Santa Paula Downtown Merchants Association President Debbie Johnson said that the shoot was “low-impact, very low-impact. It went great and everyone associated with it was really great to work with... it was a fun shoot,” especially with the premise of Barnes hitting the old hometown and “just walking around and enjoying it.”The emphasis of the fashion shoot, according to GQ (which bills itself as the “Definitive guide on how to look sharp and live smart”), is classic American style and how “all labels - no matter their nationality - are offering takes on everything from boat shoes to oxfords.” Along with a Prada shirt, Adidas sneakers, Michael Kors tennis sweater, Versace tie, Levi’s Capital E jeans (which should be called Capital $ to reflect the listed price of the $158 trousers), Moncler baseball jacket and other major name brands, sweet glimpses of Santa Paula are also seen in the color and black and white photographs featuring the actor.Published for more than 50 years, GQ (in more staid times known as Gentleman’s Quarterly) has more than 1 million loyal readers. The May issue of GQ features Robert Downey Jr. on the front cover, which proves the six degrees of separation theory, at least when it comes to Santa Paula: Downey’s 1992 film “Chaplin,” which garnered rave reviews for the actor who portrayed the premier comic genius, was partially filmed in Santa Paula.In the Barnes photos, not only are the actor and the designers recognized, the city itself even got a credit, the all lowercase “photographed on location in santa paula, california” followed by the page number to determine “where to buy it?” One can only assume GQ means only clothing and accessories.
GQ meets SP: Photo shoot featuring actor Barnes now on newsstands
May 23, 2008
Santa Paula News
Actor Ben Barnes is seen posing all over town in the May issue of GQ, which has a six-page fashion spread featuring the actor, described as poised on the edge of world fame due to his starring role in the “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.”
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesActor Ben Barnes is seen posing all over town in the May issue of GQ, which has a six-page fashion spread featuring the actor, described as poised on the edge of world fame due to his starring role in the “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.” The film, the second in a series, recently opened throughout the nation including at Santa Paula’s own Regency Theater.The British Barnes, 27 but appearing much younger, posed for GQ photographers earlier this year for the spread that mixes high price duds with reliable Timex watches. “The American Way” titled photo shoot ranged from residential areas to East Main Street, offering the actor - and Santa Paula - some great exposure.Barnes, the prince in the fantasy film’s title, even posed atop a fire hydrant near the corner of East Main and Davis streets holding a skateboard, but the shot that appears in GQ shows him sitting on the sidewalk next to the mail receptacle. Whether strolling down historic East Santa Paula Street or crossing East Main - his Ralph Lauren madras shirt mimicking like-patterned Bermuda shorts in a shop window - Barnes, and Santa Paula, look, well, American cool.
