Peter Sun Interview

By SOV Staff (January 22, 2008)

Peter Sun leads nothing less than a full life. Having been a male model for the past 10 years in Vancouver he has worked for local clients and has been represented by international model agencies. His agent, Carmen Vars at John Casablancas International in Vancouver claims that his success is largely due to his excellent attitude. “Peter has always been a go-getter. He knows what he wants and he empowers himself to make great things happen.” His ambition has paid off. Peter has been featured in magazines that include NUVO, Vancouver Magazine, Glamour, and POP. In addition to his successes in fashion, he was involved with the Vancouver Board of Trade’s Leaders of Tomorrow Program both as a student and as an executive. Peter has been an active citizen in the community and was a recipient of a Prospera Credit Union Educational Award and a Coast Capital Savings Citizenship Award. Between trips abroad for modeling assignments he earned a master’s degree from the University of British Columbia. We caught up with Peter to learn more:

 

Has Vancouver always been your home?

Yes! Well, Vancouver and Burnaby. After traveling a bit, you come to realize what a fantastic city Vancouver is!

 

Where have you traveled to?

Well, I’ve been to New York, Milan, and Taipei for modeling and I’ve made trips to Tokyo and Paris as well.

 

What was your favorite city?

It’s really hard to pick a single city because they are all so different. Europe was fun but working in Taipei was eye opening. Over there people can work six days a week and business is conducted at a much faster pace. The culture is fascinating and the shopping and food is out of this world. I actually signed up for Chinese school when I was there. I was the oldest student in the class—probably by 10 years! It was so bizarre to be competing for grades with eight-year-olds!

 

That is funny! And how was modeling in Taipei?

It was really fun but also challenging. It’s sometimes hard to communicate with the locals and clients. Once I took the wrong bus and ended up on some rural hill when I was supposed to be meeting my agent for lunch! I had to call her to tell her that I was lost and there was a goat standing next to the payphone.

 

Oh my! What was your craziest job?

I did a TV commercial and the client wanted me to rollerblade across this courtyard. The client kept pointing to the rollerblades and I kept telling him that I was a size 11. Well, it turns out that he wanted me to rollerblade using a pair of size 7s.

 

What did you do?

Well, they were the only pair so I did it. I rollerbladed forwards and backwards! Don’t tell my podiatrist!

 

You must meet some interesting people in your business!

Yes for sure! Once I showed up at a magazine shoot in Vancouver and the other model turned out to be my classmate, Tricia, from grade 2. Both she and I were both the tallest in our class in grade 2 but I’m sure that neither of us expected that we’d meet again at a fashion shoot over a decade later.

 

And what modeling job have you found to be the most fun?

They are all pretty fun. It’s a lot about the other models and the vibe on set. I have a friend, Lauren, and she and I must have done 5 or 6 jobs together by coincidence. She’s a blast to work with. Or sometimes it’s the client and crew that really make it. Urban Outfitters shoot stands out as a fun one.

 

Changing the subject now, tell me about the work with the Vancouver Board of Trade’s Leaders of Tomorrow program (LOT). How did you get involved with that?

Well, I applied for the program online and was matched up with my mentor, Bruce Okabe, who was the VP of TELUS at that time. It was such a fantastic experience that the following year, I returned as an executive and was able to help develop the program.

 

What did you do as an executive for LOT?

I created partnerships with non-profit organizations in the community so that LOT students could do projects with the organizations. There was the Greater Vancouver Food bank Society, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement of British Columbia, and the Salvation Army. They are all fantastic organizations that make significant and meaningful contributions to our community.

 

Well, it sounds like you’ve done some really interesting things. Last question: what advice do you have for anyone looking to get into modeling?
The business is not right for everyone and people often forget that it is in fact a business that involves hard work, perseverance and in many cases luck! Genetic luck! You have to have a pretty thick skin. Also success doesn’t happen over night and is not always measured by a hefty paycheck. It can be really fun but you have to bring personality and charisma to each casting or job. Clients and photographers feed off your energy and nine times out of ten, it’s what will get you booked over someone else.

 

Good luck!