Media, social networks, virtual reality

The development of social networks has now come a long way, from the first attempts, such as MySpace to Facebook, today’s giant among social networks, next to Google (Alphabet) with Youtube. Then, since Instagram, there has been a completely new phenomenon, influencers. People who build presence (reach) and fans (followers) in digital spaces. What will be the next steps, where is the journey going?

Digitization is an ever-growing buzzword. Whether it’s journalistic texts written by tools with “artificial intelligence” or even people who have been artificially created and yet embody real, authentic content. A broad spectrum.

Advantages: CO2, risk on set, post production & co.

When it comes to innovations, the question is always: What is the advantage?

Reduce CO2 emissions: Positive PR / Brand Image

Especially in times of climate debate, such a VR production saves tons of CO2. Because, for such photo and video productions, with digital people, no one has to fly anymore. Already knew?

Here is an example of the CO2 balance:

• From: Berlin (DE), BER
• To: Cape Town (ZA), CPT
• Round trip, economy class
• Approx. 19,200 km, 1 traveller

How much do you estimate? 100 kg, 200 kg, 500 kg?

CO2 amount: 3.2 t

For a team of 10, directly 32 tons of CO2 emissions, for a photo or video production, just for the flights.

Large productions for e-commerce

Another advantage: mass production of photos and videos. Because, at the same time, thousands of garments can be produced in a very short time. Not every single piece has to be sent, prepared, ironed, dressed, photographed, undressed, …. Another advantage is the extremely flexible post-processing, which is otherwise not possible. Camera angles can be changed afterwards, not, but are also emotions, facial expressions and gestures. Completely new freedom, through digital avatars.

Storytelling makes them human: work behind the avatar

Through photos and stories on Instagram, these avatars come to life, so to speak. The better the storytelling behind them, the more real people want to know more about these digital avatars. You can see how well this works on channels like Lil’ Miquela or Noonoouri.

Read more, in the interview on OMR! Online Marketing Rockstars talks to the two teams from Germany that are competing with the US Creatorn in the interview. Among them are us and Noonoouri, who already has more than a million followers! Great work, great success from the Creators.

• Interview – OMR

Virtual Influencer: List

If you want to meet more of these virtual avatars, influencers, then you can find a detailed list here, with the individual profiles and links to each channel:

• Virtual Influencers

Zoe Dvir: Instagram, Life, Everyday Life, and Activism.

There is so much more behind the beautiful photos on Instagram than just a pretty young woman. The virtual model studies, meets friends and stands up for the things she cares about. Sounds almost too perfect? The virtual influencer definitely shares her weak moments as well. Sometimes she shows herself when she is sick or when she, like all of us know it, couldn’t keep away from the sweets department while shopping. Often with her: her virtual friend and model colleague Ella Stoller.

Tip. Read more about virtual influencers here!

Facts about Zoe Dvir: student, model & dog owner<

The virtual influencer was not simply programmed to model. Zoe tells a story that many can identify with. The digital beauty studies, works, travels and lives a life that is known from many thousands of influencers before her.

• Art & Design Student<
• Bartender
• Model
• Vegetarian
• Dog Mom
• Volunteer with the Animal Rights Association

Instagram @zoedvir: How the virtual model shares her life

As a virtual influencer, your social media presence is everything. Social media is the only place a virtual model exists to begin with. And it’s also the place where you share and define your personality. This is not only true for CGI influencers, but also the human counterpart. In the way you present yourself, you create your brand. So it’s extremely important what you share with the outside world and how.

• Instagram @zoedvir

Zoe presents everything that is important to her: pictures from her travels, favorite corners in her hometown Tel Aviv and her own studio. Zoe is also a proud vegetarian. She likes to share that with her followers as well, showing off colorful vegetables and fruits. But Nobody’s Perfect! Zoe has just as much of a soft spot for vegan and vegetarian sweets as many of us do. Did you know Oreos are Vegan!!! A sweet girl with sweet preferences, who can resist?

Model’s hobbies: Salty sea breezes and delicious pizza

When Zoe isn’t wielding a paintbrush in her studio, mixing cocktails behind the bar or cramming for her next exam, she tries to spend as much time as possible at the beach. So it’s perfect that she’s from Tel Aviv, where the nearest beach is only a stone’s throw away and the often mild temperatures don’t get in the way of a relaxing day at the beach. So: beach bag packed and off we go! But be careful: heat and salt quickly lead to fluid loss, so Zoe refreshes herself regularly and looks forbiddenly good doing so:

An active lifestyle naturally makes you hungry. Good thing Zoe loves cooking and baking! The plant-based treats are healthy and, of course, just what you need after a busy day of work and activity. So she shows that an animal and eco-friendly diet is easy and can be fun too.

Activism: digital model Zoe Dvir for his four-legged friends

Vegetarianism and veganism are more popular than ever and the choice of vegan food in restaurants and supermarkets is growing all the time. In Zoe’s home country of Israel, 5% of the population follows a vegan diet. That’s more than any other country in the world. How fitting, then, that Zoe also counts herself among the ranks of the veggie front.

That veganism can be a healthy way of eating is clear and explains the 22-year-old’s great body, but Zoe is about much more than her own health and her own body. Her goal is to make her followers aware of abuses in the field of animal husbandry, but also sustainability. Zoe stands for reduced, conscious consumption, against fur and has the goal to make the masses aware of grievances and the effects of our impact on the earth.

Jobs for virtual models: Adidas, CHAIN, Bird and more

It’s impressive how Zoe Dvir manages to find time for modeling on top of her studies and job as a bartender. I guess that’s one of the advantages of being a 3D animator: Time doesn’t matter. Travelling, university, job and free time are easy to reconcile.

As an activist for animals and the environment, Zoe naturally likes to work for sustainable brands and those with the goal of creating change. A change that she herself also stands for, because virtual models do have sustainable aspects.

Adidas: On the road to sustainability

The German sportswear brand Adidas has had a very intensive approach to sustainability issues for a number of years and has managed to be part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for over 20 years as one of the leading brands in the field of sustainability.

This makes the digital model with a penchant for sustainable lifestyles perfect for representing the brand. The model Zoe is wearing on her internet profile is the Adidas Her Studio Cropped Hoodie.

• Price 54,99 €

CHAIN Fashion: digital influencer Zoe Dvir for eco-friendly clothing production, video

The Argentinian fashion brand Chain had the great honor to present their collection at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Moscow. The young label is dedicated to sustainable, gender-neutral fashion. The products are made in Argentina from local materials with gentle dyeing and processing methods. Chain actively tries to prevent fabric waste and pays attention to gender-inclusive cuts.

For these reasons, Zoe Dvir and Chain are just a perfect match. Chain stands for everything Zoe lives. Sustainability, connection to home and nature. These similarities are also exactly what comes across in Chain’s commercial. The virtual model presents herself minimalistically in a white, figure-flattering jumpsuit and is slowly surrounded by ivy vines.

NJoy Design: Virtual Influencer Meets Hand Painted Clothing

You could almost say art meets art, because there’s a lot of design work that goes into a virtual model too. The Israeli label NJoy offers creative, hand-painted clothing by artists and the goal to bring a bit of virtuosity into your life.

Bird Scooter: digital influencer for e-scooters

The e-scooter macro-sharing provider Bird Mobility, which is also represented in Zoe’s hometown of Tel Aviv, has also teamed up with the cute curly-head to showcase its product. At just under 20 km/h, Zoe takes to the streets of Tel Aviv to visit her favorite spots. Whether that’s a café where she meets up with friends or the Apple store with the latest models.

Virtual fashion and sustainability

Digital and virtual fashion are one of the latest developments in sustainability for fashion. In the past, the fashion industry has increasingly moved in a direction that is detrimental to the planet and the environment. In the spirit of protecting the climate, many brands have moved to more sustainable production processes. Virtual fashion, like the models who wear it, is designed in 3D programs and then turned into reality with 3D printers.

A major advantage of this production method is the avoidance of material waste, which would normally occur in the traditional design process by hand. The large technical differences in the design process and the financial aspects that go hand in hand with them make it difficult to establish this method on a widespread basis.

Digital models like Zoe Dvir for sustainability

Not only does the activism of the young influencer help raise awareness for socially relevant issues, virtual models are also the people who wear and present the computer-animated clothing. In the competitive model business, however, it is never only relevant that the clothes are worn, but also who wears them.

With supermodels like Gigi Hadid, Kylie Jenner and co. a label simply gets more attention. This is where virtual influencers come into play. They bring their personal followings and are already a more recognizable face. Plus, Instagram success already proves how well the guy is received. Digital influencers represent the perfect middle ground between individual CGI models and real supermodels.

ZOE0.1: Digital Influencer Forge, Social Media Agency & Production<

ZOE0.1 specializes in creating and marketing digital influencers. The agency's beautiful avatars are created in the finest design work, the CGI models according to their own taste and then backed with a suitable story. Thus, three unique digital influencers are now part of the agency's portfolio:

• Zoe Dvir
• Ella Stoller
• Diana Torre

Each of the three young women has her own story and personal interests. Zoe, as we have already discovered, is a student, bartender and model. Ella stands out with her pink hair and is an influencer who wants to reach the top. She has already made her first appearances on Israeli television. The South African model Diana Torre is currently working as a dancer in London.

Booking: Zoe Dvir and Ella Stoller at CM Models

To perfectly prove their sense of time, the young model agency headquartered in Cologne has signed the two digital models. CM Models(model agency) represents a variety of aspiring and successful models and has already worked with well-known brands such as Chanel, Dior, Balmain and many more. A perfect match for the successful digital influencers.

Reality meets VR – Social News!

The world’s first virtual fashion show – We’ve already written about virtual influencers on the social marketing blog, including the biggest of them all, Lil’Miquela. Today was the world premiere in Berlin! Reality meets virtual reality. Fashion in the sign of the times – is this trend here to stay?

First virtual fashion show / fashion movie

Lil’Miquela has made a rise since 2019 that no one would have thought a virtual, digital person could achieve. She now has nearly 3 million followers on Instagram alone. In 2021, virtual people will be seen on the runway for the first time, today. Pictures say more than 1,000 words.

• Fashion show: Reality meets VR

• Become a model – Advisor on CM Models
• Become a model interview – XXL interview in FIV Magazine – Modeling in New York, Paris & Co

Model scouting: What must a model be able to do?

Editor -As a model booker and agency owner, what do you value most when young models apply to you? Is good looks really everything or what else is important when you want to become a model?

Stephan Czaja – The first thing is personality. It is what makes a model. Personality, in turn, expresses itself in many facets that are important for a model’s job. Positive manner is one of them, friendly appearance, good mood and of course a smile, even after a long, exhausting shooting day. In big cities like Paris, Milan and London there are also 5 or 6 castings a day. That means stress, especially when a model is in big cities like Berlin, London, Paris or New York for the first time. It becomes even more extreme in Asian mega cities like Shanghai, Beijing or Seoul. Millions of people, foreign language, those who work here for the first time as a model at the age of 17 or 18, will be faced with a lot. That’s why you should start as early as possible, preferably at the age of 15 or 16.

But at the beginning everything starts out very relaxed. If you send your application to model agencies early enough, you will have enough time to gain experience in first photo shootings with photographers, first model jobs and if all requirements are right, also in first short trips abroad, for example jobs at Paris Fashion Week, Instagram Shooting in Lisbon or city shootings in London.

Photo – CM Models New Faces, Women (Klara [Milan] Laura [Düsseldorf] and Anni [Paris])

Photo – Cocaine models New Faces, men (Darcy [Zurich] and Franck [London])

As a model you have a lot of free time in relation to the normal 9-to-5 job. But when jobs are coming up, there are sometimes very stressful days: flight, hotel, production, there is a lot to be expected from models. Accordingly, as a model you should be secondly: an independent, self-confident person. In addition, the bigger the jobs, the bigger the teams and of course the investments of the client in such a media production. If you are late as a model, it quickly costs many tens of thousands of Euros. We have also had production with luxury cars, 80-man production team, extra cordoned-off airport area. The moment for models to prove what they can do.

Accordingly, the way from set-up to such castings and jobs is long. The way is long, but it is worth it!

But then, thirdly, ambition and motivation are important. As a model, you need to have the ambition to constantly improve yourself, as well as motivation and the confidence that you can do it. The first sign that you have as a model, that the conditions are right and you have the potential, is the agency admission or model contract in a big model agency like ours.

Become a model: Requirements and minimum size

Editing – Away from the looks and characteristics of the model, when is the perfect age for models to start? How tall do you have to be as a model?

Stephan Czaja – You should start modeling at the age of 15, 16. After all, you still need to build up, especially with regard to the personality just discussed, but above all your own model portfolio. In the model portfolio, models collect their best photos from jobs and photo shoots with good photographers. So the customer has a quick overview of what you have already done and how versatile you can be as a model.

The more diverse the photos, the more facets you show, the higher the chance to get good jobs. The build-up takes 2, 3 years, accordingly you should start early, preferably already in school, as I said with 15 years, 16 years.

Good model agencies make sure that the focus remains 100% on school. However, the first shootings can be arranged in parallel, a few small jobs can be done, the first experiences can be made. If you then finish school successfuly at the age of 17, 18 years, your career can start. If you have the right prerequisites as a model, you can work in the big cities like New York, Los Angeles, Paris or even London.

Application and interview

Editor – Which photos should models send with their application if they want to become a model?

Stephan Czaja – The photos of the model application should always be absolutely natural! No make-up, no styling, a simple outfit, preferably consisting of black pants and a black top. You do not need a professional photo shooting! We recommend a simple mobile phone, daylight and best of all mum, dad or friends who can quickly take some photos.

On the photos you should be seen as a model as said absolutely natural, that means besides make-up and styling also no posings! Look frontally into the camera, once with open hair, then with closed hair, with a serious look, then a smile. This frontally as a portrait and once from the side. That’s it! This is all you need for a good model application. The next step is to send your photos to the model agency. Here one of the model scouts will look at your photos and if it suits the agency, you will get a feedback from the model agency or the model scout within 7 days.

Editor -followers on Instagram, Youtube and TikTok play an increasingly important role, how big is the role of social networks in the selection of models?

Stephan Czaja – The number of followers on Instagram and Co. does not play a role in the selection during casting or the model application. But if you work as a model later on, followers already help you to get jobs, because more and more often customers take a look at the social media profiles of the models. The big goal of an advertising campaign is reach. If you can generate additional reach by booking a model, this is of course a big plus for customers during casting or e-casting.

This means that followers do not play a role in the model application, but they can be helpful in later jobs to get the job.

Model Jobs: Modeling for Instagram, Youtube and TikTok

Editing – Every job is different from video shooting for Youtube to photo shooting for Instagram: How different are the requirements in the different areas? Where do the quality and skills of the models differ?

Stephan Czaja – When it comes specifically to working for social media content, photos for Instagram are easiest in proportion for young models. After all, the classic work of models is photo shootings. But when it comes to moving images, whether it’s Instagram stories or videos for a posting, it gets more challenging. Often small, first sequences have to be learned, sometimes also texts. Not one story is produced, but 20.

At the moment I think Unboxing videos and product presentations are the most complex. With Unboxing Videos for YouTube and Instagram, but also Facebook or TikTok, how is it about opening a package with mostly more or less unknown content? What it is all about are the emotions that arise when unpacking, joy, amazement but also discovery. Anyone working under time pressure here, for example in a video production, has to remember a relatively large number of details, from specific brand names to product names, processes, lines of sight. If a scene can only be captured once, so that the emotions are real, everything has to fit right away.

You need real professionals for this, that’s why we have model castings and e-castings.

Photo – Commercial for Dailies with Johanna, Marie and Hannes @ CM Models

Video – Commercial for Dailies with Johanna, Marie and Hannes @ CM Models

Photo – Commercial for VW T-Cross with Milva @ CM Models

Video – Commercial for VW T-Cross with Milva @ CM Models

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJO6DLcGy7g

Video – Commercial for VW T-Cross with Cara Delevingne (same campaign)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4s4me2-d3U

Model casting sequence

Editor -For jobs you organize many model castings, how does such a casting work?

Stephan Czaja – Castings are relatively unspectacular, often directly in the agency and when things get bigger, preferably in a warehouse. Depending on the job, up to 150 models gather in front of the entrance. In the entrance area, each model is given a number when they register and is then called either by number or by name. Most of the castings go relatively fast, the appearance of the model is in the foreground and of course the personality, e.g. by a smile and joy at work! Each model introduces herself briefly, shows her own photo folder and then it’s: Next!

The further course of castings is very individual depending on the job. If we would do a casting for a fashion show, the next step would be the fitting. This is where models try on the clothes, the big question: Do the selected pieces fit the model? If necessary, changes can be made or another model gets the chance.

If it would be a casting for social content or an advertising spot, small live scenes are often played, sometimes short videos are recorded for the customer, for example if only marketing staff are on site. So even a small acting performance is required for such a casting. Of course no complex scene, it’s only about seeing if the model can slip into a certain role. For fashion clients, you usually stay exactly as you are, that’s enough for a shooting. But if you advertise a certain candy bar or a car brand, for example, you need acting talent. Sometimes you are the go-getter, then the shy one or the business woman in the sports car.

Casting tips: How to get the job

Editor -What can you recommend models for their next casting? Do you have tips for young models and their first casting in a social media or advertising agency?

Stephan Czaja – The first good tip I can give is always be confident. Especially for young models it is difficult to cope with the big competition at their first casting. Suddenly you are standing at the casting location and for the first time you meet 30, 40 or 50 other models. In cities like Milan there are sometimes up to 100, 200 models during the Fashion Week. This is where a young model quickly realizes how big the competition is. At this moment you as a model must not become shy or reserved, because you can see that in your facial expressions and gestures. But you want to radiate positive energy, joy and good mood! Then that’s exactly why clients book models. Of course there are also jobs where you have to put on a serious face as a model, but backstage at the production the teams always have fun and therefore want positive people on the production set.

The second tip is definitely: Never forget to smile. Especially after a long day, with many castings and many models you have met as marketing or creative director, I personally notice again and again how refreshing a smile can be. Especially when five candidates in front of you had a serious look, it is a simple smile with which you can attract additional attention.

Tip number three is, as always, preparation! If you prepare well for a model casting, if you know what the job will be about, you have already done a lot. If you are then spontaneously asked a question like “why do you want to model for our brand?” you should have a good answer ready. In addition, when casting, you should make sure that you appear as natural as possible. For models this means no make-up, no styling, simple black clothes. Female models should also wear a black bikini and high heels, also in black. These are my tips for your next casting, maybe I’ll see you sometime.

Editor -Thank you very much for the answers!

Video – Commercial for Nike with Louisa and Lisa @ CM Models

CM Models – Model agency & Become a model

Learn what it means to become a model!

• Become a model – Advisor on CM Models
• Become a model interview – XXL interview in FIV Magazine – Modeling in New York, Paris & Co
• CM Models – model agency

Mode and fake Instagram Accounts

Especially in the area of fashion, outfits and styling, Likes have become an important currency and advertising today. Who checks if the follower number of the fashion designer is real? Most people press Like and you have already placed this channel in your algorithm.

Quality assessment based on engagement rate and interaction rate

If you are a social media manager yourself, you should check the Instagram channels of people as well as companies. Many social channels contain a conspicuous number of ghost accounts, but these do not provide any interaction. From this it can be concluded that, as a rule, these are not real persons.

To help you understand how different such interaction rates can look, here is a best practice example from the fashion industry. Model agencies deal with the development of young talents and the placement of jobs. The young models then work for photo shootings, online shops, social media channels or for fashion shows. Of course, you want to look good at first sight, especially when young models visit your own Instagram channel. But how authentic are the followers? Are they real people interacting with the brand or agency consequences and their content, or are they ghost accounts interacting with the channel consequences? With the help of various software for social media analysis, we once started a small market study for you. The numbers will allow you to see the qualitative differences and adopt the methods and techniques for your own work as a social media manager.

How are such ghosts accounts created?

On Instagram anyone can log in to a user account. You don’t need your own unique number, e.g. the mobile phone number, but each user can create as many Instagram accounts as he wants. If someone has programming knowledge, he can quickly build a network by linking proxy servers and various Instagram accounts. In principle, you don’t even need programming skills, you just need a hard-working intern and a smartphone.

Search engine for Instagram

In order to keep as many of these fake and ghost accounts as possible outside our closed Influencer system, our software sets out to exclude many smaller accounts. For this an enormous majority of influencer campaigns do not require small channels, this makes no difference to the majority of agencies. On the contrary, you can exclude many fake accounts and concentrate on the accounts that are worthwhile. In our influencer search engine you will therefore find almost exclusively relevant and larger influencers in a range from 10,000 to 20,000 followers.

Further information about Social Media Software

Further information about our social media software can be found here:

• Social Analytics