Wooo-ooo, another multi-talented Siren, with Akasha being quite the expert in macabre photography and also in gory, stick and icky special effects! Discover the many things this European beauty as to offer!
1) What got you interested in being the subject of alternative photographers?
I happen to be a model because one of my best friends (profanArte) - back in Portugal - is a photographer and started taking photos of me. I quite liked the way I looked in photos and we started sending them to several websites. Then I expanded my modelling portfolio and I built my own website, where I expose my work as a model, photographer and SFX make-up artist.
2) You are the very first alternative Portuguese model to be in international websites; even if you're currently residing in London, are you aware of an active fetish community in Portugal?
Being from Portugal is not like being from the UK or Canada. Portugal is a closed minded country and people judge you by your appearance. If someone dresses differently from the "herd", people stare and commit verbal harassment. Most of the older generation has significantly below-average cognitive ability and hostile behaviour. The alternative scene is slowly growing, though. I'm aware that they have a Fetish Gathering Party every year and this year Kumi is going to perform but I don't know if Portugal is ready for Kumi *laughs*
3) As a model, photographer and SFX makeup artist, did you train as special schools or do you exploit an unique natural talent (or both!)?
A bit of both, I guess. While still in secondary school, I studied photography and learned the darkroom techniques. Photography is fascinating! You can say I'm old school as I started shooting with film and only five years ago I was convinced to buy a digital camera. When I moved to London, I started taking this hobby more seriously and bought myself a SLR (I'm a Nikon user). My work as a photographer is under the name of "Deville Photography" and it tends to lean towards gore, horror, the macabre, fetish, pin-up and live shows/bands.
There's no training in being a model, you just need to be confident and make silly faces at the photographers. *laughs*
The SFX make-up is a more recent skill. I always liked to watch the "making of" of the horror films. It's so interesting! So, I went on a course and on October 2007, I finished Charles Fox's "Casuality and Special-Effects" (London, UK) and I'm always excited when I create a realistic crime scene, scary prosthetics, horror characters (zombies!) or just simply lots of fake blood. I can do glamour make-up as well, but as a horror fanatic, my passion is to create shocking and powerfull gory images with my macabre imagination.
4) We're always curious to know about future tattoo work concerning our guests: any special plans for you?
Well although I'm running out of room in my body, I still have some "must have" tattoos in mind. The theme, well that's a secret...
5) You're now more involved in being on the other side of the camera; what did you discover to be more satisfying in becoming the one actually taking the shots?
Before I became a model, I was already a photographer. Being a photographer is a more chalenging skill (not that I don't like to be a poser in front of the cameras), and I always enjoy a good challenge! Being a model is limited due to age and since I don't have any plastic surgery done, it's hard to compete with fake boobs on stick teenagers, when I'm over 30. That's one of the reasons that I'm slowly leaving modelling to give a chance to the younger generation.
6) So when someone like Kumi Monster endorses your professionalism, that must mean something to you, doesn't it? (even if you dressed her up in rubber and tried to drown her in a bathtub full of popcorn!)
Kumi is a very down to earth person, very successful and such a sweetheart! It was such an honour to have worked with her! The popcorn idea was mine and it was insane! I spent four hours in front of the stove making popcorn and two liters of oil and 28 packets of popcorn later, I was able to fill the whole bathtub! She kept on eating the props *laughs* I was so happy that she wasn't a diva and I'm hoping to work with her again soon.
7) Can you elaborate a bit about the fun challenges that you like to encounter when shooting? (Big Ben and the tourists, for example)
Challenges? One was to have a photoshoot at the London Underground during rush hour (Saturday night) dressed to impress and with eight inch heels! I also posed in front of the Big Ben with a spikey boobs corset pretending London was under attack by aliens *laughs* Tourists were taking more photos of me rather than the Big Ben! But I guess the most challenging one was to be covered with mud, naked from head to toe. I was so cold and I had dirt all over my body, face, and my eyes were stinging so bad! All in the name of art!
8) Can you tell us a bit about "Devilicious Accessories"? Do you design a lot of things yourself?
Devilicious Accessories is a line of gothic accessories, mainly hair clips, which I haven't been updating the designs for a while because I have way too many hobbies to keep my mind busy. Most of the Special Effects make up and prosthetics from my photos are made from scratch by myself, like the foot on "Ravenous" photoset, the arm on "The Stepford Wife", the open throat with tendons on "The Bride of the Reanimator" and the premature baby on "Butchered at Birth".
I'm in a process of making a latex (monster) mask and other Special Effects prosthetics so keep an eye on my website for all the updates.
9) So can we deduce that you were in Canada at least once, for the Rue Morgue's Festival of Fear in August 2008? If so, any special memories?
Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to the Rue Morgue's Festival of Fear last August - although I was featured on their posters *laughs*, I promised Gary from Rue Morgue magazine that I'd go one day, so maybe this year? Let's wait and see. I love Canada! I lived in Vancouver, BC for one and a half years, I studied there and I tried to apply for an immigrant visa, but it was declined, so that's why I ended up in London.
10) So what's your favorite Dario Argento scene of all time? And is there any chance of you becoming a feature film director?
It's hard to chose the best scene from Argento or any other of my favourite horror directors! Argento's Deep Red has some amazing scenes, and the more recent one, Argento's Pelts from Masters of Horror 2, I love the scene where Meatloaf tears his own upper torso skin and makes it as a jacket! *laughs*
Me as a film director? No, I'm leaving that to my boyfriend, James Shields, who has a degree in Film and recently engaged in a Director's course with Simon Hunter (The Mutant Chronicles, Lighthouse) and he's in a process of writing a script, so it's just a matter of time in organizing the right staff and the cameras will roll soon! I'll be the special effects make-up artist.
11) You shot with Miss Lucy Fur! Isn't this a small world! Do you think that the modeling gothic/fetish community is a strong one or as anywhere in this world, there's gossip and bickering and backstabbing and finally... big hugs?
The UK alternative modeling world is very small, everyone knows each other and there is a lot of jelousy going on. I had a couple of misunderstandings about some models wanting copyright of my photos or wanting to publish my photos (as a photographer) without my consent. We kissed and made up but it's not the same anymore. Yes I'm aware that Miss Lucy Fur is also a Siren. I met her while we shot with Matt Miller two years ago, and then a couple of months later we had another photoshoot (me as a photographer). We were good friends and I wish her the best but she hurt my feelings and was a disappointment as a friend so I really don't want to talk about it.
12) How does all your work reflect on your personal life? Do you "play" a lot at intimate moments or do you relax slumped on the couch, wearing jogging pants? :-D
My free moments are spent in front of the TV playing Xbox or the Wii, and yes, wearing my confy clothes *laughs* I love playing games, either shooting zombies or playing Guitar Hero/Rock Band. I also like to go out for a meal with the boyfriend, followed by some drinks at the local metal pubs/clubs.
