Model Behavior
Shaun Cloud Shoots "Chasing the Dream"
By Dixon Galvez-Searle
April 22, 2005

Kansas City-based DP Shaun Cloud spent nine days in Texas recently, serving as the third cameraman and still photographer for the upcoming reality show “Chasing the Dream.” The show features a series of competitions between six models who are trying to further their careers.

Even though he has prior experience in television, shooting for programs like “Oprah” and “How We Met,” Cloud says it was serendipity that drew him to “Chasing the Dream.” “I was contacted randomly by Shania, one of the models that was going to be on the show,” says Cloud. He ended up taking some pictures of her and shooting a video intro. “I did [the video] at no charge so I could get my name in the hands of the producer [Shawn Chatham],” says Cloud.

Because of his experience as a still photographer, Cloud was asked to take photos of each model in addition to his video duties. “[Chatham] explained that, by doing so, I would actually become a part of the show because they planned to videotape and air the photo shoot,” says Cloud. “So for one entire day, I got to play and have fun in front of the video camera.” Cloud’s photographs will be displayed online and viewers will be asked to select their favorites during the run of the show.

“Chasing the Dream” was shot on DV in an effort to speed up production. “The small cameras of today can easily be criticized for their shortfalls,” says Cloud, “but they do have an advantage in certain shooting situations.”

In fact, the shooting schedule was so hectic that Cloud and the rest of the crew shot everything “dirty.” They used existing light as much as possible and added gain to avoid extensive lighting set-ups. “Our locations really forced us into that scenario,” says Cloud. “We were literally in and out of vehicles, shops and restaurants, night clubs, and even out in the middle of the woods.”

Even though “Chasing the Dream” is competition-based, Cloud says it’s far from mean-spirited. The show features models from different backgrounds and tries to put them in a positive light. “Unlike other shows, we didn’t want to pull any skeletons out of the closet or get the models fighting,” says Cloud. “The show was really all about giving them an opportunity to enhance their careers.”

“Chasing the Dream” is scheduled to air on the Men’s Channel beginning in July.