Are you hot enough for Hollywood?
A model search reality show, "Hot Enough for Hollywood," will begin filming in Tucson tomorrow. Finalists who are selected will be eligible to win cash and a modeling contract.
Two UA graduates are currently involved with the show, and many more will have the opportunity tomorrow to enter the free event at the swimwear store Everything But Water in La Encantada Mall, 2905 E. Skyline Drive, starting at 3 p.m.
Adrienne Embery, who graduated magna cum laude in journalism from the UA last May, is one of the finalists who could win the contract.
Embery is an assistant sales manager at the Scottsdale location of Everything But Water, which is sponsoring the event.
The show is a product of Translight Pictures, which is owned by Matthew Earl Jones, brother of actor James Earl Jones.
The show will begin filming this weekend and will then move to Scottsdale to gather more finalists. The final competition is May 24 at Chaparral Suites Resort, 5001 N. Scottsdale Road, in Scottsdale. The winner will receive $1,000, a free portfolio and a contract with the Los Angeles modeling agency Pacific Talent and Models.
Embery said she met Jones a few weeks ago through her district manager and wanted to be involved right away.
"It sounded like it would be a good opportunity to get into the business," Embery said. "A reality TV show that gives you a modeling contract and $1,000, that's a cool dream."
Meagan McDonald, the second assistant director of the show, graduated from the UA with a media arts degree in May and worked at the Cheesecake Factory in Phoenix while she figured out what to do.
"I was still uncertain of what aspect I wanted to pursue with my degree, but I knew I wanted to be in film and television," McDonald said.
She caught her break last month by striking up a conversation with Jones while waiting on him at the restaurant, after which he invited her to a seminar and eventually asked for her help on the show.
"I'm really excited about Saturday," McDonald said. "I'm still not even sure what it's going to be like."
McDonald said she was at the UA last week visiting sororities to advertise the event.
"I'm expecting about 100 women from the UA to come on Saturday," McDonald said.
Embery said it would be great for the UA students to go to represent the Wildcats.
"There will probably be ASU girls as finalists, so I'd love to see UA girls get to kick their asses," Embery said.
Jones said since he wants the models to be comfortable during the event, they will be able to choose swimwear from Everything But Water.
"All the stuff at our store is very classy," Embery said. "This isn't anything like Girls Gone Wild."
Jones said he thinks the show will be a good way to find models, but without exploiting them.
"If you want to look at people making fools of themselves, this is not the show for you," said Jones, who came up with the idea for the show.
Models can be glad that the event won't cost them anything but their afternoon, Jones said.
"A lot of shows like this want to get you to sign up for classes or make you pay to register," Jones said, "But we're not selling anything."
The show will be broadcasted June 16 on AZ-TV.