80'S FOCUS .. THE MAKING OF A MALE MODEL .. 1983 ..

 ABC PRESENTS
AN AARON SPELLING PRODUCTION

 THE MAKING OF A MALE MODEL

Starring

JOAN COLLINS as Kay Dillon

JON ERIK HEXUM as Tyler Burnett

KEVIN MCCARTHY as Ward Hawley

ROXIE ROKER as Mdge Davis

ARTE JOHNSON as Marty Sampson

TED MCGINLEY as Gary Angelo

JEFF CONAWAY as Chuck Lanyard

HARRY LANGDON as Miles

ROSEMARIE STACK as Lila Chandler

PATRICIA SMITH as Mrs Rockwell

TAMARA STAFFORD as Linda

ROBERT WALKER JR as Joseph

BARRY PEARL as Clarence

HEATHER MCNAIR as Denise

HUNTER VON LEER as Director

MICHAEL ANDERSON JR as Sven

DINO GIGANTE as Stylist

 Director of Photography - Richard Rawlings SR A.S.C
  Art Director - Tom Trimble
    Music By Artie Butler
     Teleplay by A.J.Carothers
       Edited by Dick Darling
         Costumes by Nolan Miller
          Produced by Aaron Spelling - Lynn Loring - Elaine Rich
            Directed by Irving J Moore

 Tyler Burnett is a country boy at heart, who finds himself catapulted to the top, in the ruthless world of modelling, when a glamorous model agency boss picks him as her latest protege. But can Tyler stay at the top.. while still coping with the fame, plus the scrutiny involved? After a whirlwind romance with his lady boss, Kay Dillon... he soon learns the high price of fame.. where it is only a matter of time, when a more fresher face will come along! Follow the road to success, as we witness The Look of the moment, during The Making Of A Male Model!
(c) 1983  ABC 98 MINS  Colour ....

 This popular tv movie, was another Aaron Spelling production, made during Joan's hiatus from 'Dynasty', she co-stars with the very handsome, much missed actor Jon Erik Hexum. Joan apparently handpicked Jon after looking at hundreds of photo's of various potential faces. Joan instantly took to Jon Erik's striking good looks, plus he was a popular face, as he had just finished the popular sci-fi series 'Voyagers'.

 Jon Erik was delighted to get the role and enjoyed driving around Beverly Hills, buying $9,000 worth of clothes for the tv movie. Joan was so fond of Jon Erik, that she advised him to go up for the role of her love interest in the next season of 'Dynasty'. However he said he did not want to be tied down to a three year contract.

Joan tried to get away from the Alexis look for this movie and she collaborated with friend and costume designer, Nolan Miller in creating a different look. She began by losing twelve pounds, had her hair style created short, while swapping the low cut outfits for business attire.

Here character of Kay Dillon ran her own modelling agency, but in retrospect she still was not too far from her Alexis persona..
Nolan Miller recalled....
"It's was a new look.. No boobs Joan Collins! Sleek.. Strait laced.. But sexy.. She is the Lady Boss in this movie. Most of the time we are hiding her famous chest! It's terrible trying to disguise her boobs, especially when I usually spend most of the time trying to show them off! But Joan does get a glamorous outfit for a costume party scene, as she is dresses as Cleopatra in a slinky, shimmering costume!"

Joan looks stylish as ever, with Aaron Spelling at the helm, it's pure 80's escapism, with enough drama to keep it in reality. Even though Jon Erik turned down a role on 'Dynasty', he did accept a series a year later, the glossy  'Cover Up' co-starring Jennifer O'Neill, also set in the modelling world. However he may have been wiser to accept Joan's offer, as tragically whilst playing around with a prop gun on set, he shot himself in the head and died a few weeks later.

Such a tragic end for such a promising star, who no doubt had a bright showbiz career ahead of him. 'Male Model' also stars Jeff Conaway, who plays an ageing model who turns to drugs and overdoses, sadly a similar fate awaiting Jeff who died recently. Another actor who passed recently, veteran Kevin McCarthy appears as a tough agent, with 'Love Boat' and 'Dynasty' star Ted McGinley as one of the other models.. Well worth seeking out for fans of 'Dynasty' and 80's high drama..

(c) 2011 Mark McMorrow....