Behind-the-scenes diary: Shooting “The Great Dictator” with Irina Lazareanu
Snow storms derailing clothing deliveries (including a Tom Ford suit stuck in London!), SAG Award stylists hoarding shoe samples and 2 model moms in tow, are all in a weekend’s work as we shoot supermodel Irina Lazareanu for our behind-the-scenes issue as a modern day fashion editor.
Go behind the scenes of our shoot now! »
Also, be sure to check out Irina’s personal Shopping List »
DAY ONE
Gabor Jurina’s Studio
7:45am: My team of interns meet me at our office to pick up all of the clothes, shoes and accessories and pile the garment bags, duffels and suitcases into 2 cars. It’s an early start, but there’s piping hot coffee and croissants on set!
8:25am: As we unpack all of the gear, Irina circles the jewellery table, picks out an emerald teardrop ring and doesn’t take it off for two days! She said it felt like it was meant to be on her finger. It’s in every shot.
8:30am: Glossy red O.P.I polish is slicked onto Irina’s fingers courtesy of Leeanne at TIPS Nail Bar & Spa (she’s running straight back to the salon for a busy day of appointments).
8:55am: Hair and makeup pro, Greg, trims the bangs on Irina’s black wig, perfecting a severe editor chop.
9:16 am: Jeanne Beker makes her appearance in oversized black glasses and a camel swing coat. She gives Irina a big, warm hug.
10:55am: Interns stick number decals on our makeshift “front row” seats.
11:00am: The crew on-set has swelled to 22 (including 4 interns, 3 extra models, 2 moms, our marketing whiz, and the Fashion Television team)
11:37am: Jeanne decides between the black patent Brian Atwoods or mile-high Louboutins on the jam-packed accessories table. The Louboutins win out. She then grabs her own Gucci belt from her bag to complete her look.
11:45am: Our photographer, Gabor Jurina, takes the first shot of the day. We’re only behind schedule by an hour…
12:15pm: Jeanne sits down to interview Irina for FT, while our Grace Coddington and Anna Wintour doppelgangers (current and former interns) are in hair and makeup.
12:46pm: Interns, FT staffers and doppelgangers take their places in the “front row”
1:38pm: The entire crew digs in for lunch: grilled tofu, chicken, veggies, and mini cupcakes.
1:45pm: Film crew from ET Canada arrives to film Irina and interview our fashion director, Susie Sheffman.
2:00pm: Shopping spree! Irina announces the Prada shoes she’s wearing on-set are on her must-have list for spring.
2:45pm: MTV cameras are next to arrive.
3:30pm: Pile on the parkas! We all head outside into the frigid January air. Poor Irina braves it in bare legs.
4:11pm: A last minute bracelet switch, and a few frames later, it’s a wrap!
DAY TWO
On location at Page One Management, Greta Constantine’s studio and the Four Seasons Hotel
9:21 am: Packed up, we hit the road for the downtown Page One Management offices.
10:45am: We run through all of the day’s outfits ⎯planning ahead is key when you’re working out of the cramped quarters of a Winnebago.
11:45am: Irina’s agent calls to tell us she’s booked to walk a show in Toronto tonight. It’s straight on the phone to change her flight to tomorrow morning
12:04am: Still stuck on the first shot ⎯the Celine outfit isn’t looking right in the environment, so we save it for another scenario. We make a quick run down to the Winnebago to grab the leopard YSL and 2 duffel bags of shoes.
12:42pm: We try the paparazzi shot outside, but it’s freeeezing. We move indoors to the lobby of Page One. The paparazzi in the shots? Those are our photography assistants Peter and Dave.
1:03pm: It’s back in the Winnebago for a quick lunch on the way to the Greta Constantine studio.
2:26pm: The Room at the Bay’s Nicholas Mellamphy is waiting for us at the Four Seasons Hotel, having just landed from a trip to Paris only 2 hours earlier!
2:45pm: The kitchen whips us up fresh salads and pours pink champagne. Irina and Nicholas exchange Paris hot spots. And with that, the shoot is done!
3:30pm: As we leave the Four Seasons, I spy singer Drake sliding into a private car!
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://fashionmagazine.com/style/irina-behind-the-scenes-diary-the-great-dictator/&title=Behind-the-scenes diary: Shooting “The Great Dictator” with Irina Lazareanu&picture=https://fashionmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/apr11BTSintro.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_34828" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Irina Lazareanu, in “The Great Dictator” shoot, FASHION Magazine, April 2011. Photographed by Gabor Jurina. Styled by Susie Sheffman."][/caption]
Snow storms derailing clothing deliveries (including a Tom Ford suit stuck in London!), SAG Award stylists hoarding shoe samples and 2 model moms in tow, are all in a weekend’s work as we shoot supermodel Irina Lazareanu for our behind-the-scenes issue as a modern day fashion editor.
Go behind the scenes of our shoot now! »
Also, be sure to check out Irina's personal Shopping List »
[caption id="attachment_34838" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="“The Great Dictator” shoot, FASHION Magazine, April 2011."][/caption]
DAY ONE
Gabor Jurina’s Studio
7:45am: My team of interns meet me at our office to pick up all of the clothes, shoes and accessories and pile the garment bags, duffels and suitcases into 2 cars. It’s an early start, but there’s piping hot coffee and croissants on set!
8:25am: As we unpack all of the gear, Irina circles the jewellery table, picks out an emerald teardrop ring and doesn’t take it off for two days! She said it felt like it was meant to be on her finger. It’s in every shot.
8:30am: Glossy red O.P.I polish is slicked onto Irina’s fingers courtesy of Leeanne at TIPS Nail Bar & Spa (she’s running straight back to the salon for a busy day of appointments).
8:55am: Hair and makeup pro, Greg, trims the bangs on Irina’s black wig, perfecting a severe editor chop.
[caption id="attachment_34830" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="“The Great Dictator” shoot, FASHION Magazine, April 2011."][/caption]
9:16 am: Jeanne Beker makes her appearance in oversized black glasses and a camel swing coat. She gives Irina a big, warm hug.
10:55am: Interns stick number decals on our makeshift “front row” seats.
11:00am: The crew on-set has swelled to 22 (including 4 interns, 3 extra models, 2 moms, our marketing whiz, and the Fashion Television team)
11:37am: Jeanne decides between the black patent Brian Atwoods or mile-high Louboutins on the jam-packed accessories table. The Louboutins win out. She then grabs her own Gucci belt from her bag to complete her look.
[caption id="attachment_34842" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="“The Great Dictator” shoot, FASHION Magazine, April 2011. "][/caption]
11:45am: Our photographer, Gabor Jurina, takes the first shot of the day. We’re only behind schedule by an hour…
12:15pm: Jeanne sits down to interview Irina for FT, while our Grace Coddington and Anna Wintour doppelgangers (current and former interns) are in hair and makeup.
12:46pm: Interns, FT staffers and doppelgangers take their places in the “front row”
1:38pm: The entire crew digs in for lunch: grilled tofu, chicken, veggies, and mini cupcakes.
1:45pm: Film crew from ET Canada arrives to film Irina and interview our fashion director, Susie Sheffman.
[caption id="attachment_34845" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="“The Great Dictator” shoot, FASHION Magazine, April 2011. "][/caption]
2:00pm: Shopping spree! Irina announces the Prada shoes she’s wearing on-set are on her must-have list for spring.
2:45pm: MTV cameras are next to arrive.
3:30pm: Pile on the parkas! We all head outside into the frigid January air. Poor Irina braves it in bare legs.
4:11pm: A last minute bracelet switch, and a few frames later, it’s a wrap!
[caption id="attachment_34840" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="“The Great Dictator” shoot, FASHION Magazine, April 2011."][/caption]
DAY TWO
On location at Page One Management, Greta Constantine’s studio and the Four Seasons Hotel
9:21 am: Packed up, we hit the road for the downtown Page One Management offices.
10:45am: We run through all of the day’s outfits ⎯planning ahead is key when you’re working out of the cramped quarters of a Winnebago.
11:45am: Irina’s agent calls to tell us she’s booked to walk a show in Toronto tonight. It’s straight on the phone to change her flight to tomorrow morning
12:04am: Still stuck on the first shot ⎯the Celine outfit isn’t looking right in the environment, so we save it for another scenario. We make a quick run down to the Winnebago to grab the leopard YSL and 2 duffel bags of shoes.
12:42pm: We try the paparazzi shot outside, but it’s freeeezing. We move indoors to the lobby of Page One. The paparazzi in the shots? Those are our photography assistants Peter and Dave.
[caption id="attachment_34847" align="aligncenter" width="430" caption="“The Great Dictator” shoot, FASHION Magazine, April 2011. "][/caption]
1:03pm: It’s back in the Winnebago for a quick lunch on the way to the Greta Constantine studio.
2:26pm: The Room at the Bay’s Nicholas Mellamphy is waiting for us at the Four Seasons Hotel, having just landed from a trip to Paris only 2 hours earlier!
2:45pm: The kitchen whips us up fresh salads and pours pink champagne. Irina and Nicholas exchange Paris hot spots. And with that, the shoot is done!
3:30pm: As we leave the Four Seasons, I spy singer Drake sliding into a private car!
Also, be sure to check out Irina's personal Shopping List »){kind=link}