119. Challenging societal norms of beauty and Age with Robin Bobbé

If you have ever listened to the podcast you know that one of my pet peeves is the way older women are represented or rather under represented  in mainstream media,  unless of course  its in ads for retirement plans, meal replacement shakes and bladder leakage products. The common definition of beauty does not include women in their 50’s and 60’s and beyond.

My guest today is on a mission to change that. Robin Bobbe is the founder of Modern Agerer Casting, a casting agency that specializes in finding diverse talent of all backgrounds and ages. After starting a career in the fashion industry as stylist, she then went on the become an actress, a  casting director and then a commercial model in her 60’s. Confronted by the lack of diversity that the model agencies offered, she armed herself with a polaroid camera and began combing the streets in search of the authenticity that reflected more diverse faces.

We chat about:

• Her experience and insights in the industry from both sides of the camera
• The importance of challenging societal norms of beauty and relevance. 
• How she captures the power and beauty of older models through their confidence, self acceptance and authenticity.
• Her process for the many reinventions of her career
• The importance of constant exploration, creativity and life long learning as the keys to a fulfilling life. 

There are so many great insights and nuggets of wisdom in this episode. If you’ve ever thought, even for second, that you’d like to try your hand at modelling no mater how old you are Robin encourages you to take the first step by reaching out to her. 

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Robin Bobbe is the founder of Modern Ager Casting. She has over 40 years of experience working with professional models and actors as well as non-professionals.

She has worn many hats during her career in fashion, film and photography. Robin started her career as a stylist in Manhattan in the 1970’s. She spent the 80’s acting in Los Angeles and the 90’s behind the camera as an associate producer of documentaries of which one was nominated for an Academy Award. In 1999 she joined Photo Group a large print advertising production company, as an inhouse producer, but it was clear that casting was her real calling.

Street casting became her specialty. She left Photo Group to start her own casting company in 2001 which continues today as ModernagerCasting, stalking her prey wherever she goes.

In 2012, through The Actors Fund she started working with artists living with dementia offering creative activities which she continues to do today.

She credits her 60’s for being her most creative decade yet and come March 30th she’s looking forward to seeing what’s waiting for her on the other side of 70. 

 

https://www.modernagercasting.com/What-We-Do/1