Sweatshop25

Feldman's Park Avenue penthouse apartment became a regular venue for Sylk's SoHo Model meetings.
In early April Sylk used the apartment to host a business meeting he was taking with Richard Renda and
Laurie Schechter. Renda was the executive producer of Totally Cool Ž Broadcast News, a video and
internet company that covered the fashion industry. Schechter, Renda's frequent collaborator, was a
fashion fixture in her own right, being a well-known Editor who formerly worked at Vogue.

With Baker's contract in hand Sylk called up Ed Feldman and filled him in on Baum Multimedia. If

anything Feldman was more enthusiastic about the project than before. The thought of models and internet
concubines working side by side caused Feldman's lecherous mind to race. He immediately offered to

front the money Sylk needed to get SoHo Models off the ground. Although never intending to back him

financially, Feldman probably had the money to do it. With the loan shark interest rates he charged over

the years to modeling agencies (seven points off the top and two more points after 30 days) Feldman had
sufficient funds in the bank. He also had made money from a liquor distribution company he owned in
Philadelphia. It was this business, in fact, that supplied the capital to keep L'Image afloat in the 80s.

Feldman set up a meeting with Robert J. Hantman. An attorney whose Bleeker Street firm, Hantman &
Associates, specializes in fashion industry litigation. "Robert and I want to be partner agents together,"

says Sylk breezily. "I've got the big mouth, he's the incredible lawyer, and we both have really good

connections." Hantman disavows any partnership with Sylk. "I never received a penny from Jason. I

was never retained by him," says Hantman nervously. "I don't' get background checks on people who

are coming to speak to me." In the meeting Hantman assured Feldman and Sylk that he could recruit 5 of
the top bookers in town provided Feldman guaranteed them a $175,000 salary. He also said said he could
persuade 10 top models to defect from their present agencies to SoHo Models. Hantman, of course,

refuses to discuss any of this citing "attorney-client privilege." But if Sylk didn't in fact retain him it's

a difficult position to take. What he does say is that he cut off all contact with Sylk when he found out

about Baum Multimedia. "It creates a bad reflection on the modeling business," says Hantman. "This is

the worst possible thing because it really undermines the legitimate agencies that do exist. It's
outrageous. Unfortunately other people will get the idea that this type of behavior is common."

"After Jason sold them on the deal he gave each of them an ounce of marijuana to sweeten them up and
sent them on their merry way," says Lee Kalt. "They were both into it. The next week Jason gave Mark
Baker a $20,000 check signed by Bruce Glasser." Baker admits he received the check. And although he
didn't have to provide any consultation work in return he says Sylk got his money's worth. "He knew

nobody," says Baker incredulously. "I realized he was pimping my name a bit, as he was doing with Peter
Beard, to get in the door everywhere." He also concedes that while the con man Jason Sylk was overly
eccentric he thought there was a definite chance the SoHo Models project could work: "It was obvious he
didn't know anything about the modeling business, but he had so much energy I figured you couldn't ignore

somebody like this. One way or the other he was going to make something happen." Baker also made good
on his promise to introduce Sylk to some of the more elusive stars in the social firmament which included
hotel impresario: Ian Schrager. When Baker made the introduction however, Schrager's female dinner

companion recognized Sylk from the South Beach party scene and blurted out that he was a "jerk." Sylk
downplays the embarrassing encounter: "Baker's face dropped and my face dropped. But then I sent a

bottle of Cristal over to the table and the girl loves me, and everything was fine. It was a funny drama."

Science & Technology

New York City:

The Big Gotham

The Showroom Circuit

On The Fashion Front

Political Observations

- For Community News -

National / International

Social Issues/Concerns

Totally Cool (r) Bites

The Fashion Statement

Young Adults Concerns

Classified / Personal

Real Estate/ Housing

/ Rights / etc

The Good Read

Books & Magazines

Philosophy / Spiritual /

The Inner Self

What In The
World Is Totally
Cool (r) To You

TC Products

Special Offers

People Helping People

Footwear and Headgear

Totally Cool (r) Kids

Totally Cool Ž

The MagaZine

With Every Turn

There Is A Song.

Wait. And Adjust ...

your volume.

"The Official Editorial Authority"

For A Look Around

RED Links Are Hot !

The Music Credit:

Underdog

Turin Brakes

Astralwerks Records

Happy Birthday
From The Heart.

written by
Rene Chun

The 7th On Sixth -
C.F.D.A. Scandal

The Editors -- left, Shoes by Warren Edwards ... jeans by Levi's ... shirt by Versace ... tee shirt by
Totally ... sunglasses, out of this world -- Silhouette ... right, jeans by Levi's ... shirt by Wares ...
watch by Nautica. Photograph by Richard Spiegel. Special Thanks Bonnie Bien.