Making of a Male Model

The premise is pure, distilled 80s wish-fulfillment mixed with cautionary tale. We meet Tyler Burnett, played by the impossibly handsome Jon-Erik Hexum, a naive but good-hearted Nevada ranch hand whose striking looks catch the eye of the formidable Kay Dillon (Joan Collins), the head of a top New York modeling agency. Whisked away from dusty plains to the concrete jungle, Tyler is molded, polished, and thrust into the high-stakes, high-pressure world of male fashion modeling. It’s a whirlwind of photo shoots, demanding clients, jealous rivals (notably Jeff Pomerantz as fellow model Ward Hawley), and the intoxicating, often manipulative, attention of Kay herself. Remember the sheer magnetic pull of Joan Collins back then? Fresh off cementing her icon status as Alexis Carrington Colby on Dynasty, she brings that same blend of sophisticated allure and barely concealed ruthlessness to Kay Dillon. She doesn't just enter a room; she commands it, embodying the power dynamics at play.

Watching this now, it’s impossible not to focus on Jon-Erik Hexum. He possessed an undeniable screen presence – a sort of raw, unpolished charisma combined with startling good looks. You believe him as the fish-out-of-water, wide-eyed and vulnerable beneath the burgeoning confidence. He sells Tyler's journey, the initial excitement giving way to disillusionment as he discovers the industry's darker side – the objectification, the fleeting nature of fame, the loneliness. There's an authenticity to his portrayal of youthful uncertainty that cuts through the melodrama.

Of course, the viewing experience is forever shaded by Hexum's tragic death just a year later, in October 1984, from a self-inflicted blank cartridge gunshot wound on the set of his series Cover Up. Knowing his fate lends a profound poignancy to watching Making of a Male Model. This role was clearly intended as a major stepping stone, showcasing his potential as a leading man. Seeing him here, so vibrant and full of promise, feels like looking at a captured moment just before an unforeseen eclipse. It’s a stark reminder of the fragility behind the manufactured image, a theme the film itself touches upon, albeit with less devastating weight.

Directed by Don Taylor, whose eclectic filmography surprisingly includes sci-fi like Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) and horror like Damien: Omen II (1978), Making of a Male Model doesn’t exactly offer a gritty exposé. Penned by seasoned TV writers A.J. Carothers, Stephen Karpf, and Elinor Karpf, it sticks fairly close to the expected TV movie formula: heightened emotions, clear-cut conflicts, and a resolution that provides closure, if not deep insight. The depiction of the modeling world feels more like a glamorous fantasy – think dramatic photo shoots and luxurious parties – than a rigorous documentary.

Yet, within that framework, it touches on genuine anxieties. What happens when your identity becomes solely defined by your appearance? How do you navigate relationships when everyone seems to want something from you? The film asks these questions, even if its answers remain somewhat superficial, softened by the inherent requirements of prime-time entertainment. It’s interesting to note that the concept of the male "supermodel" was still relatively new in '83; the film capitalizes on that burgeoning cultural fascination. Did anyone else spend hours flipping through fashion magazines back then, wondering about the lives behind those perfect faces? This movie tapped right into that curiosity.

Part of the charm, undeniably, is its status as a time capsule. The fashion, the hairstyles, the synth-heavy score – it’s all gloriously, unapologetically early 80s. I recall catching this on its original broadcast, likely nestled between commercials for products long since vanished from shelves. There was a certain event-like quality to these glossy TV movies starring big names. They were designed to be talked about the next day. Does it hold up as high art? Of course not. But as a slice of Reagan-era pop culture, a vehicle for two very different but compelling stars, and a poignant reminder of a talent lost too soon, it retains a unique fascination.

Making of a Male Model earns its score primarily through the potent combination of Joan Collins's star power at its absolute peak and the magnetic, tragically brief presence of Jon-Erik Hexum. The story itself is standard TV movie fare, predictable but executed with enough glossy conviction to remain watchable. Its value now lies significantly in its nostalgic appeal and the unavoidable poignancy surrounding Hexum's performance. It’s a fascinating snapshot – less for its exploration of the modeling world, and more for capturing a specific moment in television history and the fleeting trajectory of a star who burned brightly, but far too briefly. What lingers most isn't the drama on screen, but the echo of what might have been.