Britain's Next Top Model.
Only a week after working on the secret project for the BBC, the experts at
Blaze were contracted to provide a catwalk with a difference for the nine
contests of the new season of the show Britain's Next Top Model.
It was the fact that we at Blaze own the innovative Electric Catwalk that caught the eye of the producers of the show. They could see the potential straight away for such an exciting and unique platform upon which to host their Glasswalking challenge.
The nine contestants were very excited about the prospect of actually walking across the broken glass, which is unusual because most people have at least a moment of trepidation when offered the opportunity but these nine young women were immediately thrilled at the whole idea and wanted to get down to it straight away, without a care for their personal safety.
Naturally, they were personally trained in the correct techniques and mindset by Blaze's chief instructor Martin Sterling.
Being the most experienced Firewalking and Glasswalking instructor in all of Europe and perhaps the world, it was natural for the shows producers to have invited Sterling to over-see this potentially dangerous activity.
Sterling was first exposed to the act of Glasswalking during his long apprenticeship in the arcane side of the Martial Arts dating back to his early roots in 1968 when he was just six years old. He encountered it again many times across the years particularly in his research studies in India in 1983 and has taught it ever since.
His methods are second to none in this field and that is why he was personally selected for this task. After all, when making a show for TV, one cannot take any undue risks with the safety of the contestants. His vast experience of this ancient practice coupled with the 21st century technology encompassed in the Blaze Electric Catwalk fused together perfectly to make an amazing TV piece.
After receiving an accelerated induction personally from Sterling, and after the Electric Catwalk was tested by our personal Health and Safety expert, the nine contestants were led through across the twenty feet of razor sharp broken glass which was laid out on the Electric Catwalk.
The sound generated by their serene passage across the glasswalk, coupled with the eerie light cast up from the illumination built deep into the device lent a very other worldly cast to the entire event.
Needless to say, they ALL completed the trial without a scratch and many said afterwards that it was an experience that they would remember for the rest of their lives.
It was particularly gratifying to do this show, not only because the contestants were so receptive, but also because this season of Britain's Next Top Model will be the first one ever shown coast to coast on American TV in the summertime.
Its nice to know our work will be appreciated and shown to a worldwide audience.
(The new season of Britain's Next Top Model will be shown on Living TV, commencing in May 2007. The Glasswalking is in episode 3)
