beautiful. And both Franz Hagenauer’s and Josef Hoffmann’s exhibitions in Vienna, I just love this period in art and design so much.
What do you love about what you do?
I love the collaborative aspect of it, working alongside other creatives to make an image come to life, I find the dialogue really inspiring and stimulating. The excitement from discovering hidden gems and putting them on their first ever editorial or runway show, watching them grow and change afterward, both as models and human beings. Casting is ever-changing and no matter how long your career is and how much experience you have, there are always going to be an issue you need to solve.
What have been the biggest challenges you have faced professionally?
I think learning how to be diplomatic and patient — it’s a day-to-day challenge but let’s say that I’m patiently on my way to perfecting it.
What’s one thing outside of your work that you would like people to know about you?
Apparently, I’m also an amazing cook, at least that’s what people say…
Who do you think is one to watch?
Linda Engelhardt, Adam Peter Johnson, Liv Liberg, Imruh Asha, Makram Bitar, Bianca Raggi… I can go on and on and on.
Selected Work
Selena Forrest photographed by Frank Ocean for homer.
Just Selena being casually cool in a one million dollar necklace wearing it like she just came back from her grocery shopping. What else can I say?
Double Magazine by Jack Davison and Mattias Karlsson
I have such great memories related to this picture. Double asked three different teams to go to Corsica to create three different stories shot in the same place, Couvent San Francescu near Bastia. The idea was to streetcast local people so I went there. In the middle of a Friday night on the street, I bumped into a guy called Malick, later learning his last name — Bodian. As it’s often the case, he wasn’t really interested in what I had to say so I befriended his group of friends and somehow managed to get his number. We were shooting the next day and of course, a problem arose — the location was on the other side of a mountain that happened to be on fire, flames all over. “Would he show up?” I asked myself. Well, he did, the magazine came out and the rest is the history.
Another Man by Willy Vanderperre and Alister Mackie
This one represents the flamboyance that I really like and often look for. For this story, we were on the search for a “Death in Venice” type — angelic and sophisticated. I happened to know one such person, my dear friend Benedikt. I loved his facial expression when I broke the news that he was confirmed as the only talent and on the cover of the magazine too. To be fair, I didn’t tell him much to start with. Now, he’s my casting right hand, gracing all of us in the office with his presence.
AnOther by Alasdair McLellan and Alister Mackie
A story inspired by Virginia Woolf’s Orlando. It was so wonderful to work with Eliot on it as they perfectly embodied its spirit.
These New Puritans ‘Inside the Rose’ music video by Harley Weir
This video is particularly meaningful to me as it’s the first music video I ever cast, also because Harley directed it and I have always admired her. The beauty, grace, and freedom of a body and soul pictured in it…
