In honor of my son Brett’s 29th birthday, and by popular request from the mostly female contingent of Brett’s friends, I am going to tell the pictorial story of Brett’s modeling career. Brett truly was a model child. So much so that he was also a child model.
Brett acquired his quite young, before the age of 3. It lasted more than 15 minutes too – more like four years or so.
Brett was a cherubic, bowl-hair styled, big blue eyed cutie as a toddler. A friend of mine who was modeling wanted to use Brett in a professional shot for her portfolio. She needed a “mom” shot and she chose my Brett to be her son.
My model friend’s agency saw Brett’s photos and immediately contacted me to sign him up as a child model. The camera loved Brett, and he loved the camera.
I quickly learned that there were two things that were required of child models who wanted to get a lot of bookings.
1. A completely compliant personality where you can sit and smile for hours without complaining or getting cranky
Brett loved the attention and loved sitting around smiling and waiting for directions from photographers. Plus he loved the bribery I offered. (Ex: Brett, if you sit nicely for the Foley’s Father’s Day shoot, I will buy you the jeep you want.) Worked every time.
We first commissioned Brett’s “headshot.” It was a good one obviously, because Brett was selected for many major bookings just from that. (below)
Within the first few WEEKS of “listing” him at the modeling agency, Brett was selected to be in a city-wide poster for a food donation program. Little two year old Brett was going to show the entire city, including every supermarket, how great it felt to donate food into our Red Barrels. (below)
He eventually branched into television appearances and commercials. (Good Morning Houston below and then Weiner’s commercial)
For the Father’s Day magazine circular shots below, famous national Ford agency models were flown to Houston to pose with Brett:
Exciting at the time, Brett had several national shoots and was featured in Time and Newsweek magazine in a financial planning ad one year.
He was on a poster for Visible Changes Hair Salons that was hung in every store around the country. (Below)
One of the most wonderful things to happen to him was that he was selected – again from a newer, updated headshot (below)
– by the manufacturer of a brand new toy on the market. Manufactured in Houston, the owners told Brett’s agency that he was the ONLY photo pulled out of their hundreds available. They said they hoped he still looked like his photo and had all his teeth because there was no second choice.
The toy, a hot toy in the 1980’s and early 1990’s was called BRIK. It was like a GIANT lego. The toy went national and then international with Brett’s face on the boxes. Some fun feedback as a result of Brett being on the box of a popular toy are these two anecdotes:
My sister-in-law visited New York and excitedly called me to tell me Brett was in the WINDOW of FAO Schwartz on 5th Avenue – on a box of BRIK toys of course.
A friend who vacationed in London breathlessly called me when she returned to tell me Brett was in the window of a toy store in London in Knightsbridge -a tony shopping area. (Again on the BRIK box)
Alas, as Brett started playing sports such as Little League and soccer, there was no time for a modeling career. He gave it up, just as I always told him he could whenever he wanted to.
Note: The modeling agency agent was used to Stage Mothers who wanted to have their own little Macaulay Culkin discovered and was totally taken aback by my uncooperative non-aggressive stance on this. A typical exchange between me and the agent went like:
I wanted Brett to have a normal childhood. I didn’t want work to define his life. And besides, we all know how it turned out for Macauley Culkin. (FAMOUS PERSON ALERT: Our agency also represented Hilary and Hailey Duff, and Brett actually did a modeling job with the latter.)
All good things come to an end. Around the time Brett lost interest and discovered team sports, he started losing his baby teeth, and that my friends is the kiss of death for a young child model. We put all of Brett’s earnings in a little low interest savings account and he was able to purchase a used car thanks to some of the savings from this career!
Brett’s sister Elissa tagged along on many shoots and was also big blue eyed adorable. She was signed on to the agency but didn’t last long as she was too feisty and uncooperative. She was fired from a shoot after throwing her Easter hat (for the shoot) into a body of water.
So here’s remembering Brett’s claim to fame, which was recently re-ignited when he appeared in a local magazine. (Below)
Brett – you were always a model child even when you were no longer a child model, and I thank you for the years of pride and joy you have given me. As much as I truly enjoyed every minute of your childhood (give or take some in the teen realm) – I am even more blessed at the man you have become and look forward to so many happy moments in the present and future.
The Acquisitions & Liaison Librarian serves as part of The Art Institutes Library Services Team responsible for collections and resources, research services, teaching and learning, and technical services.
This position requires working closely with the Director, campus library staff, central administrative staff, faculty and students.
Select and acquire new materials consistent with strategic goals and annual budget allocations for all schools.
Conduct collection development for assigned subject areas to include selection and maintenance of materials.
Catalog all types of library materials according to current standards, codes, tags and other relevant standards, providing a level of descriptive cataloging, classification, and subject analysis to users.
Job Posting: Acquisitions and Technical Services Librarian, Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division, PA
Interacts With: Director, other team members, campus library staff, central administrative staff, faculty, students, vendors, finance teams, procurement teams.
b) At least 2 to 5 years experience working in library area of technical services preferably in post-secondary institution.
c) Comfort level with expanding and contracting sphere of influence as required at times by the role.
This position can be in Pittsburgh or remote. The Reference Librarian is responsible for providing reference, research and information literacy instruction to the campus community, using library materials in all formats. Will assist faculty, students and staff in development of research skills as well as teach patrons how to use the Library’s integrated catalog. Incumbent must assure that the EDMC philosophy: quality services to clients; development, growth, involvement, and recognition of employees; sound economic principles; and environment which is conducive to innovation, positive thinking and expansion – is considered in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of this position.
Hours of work (general): Mon. – Fri. 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 5/days week; one weekend/month; one University holiday/term. Work regularly-scheduled hours at the Information Center Service Desk at Hillman Library as well as at the public service desk at the Frick Fine Arts Library, providing comprehensive assistance to library users in a face-to-face, phone or online setting. The Incumbent will work 50% time at Hillman Library and 50% at the Frick Fine Arts Library. Services will include providing information about and assistance with collections, circulation/reserves, interlibrary loan/document delivery and providing high quality ready reference and directional information. Incumbent will identify and refer requests for customized or expert reference and research services to appropriate liaison librarians or other ULS libraries. The Incumbent will process items for storage at Frick Fine Arts, as well as assist with daily operations as needed. Experience with art history is desired but not required.
Incumbent must be public-service oriented, self-motivated, able to work independently, able to meet deadlines and work well under pressure with a diverse clientele in a constantly changing environment with many interruptions. Excellent computer, organizational and communication skills required. Accuracy, initiative, good judgment, flexibility, timeliness, and high productivity are crucial.