I had the pleasure of meeting Stefan at RT 2009!

> What’s your name and what do you do?
Stefan Pinto. I am an actor and a writer. I also enjoy photography and graphic design.

> Before entering the Mr. Romance contest, you did some modeling. How did you get started doing that, and what do you enjoy best about it?
It was by accident, really. About four years ago, I was walked into a Whole Foods supermarket to buy lunch. It was there, a model scout handed me her card and suggested I stop by the office. Naturally, I didn’t think she was for real. I wrote about that on my blog

> *have you ever been asked to model for photographs you thought would turn out awful, but instead were really great, or vice versa?
Yes, my first photo shoot. I had never really modeled for a professional photographer before. I had no idea what I was doing. He taught me how to pose, to hold my head, to stand, etc. When I saw the photos, I realized how good of a photographer he was, ha ha. It was there I discovered the value of lighting!

> *do you usually like the results of your photo sessions?
Usually, yes. You really have to trust the photographer. They can make your career! There are several photographers that I have worked with more than once, whose technique put me at ease, and I completely trust that the photos will be brilliant. If you don’t trust the photographer, that discomfort will show in the photos.

> *do you prefer to have input into the session, or are you content to allow the photographer to dictate?
It depends on the job. If you’re shooting for something specific, then you can’t really make a suggestion. The client is paying, so you’re just the breathing mannequin. When I shot with Justin Monroe, it was all his creativity. There was no way I would have come up with the concept of having me dressed as a frisky King Louis. The pictures turned out incredible. I trusted him. They were included in his coffee table book, “Down the Rabbit Hole.” You can read about that adventure here: http://bit.ly/eq6gv

> *what do you hope to gain/do/become through modeling?
When I first started modeling, of course it was all about being in a magazine. But now, I’m not so sure anymore. That doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. How does that really “affect” someone? How does that change someone’s life for the better? Lately, I have come to realize that all of us have unique talents. Sure there are other models, other actors, other writers, but only I can model in my way, act in my way, write in my style. Modeling can be somewhat delusional. It is important that you have a goal to do something with it other than “hey, look at me!” I hope one day to be able to affect people and make them feel better about themselves. Perhaps this is why I started writing my column? I don’t know. I hope so.

> Tell us about your decision to enter the Mr. Romance contest — any special reasons you thought it would be a good idea?
A friend runs a PR firm in New York and receives RT magazine. He suggested I send two photos. Honestly, I was quite surprised when they notified me that I was a contestant. You have to understand, I was once an overweight, acne faced, buck toothed, glasses wearing geeky guy. Here I was, participating in, for all intents and purposes, a beauty contest. It was all quite fantastical. Naturally, the idea of winning seemed grand, but it wasn’t until I “let go” of the outcome, that I was able to really enjoy the opportunity. It was only then that I felt comfortable and connected with the people that I still keep in touch with.

> What sort of preparation did you do for the contest?
Looking back, I wish I had researched the authors that would be attending. The amount of people that were in attendance were initially overwhelming. I was forgetting everyone’s name, everyone seemed to remember mine. Thankfully, my sister, who came along for emotional support was a rock of positive energy. She remembered everyone we met. The funny thing is, it really did all work out just fine; during the “author’s pavilion” I walked around and was able to engage the authors and get to know them some more. I don’t think I campaigned once for my title. I wanted to know about them. See their work. Hold the books. That was very enjoyable to me.

> Tell us about your favorite RT moment!
I think I answered it, but looking back some more, it would be the night of the Fairy Ball. It was the first “formal” dinner night and the contestants had to sit at separate tables and engage their fellow diners. We weren’t allowed to sit together. I found myself at the Dorchester table. Of course, I had no idea how much I would enjoy this night and the people I would meet. I wore my white, Cary Grant dinner jacket! I love that jacket. I always feel like a 50s movie star when I wear it.

> Anything about participating in the contest that surprised you?
Yes; the other contestants. I did not think we would all get along. I heard someone say that we seemed like friends. Maybe we were. I think if any of us needed to borrow a shirt or needed help, any one of us would pitch in to help. That was a refreshing blessing.

> Anything that you thought would make you nervous, but didn’t, or vice versa?
Sigh, that night we were dressed as Spartans. It’s not that I felt silly in the outfit; I didn’t. I actually still have it! It was just that I could feel the nervousness from the other contestants and that affected me. Although everything passed as we began interacting with the crowd, I knew that initial genesis moment of discomfort was somewhat stressful for us. Sometimes I wish I had this ability to just put people at ease by merely wishing it.

> Your website is very interesting (http://www.stefanpinto.com/hello/) and features a lot of your articles, many dealing with your journey to fitness. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
That site was built using WordPress, a blogging technology. I realized that my skills as a web designer were getting old and I could either fight and resist or accept the change and learn how to adapt. I chose the latter, learned WordPress and built that website. Funny thing is, I’ve always wanted to be a paid writer but didn’t ever see “how” to start. There was no impetus. I started writing that site when I was in jury duty. It was a long day, and I wrote the entry that would serve as the writing sample I would eventually submit to Examiner, that landed me my own fitness column. Life presents us with all sorts of opportunities, sometimes daily. It is really up to us to “see” them and either chose to take them or just laugh them off as a “funny coincidence.” I enjoy my adventures.

> Any advice or words of wisdom out there to people who may be starting their own fitness journey?
Trust that you know it is a journey. There is no “end.” It is all about perseverance, a topic I started on Facebook (http://bit.ly/DVv70). A lot of people want to lose weight or get six-pack abs or whatever else, without first asking why and making it a goal and then defining the reasons behind wanting to achieve this goal. It is so important that we visualize the goal, have that plan in our heads before attempting to commit to any activity, especially one as daunting as changing one’s appearance. It is easier to put it off, and ignore the voice in our heads, but the rewards can be so much more fulfilling when we do what we want to do. Who wants to look back on their lives ten or 20 years from now and wonder why they said “no” while regretting that they didn’t say “yes?” I don’t. See Stefan’s fitness articles:

> Do you have a favorite book/movie, tv show and if so, why? If not…why not?
It is a favorite for a particular point in my life. Books and movies tend to serve as a defining moment in my life. Perhaps they affect me at that time as it brings to light a certain aspect or provides clarity. Right now, I have been listening to Deepak Chopra’s “The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire.” One movie, that I recently saw, that I thought was brilliantly written, was “Infamous.” It’s the Truman Capote story on the details and events surrounding his writing “In Cold Blood.” Sandra Bullock plays his best friend Harper Lee. There’s a line in the movie that really brings to light how creative people think and where their inspiration comes from, “at the center of every bright light, there is always a touch of blue.”

> Chocolate or vanilla - chocolate; dark
> red or purple – red. Did you know that red is an affective color?
> wet or dry - wet. Obviously.
> beer or wine – wine. Although I get very drunk on wine.
> silk or corduroy – silk. Come on!
> Sam or Dean – Dean. Sam? Do you mean Samuel Taylor Coleridge? Sam who?
> Kirk or Picard - Kirk, no Picard, no Kirk.
> Superman or Batman – Bruce Wayne.
> Up or down – That’s the choice? Seriously? Up, sweetie.
> left or right – Left. I’ll tell you later.
> back or front – This is a trick question. I’ve heard that you can tell more about a person when they walk AWAY.
> inside or outside – Inside. But it depends on who’s paying and how long is the wait.

> And the final question: can you move your body like a cyclone?
Seriously Megan, where do you come up with this? Yes. Of course I can.

For more great photos of Stefan, visit http://www.pintofactory.com. Also sign up to receive his columns and adventure updates by filling out the form on the site!

Thanks. Big kiss.

–
Stefan Pinto
http://www.pintofactory.com
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/stefanpinto