It’s Pride month in Toronto and while for many, that means the one time of the year to celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, for some of us (particularly those of the community) it’s more so a month where there’s a spotlight or amplification of the pride we feel, and work that’s done, all year round. Drag queens get booked up, there’s a countless number of “pride parties,” “inclusive advertising campaigns,” and in some unfortunate cases, rainbow washing by corporations that stick out like a sore thumb. We can’t be fooled. But luckily for the queens and us queers–especially coming out of a dry spout during COVID–there is work and opportunities popping up from all sides. While great to get the attention, opportunity, and business, for many, it comes with challenges of working with the mainstream community that doesn’t always understand the nuances of working with drag queens, for example… and it’s amazing individuals like, Marc Andrew Smith (a stylist and creative director), that simply cannot just sit around and watch that happen.
Luckily for these drag queens, there’s Marc Andrew Smith’s outspoken nature, commitment and drive for not only helping clients get the job done, but protecting these queens and ensuring that they’re treated and respected as they deserve. But his amazing work doesn’t stop there… he’s up to incredible things and we can’t wait to share.
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Where it all began for Marc Andrew Smith
It’s times like this, when we get to have these conversations that we are often reminded how truly diverse Toronto really is, and the talent that it attracts from all over. In this case, Smith moved to Toronto from the small city of Saskatoon, SK. He shares that, “as a kid I always liked the idea of being able to dress up and express myself through [what I wore].” Where he explains that when first moving to Toronto, he wasn’t in fashion. In fact, it wasn’t until moving here that he met his friend, who is a photographer, and “he would take my photo, and we kind of started getting creative with what kind of shoots we wanted to do and we couldn’t really find anyone else to kind of jive with us on that level. So we ended up just doing it ourselves and that kind of led into bigger shoots and [doing] more wardrobe [styling].”
But he explains, his approach to fashion, isn’t just fashion…it’s costuming and breaking the mainstream mold because he likes a lot of, “creative, strange, corky things.” Which he likes to express through his work and his styling. Yes he includes fashion elements to it, but also incorporates fun creativity, that requires imagination, period exploring, and some off the cuff “crazy things,” as he put it. So as I continued in my career, I have always made sure to fuel that passion and creativity through producing fun creative shoots that allowed him to express himself, and eventually that work expanded and styling became his full-time work. Fast forward 13-14 years and he’s now working on some amazing projects, with global brands, performing artists and more.
A double creative threat: both a stylist and creative director
Through our conversations, and even on set, it was prevalent that Marc Andrew Smith’s creativity and ability to channel that creative mind on set is one of his strengths. He’s not just a stylist. He’s a creative. But he knows his place and has gained the experience and set etiquette to be able to do his job and contribute to the creative vision, without stepping on any toes. Something that can be quite challenging, particularly on larger sets. He explains that when working in larger scale productions, particularly on the commercial and advertising side, it really taught him, how to take a step back, know his place onset, and stick to his lane. Which allows him to focus on what he’s there to do and do it the best he can.
But then he also takes the opportunity when he has the flexibility to contribute to the bigger picture and he doesn’t hold back.
“As a creative director, it allows me to take a step back, still work on the styling, but also on how we can achieve the overall visual we’re aiming for.”
Marc Andrew SMith, Stylist & Creative Director
While integrating the key messaging they’re trying to convey as the creative director into other parts of the shoot besides just the wardrobe and the styling, “it kind of gave me a broader brush,” says Smith.
Something that really hit home and resonated with us, while chatting with Smith was how he explains that as a stylist and creative director in Canada, you end up needing to really diversify your expertise. You can’t be just a fashion stylist, or commercial stylist, because there isn’t enough work. If you want to thrive and stay busy, you end up working on a variety of projects, and want to be able to work on any type of styling project. And when a dry spell comes along, or maybe he’s getting a lot of one type of projects, like advertising or commercial work, for example (which many times is less exciting to style), he takes the liberty to produce his own creative shoots to “keep my brain creative and always kind of like ready for the next thing,” he explains. Of which I could not agree and resonate with more.
creative shoots allow me to still feed that inner child in me and really immerse myself in what I love to do, more than just wardrobe styling.
Marc Andrew Smith, Stylist & Creative Director
While on set, having the ability to channel the creative director inside him, even if he’s on set specifically for styling and he gets an opportunity to make a suggestion to the team, and it’s implemented and helps achieve the overall goal… he expressed how much he loves that, and how gratifying it is.
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Working with Canada’s leading Drag Queens
Both being close friends and even roommates (of nearly 14-years) with a drag queen definitely helps. “Tynomi Banks and I are dear, dear, dear friends and I get to be like an art director meets creative director [meets wrangler],” says Marc Andrew Smith. After Tynomi was on Season One of Canada’s Drag Race (and already being such a big name in the Toronto drag community), it came with a lot of media attention and the requests came flooding in–which I can only imagine. So luckily for Tynomi, Smith stepped up as the creative director and some what of a wrangler or gatekeeper (if you will, as she has a manager too).
Drag queens are use to performing at bars, clubs and dealing with nightlife and events, he explained. And until recently, with the spotlight given to them through mainstream media via these new shows (thanks to RuPaul), they now have a larger platform. It’s a lot for them to process and work with, so that’s where Marc Andrew Smith comes in. He helps them align with the brands that want to work with them. Kind of like the mediator. “To figure out, okay, so if you want us to do this campaign,” says Smith. “How can we do that but still keep it within Tynomi’s brand?” And then he’ll come up with concepts and ideas, as well as pulling together the creative team to then execute it all for the client as well too. From working on the shoot direction, styling and editing, to the captions and more. “Being their creative mind behind the scenes,” says Smith. “I’ll let the manager and the agents do their job, but lend my support to the queen as they need it.” Whether that’s with Tynomi or any queen, as he said, helping to bridge the two worlds, of brands/commercial work, and the drag community.
No shade, I’m sure, but…
A lot of times, clients need a little bit of a crash course in what it means [or what it’s like] to work with a drag queen.
Mark Andrew Smith. Stylist and Creative Director
Smith explained that many times, drag queens get hired for a shoot much like a female model would be hired. But there are so many things that need to be considered and kept in mind when working with drag queens, that is very different than working with a female model. For example, how long it takes for them to get ready, how the lighting should/can be, how you should approach a shoot with a drag queen. Many different things that impact a queen’s confidence when walking on to set which he says that is the number one thing to ensure. It’s also vital that they feel like the people that are there, are there to help them achieve the goal…which is to look good, and have the overall visual and message to be delivered. “So I’m very involved with that process, kind of like a mediator,” says Marc Andrew Smith. “I know the drag world very well and I know the advertising world.” Making him the perfect candidate for marrying both worlds…
doing what’s best for the queen, while also satisfying the advertiser/editorial or client needs.
Marc Andrew Smith, Stylist and Creative Director
Clearly something that Smith is truly passionate about, and thrives with. Considering he’s worked with some of Canada’s (if not global) leading drag talent, like Tynomi Banks, but also Brooke Lynn Hytes (one of the hosts of Canada’s Drag Race), Priyanka (the winner of Season One of Canada’s Drag Race), Willam, and many others from the Drag Race franchise. But also local queens that work at bars and clubs here in Toronto. Bringing them new and cool opportunities, because now he’s tapped to style and/or produce or even direct shoots that involve or showcase drag queens, so he turns to the community to source the right queens that would be a fit. Whether that’s a local Toronto queen, rising star, or one of the bigger names he’s worked with.
“I’ve casted local queens for really fun projects, like a couple of years ago with Netflix,” says Smith. “As well as some fun projects with different musical artists, like one I worked on for Orville Peck, where we did a spread for Attitude magazine, where we got two local Toronto queens included for that.”
When I cast a queen, I work with her, I figure out a way [to ensure] that she’s happy and [feels like] we made her look amazing, and that we convey the message the client wants.
Marc Andrew Smith, Stylist & Creative Director
All things that need to be considered, and that’s one of Marc Andrew Smith’s strengths, so he helps navigate that.
Smith’s Mentor: International celebrated photographer, Matt Barnes
Surprisingly, Smith says he never really had a fashion or styling mentor. He never really got the opportunity to work with someone else, or assist someone in the field prior to entering it. He had been on set and exposed to the different roles, but had never actually worked directly with someone in wardrobe or styling prior to doing it himself. “I knew set etiquette and I knew how to be on set, but I never really had someone to teach me the ropes,” he explains. “I really had to learn as I went.”
But, someone who has definitely impacted his career, and who he would say has offered him a competitive edge, by being able to learn and be exposed to a whole other side of the production…and lens, if you will, is internationally celebrated photographer, Matt Barnes. Smith emphasized that, Barnes was at a point in his career where you know he could have hired anyone…and he clearly saw something in Marc Andrew Smith, and possibly valued their friendship enough to want to help nurture his craft, “and really kind of help me get to where I am today,” as he put it. For example by spending time together, shooting, being on set, investing his energy, over years of shooting before Smith truly got started, and he eventually hit the-ground running, thanks to him.
“Matt Barnes taught me so much and it’s nice because you get an outside perspective. Not a stylist teaching you style, but a [celebrated] photographer giving you feedback…I think that that [really] gives me an edge,” says Marc Andrew Smith. “Which trained me to have a bit of a different eye, because I’m always supercritical of the whole overall image…as well as the styling. So that’s kind of where maybe my styling sets me apart, a little bit, because I don’t really just focus on solely styling…if that makes sense.” He definitely does…and it certainly gives him a competitive edge.
What’s next for Marc Andrew Smith?
Although he couldn’t easily divulge all of the cool projects he’s working on… we were able to get some insight on some super exciting projects that were on the cusp of dropping that would align with this story’s release date. So much so, we struggled to lock him down for a shoot and interview, but he thankfully was able to fit us in his crazy schedule and make this happen.
Working with Drake
One of the projects he was so stoked about, was working on a video for Future and Drake, where he was brought on as a second stylist, working along side Caitlin Wright as the wardrobe lead, that dropped and Wright shared on her Instagram on Sunday.
Is there anything bigger than working with Drake? We can’t even fathom…
“I’m a kid from Saskatchewan who moved to Toronto, didn’t really know what I was going to do, started off in this industry [with no formal training or mentorship], and I’m a queer.”
Marc Andrew Smith, Stylist & Creative Director
And the fact that he’s now working on sets with people like Drake and this incredible line of talent and creatives, definitely has taken him aback, if you will.
“The fact that there’s multiple queer people working on a Drake set, and not just once, but like rehired to do more is so cool to me,” says Smith.
“in an industry [like the music industry], that doesn’t necessarily cater to, or make queer people feel accepted [at times]…”
Marc Andrew Smith, Stylist & Creative Director
“To see that this production company (Fela, and Director X), and that an artist like Drake, is willing to, not only hire us once, but love what we do and hire us again. To me that’s really cool, and super powerful. It’s the kind of thing you never really hear about.” True inclusivity.
“I know hip hop is changing a lot, but the fact that, Drake (one of the world’s leading artists) specifically has this affinity with Toronto and is willing to invest in local talent,” expresses Smith, “is amazing. These videos are very based on wardrobe–if that makes sense. So the fact that he (and the team) trust us to help in conveying his message, is extremely cool…and I think that, the further we go on this path… I never would have thought I would be doing this. Working with Drake? Like what? Never would I have thought… because it’s just such a small industry, and community. And I’m, and queer people, are not normally a part of that world…the music world…and to see that changing, and be part of it, is really cool.”
I’m not even surprised to hear that he says it was a long, arduous, production with so many layers, hours, and sweat put into it… but also explain how gratifying and rewarding it is to have the ability to even have that kind of platform–and be apart of something as big as a multi-platinum recording artists music video, for the world to see.
“As a stylist, many times, you work on amazing projects, but something on this scale, with this level of marketing behind it, and the push it will get… you don’t normally get that kind of validation,” says Marc Andrew Smith. “So when your work is like literally put out for the whole world to see, whether they like it or not, that doesn’t matter to me. If I like it, I like it, and that’s what matters…kind of thing, but it’s all pretty amazing and surreal.”
But also goes on to explain, “at the end, when you can actually take a step back and appreciate what you did and admire, the people you worked with and you realize it…it’s so crazy how many people it takes to make something like this happen. But once you can step back and kind of like breathe and take it all in, it’s amazing. You’re just in awe…like, we did that? We killed it!” It truly is surreal, and I have yet to even experience a production of that level, and can only imagine the satisfaction of it all.
Celebrating Inclusivity, and what Pride month means to him
Smith says, “Pride for me is just living authentically in my [own] skin. I’m not just talking about being, you know, a gay man…it’s more than that. It definitely is part of who I am. But I think as a gay man…”
living in your skin and being your own authentic self is the definition of pride.
Marc Andrew Smith, Stylist & Creative Director
“And as far as celebrating the month of June [pride month], it’s very important, and I think, we definitely need to see our allies come together to support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. But for me, I don’t necessarily see it [like that], because I’m like I have been saying/doing it all year. So, it’s [more of] a celebratory month, more than a, ‘I’m going to be prouder this month,’ moment…if that makes sense.” And it sure does. I agree with him that it’s nice to see people come together, no matter what they want to get out of something…we get to see our community celebrated, and whether that means you’re just going to a bunch of parties, like cool, but if it’s more of a time for you to proudly and loudly express your sexuality, or your support for the community, then that cool too. As Smith so greatly put, “at least it’s with good intentions and I think the more normalized we can have these things, the better it is.”
Unfortunately, as we both agree, some brands just sadly like to “Rainbow Wash” everything for pride, and the community, we see through that. Because if it’s June, and they act like they’re the number one ally, but then July comes along and they’ve moved on and forgotten all about us, then we see that and the community will call it out for what it is.
“But one thing that I so love to see, and very proud to be part of it and live here in Toronto,” says Smith, “which is such like a city that is more forward thinking. Our community is everywhere. It’s not just sequestered to the village, you’ll find queer people [come together] everywhere. There’s bars that are queer-friendly, and even some that do gay and lesbian nights all over the city. That is something that I am very, very, very thankful for, and proud of…especially coming from somewhere like Saskatoon, SK, where although it has come a long way, but it’s still a smaller city, with a small city mentality. So living in Toronto, I am very blessed that I’m allowed to live my authentic self in such a huge city where there’s so many people, that if someone has a problem with me, like there’s millions of people here like you know, it doesn’t make me feel nervous or singled out.”
I just don’t understand why anyone would make it harder for other people just to live and be themselves
Marc Andrew Smith, Stylist & Creative DIrector
Pride month, as Smith so well put…isn’t just for our community, it’s also for those outside of the community; the allies. For everyone to come together, rally behind and support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Toronto and really make people from the community feel accepted, included, and apart of something.
Any advice for the younger queer generation?
“I think, the best advice I can offer is to just let yourself understand who you are and then just give yourself time to grow into your body and accept it for what it is. There’s things you won’t ever be able to change as much as you try. Be an ally to people who need it…stand-up for people who need your help. Sometimes people need someone’s help and like silence is compliance. At the end of the day, if you’re witnessing something and you don’t say anything, who are you helping? The aggressor! Period.”
“The nice thing that I’m seeing is the younger generation seems to be very in-tune with discrimination and wanting equality, and that’s like a big thing for this generation that’s coming up, of which I’m like really excited about because I feel like that’s going to give opportunities to so many. Like some of the most creative people in the world will never be able to get their ideas out there because of, you know, society and discrimination. So I think, hopefully this will change that for this new generation, because they realize how important everyone’s voices are, not just a couple [of select voices].”
Silence is compliance.
Marc Andrew Smith, Stylist & Creative Director
“With the internet and social media [today],” says Smith, “youth are now able to be more confident. And a lot of these people, who were never confident, are now able to nurture their craft, confidently gain an audience online of other like-minded people, who feel the exact same way as they do.”
Favourite Pride events in Toronto
“I always love Green Space at The 519, said Marc Andrew Smith. “I think they do really cool programming, it’s free, and it’s accessible to everyone. They do like Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday parties, and Thursday night is “Starry Night” and they’re bringing a lot of outside talent and I believe Geri [Spice] is going to be there. It’s always full of, really great performers. And it’s for the 519, and any of the money that’s used to buy drinks or this or that goes towards them–which is great to support.”
Marc Andrew Smith’s Toronto Pride
Smith says that he loves food and that Toronto has so many great options that make it so hard to choose a fave. Smith has been living in the St. Lawrence Market area, which he loves and has lived in for nearly 14-years, in the same apartment (that says a lot). “I love it, it’s so great,” says Smith. “I can get everywhere I want to go so quick.”
As far as restaurants go, some of his favourite hotspots include, Bar Raval on College St. (the epicentre of Toronto’s great eats), for their food more than their drinks. Another good spot he mentions is Seoul Shakers, a Korean street food fusion spot on Bloor Street W. “It’s so fricken good,” says Smith, “oh my god!” And one last favourite he couldn’t help but mention was a cute little spot, that I wasn’t even aware of, Donna’s on Lansdowne. He raved about Donna’s and now I cannot wait to go check out.
When it comes to Toronto designers, he has many favourites, but a couple of his top faves include Mikhael Kale, Gorm Garms, and Greta Constantine. One other designer he definitely also harped about on set, and rightfully so (although not from Toronto), is Patrick Church, which he sports in one of the shots along side model, Seth Falk, who is also wearing one of their thong underwear.
Credits
Producer, and Creative/Art Direction and words by: STEVEN BRANCO, interview as told to MERRILL FLYNN; Photography: NICK MERZETTI; Hair: DUYEN HUYHN; Makeup: LOU SWINDEN-PAYNE; Styling/Wardrobe: MARC ANDREW SMITH; And a very special thank you to our supporting talent, TYNOMI BANKS and SETH FALK, and our location, THE HARTLY on King Street W.
Originally published: June 8, 2022
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