Model’s got the look
Model Shayne Pax poses for his latest photo shoot attired like the singer Prince.
By Tom Victoria Photos by Alicia Echevarria
Shayne Pax is laughing in the purple rain. The California model’s latest photo shoot depicted him adorned in a frilly shirt and pink pants worthy of the singer Prince.
The attire was not selected by happenstance.
“Our stylist, Patty Basil, wanted to go for a very Prince-inspired wardrobe,” Shayne said. “I work with Patty for a lot of red carpets and events. She is amazing and we really align on our vision. She always emphasizes the importance of a ‘through line’ in our style choices. Patty taught me that a through line in the fashion world is having strong, consistent themes and choices in one's style.”
Shayne also is an actor who has appeared on national television and released a film in which he starred and directed.
A disco ball, a reflective sphere often found hanging from ceilings in clubs throughout the 1960s through the 1980s, also was used in the shoot.
“The talented Alicia Echevarria wanted to photograph the series on film to keep that ‘60s and ‘70s feel alive in addition to the wardrobe,” Shayne said.
The late Prince was a multi-talented performer who became famous in the 1980s after starting his career in the late 1970s. He also was a songwriter, musician and record producer. His hits included “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy” and “Purple Rain.”
“Every photographer is different. Every photographer has a unique vision.”
Shayne said the themes of the shoot appealed to him.
“I am very inspired by Prince, so I was really excited to work with these artists at Amiga Studios,” he said.
Shayne said each modeling gig is dependent on what the photographer is seeking.
“Every photographer is different,” he said. “Every photographer has a unique vision. What I liked about working with Alicia is that it felt just like hanging out with a friend on set. I felt the same about working with the art director Jackie Ho and MUA (makeup artist) Paige Vreede. We were playing ‘70s music and all dancing and laughing. For me, feeling comfortable on set is really important, because it translates into better images.”
Shayne said he doesn’t have too much difficulty expressing emotions for the lens.
“I am a very emotional person,” he said. “I find it pretty easy to access all of my emotions. However, I have to be in an environment and around people I feel safe around to express them publicly. Music always helps me access emotion quickly as well.”
“I am very inspired by Prince, so I was really excited to work with all these artists at Amiga Studios.”
Like Prince, Shayne’s talents are many. The model also is an actor who has appeared on national television and released his own film “Peridot,” the story of young gigolo Gabriel who develops a friendship with renowned author Martha.
Along with starring in the movie, Shayne wrote, directed and co-produced it. He said once the filming was completed, there still was much work to be done.
“I don't think I really understood how demanding and extensive the post production process was between sound editing and mixing, legalities, color correction, closed captioning, etc.,” Shayne said. “My favorite part of the filmmaking process is being on set with other creatives.”
He thoroughly enjoyed choosing the music for the film.
“I love choosing music to set mood and tone for different scenes,” Shayne said. “I found this process to be very fun. I find music supervision to be a really significant part of the creation of a film. It completely alters the feel of a film.”
The movie, which is named after the August gemstone, wastes no scenes, displaying memorable imagery and captivating performances. Shayne said the story dictates how long a film should be.
“However, I wish we had the budget and scheduling ability with our actress Susan Harmon to shoot more of a fully robust story for Gabriel and Martha,” he said. “I wish we got to spend more time with just those two together. We worked with our scheduling between other projects and our project budget to do our best to get as much as possible. But, I'd still love to spend more time with those two.”
Shayne said he enjoys the creative process of modeling.
Peridot is available for streaming on various services, including Amazon Prime, Apple and Google Play.
Shayne also is a stage performer. He prefers being in front of the camera.
“I am a fan of natural, subtle acting, which probably makes me better suited for film and television,” Shayne said. “You really have to project on a stage, which can be fun. I find cinematic acting comes more naturally to me.”
Despite his stunning looks, no strangers have asked if he was a model. However, a person recently guessed right about Shayne being a performer.
“The other day I was at an event and someone said ‘You look like an actor,’ which I find very funny,” Shayne said. “I asked him, ‘What does that mean?’ Because in film and television, you can look anyway you want and there are still characters for you.”
“Because in film and television, you can look anyway you want and there are still characters for you.”
Shayne's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaynepax/
Peridot's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peridot.film/
Shayne’s profile: https://www.gridnews.net/profiles/young-actor-fulfills-childhood-dream