For more photos and updates throughout the day, follow me on Twitter or Instagram: @KristynBurtt.
Thursday, 30 August 2012
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Wow, I just checked and saw that the last time I posted was on Friday. The last five days have been a complete blur of work and food and fun here in Munich. My quiz show hosting gig is officially over, but here are two photos of my station. I played over 200 rounds of this quiz during my days here at ESC. Holy cow! The best part is meeting people from all over the world and trying a few of my Spanish and French phrases on everyone. Hey, a girl has to practice her languages somehow! It's also fun to compare the trade shows of the U.S. versus the congresses in Europe. In Europe, they are more formal and the hostesses (known as "booth babes" in the U.S.) are all dressed up in suits. I actually like the formality of it versus the khakis and golf shirts approach. It is somehow more dignified.
Now that my Munich journey is wrapping up, I am hopping a train to the Czech Republic. Yep, I am off to Prague. Let the vacation and the shopping begin! I will be able to post more now that I am on vacation, so join me for more photos this week. My poor mom was worried when I stopped posting over the last five days, so I gave her this photo bomb on Facebook.
I am also posting more photos on Instagram: @KristynBurtt and Twitter if you want to follow along!
Friday, 24 August 2012
As you can see it was kind of a stormy day in Munich. I loved every minute of the 65 degree weather since it has been so hot in Los Angeles the past few weeks. It was welcome relief to just enjoy "fall" weather. If you know me well, then you know my first stop would be Olympic Park, site of the 1972 Games. I was so excited to be here and sit in the Olympic Stadium which is now used for soccer....er, football, you get the idea. The grounds are beautiful and lush and I even managed to see the site where Mark Spitz set the record on 7 races coming home with gold in each event. That is kind of awesome. I also went through the maze of Olympic Village and Building 31 where the Israeli athletes were kidnapped. Not so awesome. I was kind of disappointed that the memorial to the fallen athletes was small. I guess I expected something beautiful and majestic in their honor. It was more of an afterthought on the grounds. (But given the recent controversy surrounding the IOC's reluctance to honor the 40th anniversary at this year's London Games, it really should be no surprise to me.)
The stadium is still bedecked in 1970's avocado green and the rake is so steep and without rails, it would never be up to code today, at least in the US. I had sweaty palms as I walked through the upper deck praying I wouldn't trip and tumble down the steps. If you notice on the roofline, you can see people up top. They offer climbing tours and zip lining through the stadium. How very touristy, but it was fun to watch them swinging over the workers prepping the soccer/football field below. The other odd thing is that the Olympic rings are not really on display. I thought it would be decorated in rings, but I couldn't grab a photo anywhere. I took tons of photos, but I figure the stadium was enough to focus on for my photos today. Tomorrow, I shop and I work. Auf Wiedenshen
Thursday, 23 August 2012
I have to admit I have been a bit intimidated by the German language since I only know how to say "hello", "thank you", and "awesome". It's much easier in the romance language countries since I know enough Spanish and French to have a conversation, not so much here. I was worried I was going to wind up in the German countryside versus my hotel, but I am happy to report that their signage was perfect and I made it safely to my home for the next week.
I managed to grab drinks and food with my colleagues today and actually have a bit of a post-mortem meeting on the event I hosted last week in New Jersey. It's kind of weird to meet up in Munich to talk about a NJ gig, but I am not complaining. I am still amazed people are willing to fly me all over the world to host a show for them. Tomorrow begins my first day of rehearsal with a bit of sightseeing mixed in. I will be updating this site each day with a photo. Today, I leave you with my travel outfit. I honestly hate it when people take photos in the bathroom, so hopefully, this is my last, but I couldn't resist.......I looked like a homeless Olsen twin.
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Many thanks to Roni B. for making sure I had my signature hat for my trip!
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Last week, I saw a fellow host post this message on Twitter:
As you can see, I retweeted it with my own message and another host responded with her thoughts. With the recent boom in online content, this has become a recurring theme and I thought it was one worthy of exploring. When should you work for free? When should you stop working for free?
Working for free is a good idea if.......
1. Reel: You need material for your reel whether it is for an acting, host, choreography, or directing reel. If you need the footage and this project will add dimension to your portfolio of work, then get on that set and start working.
2. Prestige: The prestige project is an opportunity to jump at whether it is working with a mentor in the business, a celebrity, or a buzzworthy script. It might get you some great press, add new contacts to your address book, and give you some bragging rights that you worked on that piece.
3. Charity: From time to time, you may be asked to perform to benefit a charity. Why would you ever say "no" to helping others? I rest my case.
Working for free is a bad idea if......
1. Zero Return: If you have already done a similar project, worked with the same people (and didn't enjoy the experience), or have enough of that genre on your reel. It's time to ask for a paycheck. You have proven your worth in this area, you should be paid for your time.
2. On-Camera Talent: Ah, the creative ones. We are always afraid we will never work again, but it's time we put our foot down on this. While many of the people behind the camera are getting paid, you agreed to work for free. It's a business, people. It's time to use your business acumen and get paid for your work. Like the tweet above states, you are driving rates down for everyone because you are THAT person who will always work for free.
3. Brand: It devalues your brand. You become the always available, always willing to work, and always FREE talent. You cheapen your worth. Don't be that person.
It's understandable in this era of start-ups and online budgets that you may not get your standard TV/Film rates, but it's time you stand up for your work and your worth. Create a rate card with your standard rates to have handy when clients ask. I always believe that rates are negotiable based on the budget on a project to project basis. This is not about trying to make as much money as possible, this is about creating a career filled with meaning and worth that makes sense for your brand.
What are your thoughts on working for free? Is it hurting the entertainment industry? I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic, so comment below or on Twitter, Facebook, or Google +.
Disclaimer: Of course I have worked for free in my career, but I am noticing a trend in the entertainment industry that is a slippery slope to working for free all of the time. Don't do it.
As you can see, I retweeted it with my own message and another host responded with her thoughts. With the recent boom in online content, this has become a recurring theme and I thought it was one worthy of exploring. When should you work for free? When should you stop working for free?
Working for free is a good idea if.......
1. Reel: You need material for your reel whether it is for an acting, host, choreography, or directing reel. If you need the footage and this project will add dimension to your portfolio of work, then get on that set and start working.
2. Prestige: The prestige project is an opportunity to jump at whether it is working with a mentor in the business, a celebrity, or a buzzworthy script. It might get you some great press, add new contacts to your address book, and give you some bragging rights that you worked on that piece.
3. Charity: From time to time, you may be asked to perform to benefit a charity. Why would you ever say "no" to helping others? I rest my case.
Image courtesy of Pink Elephant Academy
1. Zero Return: If you have already done a similar project, worked with the same people (and didn't enjoy the experience), or have enough of that genre on your reel. It's time to ask for a paycheck. You have proven your worth in this area, you should be paid for your time.
2. On-Camera Talent: Ah, the creative ones. We are always afraid we will never work again, but it's time we put our foot down on this. While many of the people behind the camera are getting paid, you agreed to work for free. It's a business, people. It's time to use your business acumen and get paid for your work. Like the tweet above states, you are driving rates down for everyone because you are THAT person who will always work for free.
3. Brand: It devalues your brand. You become the always available, always willing to work, and always FREE talent. You cheapen your worth. Don't be that person.
It's understandable in this era of start-ups and online budgets that you may not get your standard TV/Film rates, but it's time you stand up for your work and your worth. Create a rate card with your standard rates to have handy when clients ask. I always believe that rates are negotiable based on the budget on a project to project basis. This is not about trying to make as much money as possible, this is about creating a career filled with meaning and worth that makes sense for your brand.
What are your thoughts on working for free? Is it hurting the entertainment industry? I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic, so comment below or on Twitter, Facebook, or Google +.
Disclaimer: Of course I have worked for free in my career, but I am noticing a trend in the entertainment industry that is a slippery slope to working for free all of the time. Don't do it.
Monday, 20 August 2012
A huge thanks to Yuri Lowenthal of Shelf Life and Ben-10 for stepping in at the last minute as a guest on Behind The Red Carpet Live today on Spreecast. If you missed the show, you can watch it below. We chatted about Tony Scott's iconic movies, Phyllis Diller, Lisa Whelchel on Survivor, and even the hypocrisy surrounding male and female celebs in the media......yep, Jennifer Aniston versus George Clooney.
What are your thoughts on today's hot topics?
Bill Irwin and me. For further explanation, see my Facebook page.
To try and sum up last week would take a lot of explaining, so I am going to sum it up with a few words and more photos instead. It just was a really great week that defied my own personal and professional expectations. It's not often you get those opportunities, so you have to cherish and relish them at the same time. Here we go.......
A better shot of the look, minus the shoes.
With Chris Mulkey and Reamy Hall after the Q&A for Vampire Mob that I moderated. I don't know Reamy very well, but I feel like we should go out for Happy Hour. She's kind of awesome like that.
Photo courtesy of Vampire Mob.
The Web Files team rides again! Should we start a rumor? Here with Sandra and Perry Payne.
I like this shot because it is moody.
I went home and then someone called me back out to play. Along the way, I met Jesus. No, I'm serious, Jesus. Then the photo went viral. Read the story.
I "might" have stayed out all night thanks Bar Marmont and Mel's Diner. While Ryan Seacrest was starting his radio show, I was heading home. It was fun......but I did have an interview about 6 hours later where I ran into an iguana. We posed for photos.
This week stands to be just as much fun. Can you say Munich? What does this week have in store for you? Share in the comments below! I want to hear what you are up to.
Don't forget about Media Mondays:
6:30PM PT/9:30PM ET: Behind The Red Carpet Live on Spreecast.
7:35PM PT/10:35PM ET: Driving With Gass talking entertainment news with Kevin Gassman and Cindy Love. Listen in at KWSS.org. #RadioBurtt on Twitter.
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
You can listen to the interview here or you can read the transcript below.
INTRO
Michael London: Hi, I’m Michael London and welcome to Spidcast, the future of collaborative video production brought to you by Indie Source Magazine where they believe free is better and I like the way they think.
Hey, it’s ladies’ day on Spidcast and on this episode we’re talking with entertainment reporter and host Kristyn Burrt and also Kai will be here. She’s an actress and filmmaker with a very cool web series and production and she has some other stories to tell as well.
What do you say? Let’s jump right in. First up is Kristyn Burtt. Kristyn, welcome to Spidcast.
Kristyn Burtt: Thanks for having me.
Michael London: Kristyn, if you would, give us a little Reader’s Digest version. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Kristyn Burtt: Sure. Well, I’m an entertainment reporter and host here in Los Angeles and I work on the red carpet. I do a lot of press junkets. But my favorite thing to do is sort of demystifying Hollywood and what goes on behind the red carpet. Hollywood is a bunch of smoke and mirrors and we really shouldn’t buy into all of it and I think that’s the real main thing that I love to sort of get in there and tell people the real secret behind Hollywood.
Michael London: So that being said, tell us one great secret.
Kristyn Burtt: One good secret?
Michael London: Yes.
Kristyn Burtt: You know, I think my favorite thing, and this is for women out there, you really shouldn’t buy into how everyone looks and think I should look like that. Because people have a team to make them look like that. You know, a stylist, manicurist, facialist and there’s lots of Botox going on. There’s the trainer. There’s everything like that. But if you see something in terms of, like in a magazine, everything is, you know, airbrushed and Photoshopped so I think sometimes we set ourselves up for these unrealistic images. But I am like, understand when I am on the red carpet and I see people in person, it’s the greatest equalizer out there. You see who has bad skin. You see who’s wearing the Spanx. You know that they’re just like us. There’s one or two that like freaks of nature that are like gorgeous and don’t need a thing, but most people are human and that’s what everyone needs to understand.
Michael London: So, Kristyn, you gotta know that women everywhere are saying “I love her” because they do tend to hold themselves at times way too high of a standard. So what was your path towards to what you’re doing right now?
Kristyn Burtt: I guess I took a non-traditional path and I think now if I was just graduating from college, I couldn’t do this path just because the way media has changed so much. But I was on a scholarship at NYU for dance, so my goal was to be on Broadway and that sort of changed. After I graduated, I was dancing professionally in New York but I got hired to host this children’s dance video which was how to hokey-pokey and electric slide and do the YMCA and it did extremely well so I started getting hired for host jobs and it was one of those things where I was having a lot of fun but I was also making more money in one day than I would on a two-week equity contract doing this show. And I thought hmmm, there must be something to this so I did both for a little while but I also realized that I needed some on-camera training because I was pretty enthusiastic but very raw. And I got to a point where I just thought okay, something’s going to have to give” because this dance career, you’ve got to give a 110% at all times for the physicality of it.
My agent in New York was like no, you are great. I think that you can make a go of this host career but you’re going to need you to go west. He was like because in New York, they want edgy, urban, and ethnic, and you are none of those” He was like go west, my friend, and see what happens and that’s exactly what I did.
Michael London: And then tell us a little bit about being part of this new wave of content delivery – that being the internet.
Kristyn Burtt: Yes, it’s just really fun because what I would like the most is that I can put the content out there and you get immediate reaction from people whether they like it, whether they don’t, whether they hated your questions, which I do get sometimes. But that’s a great thing because of things like Twitter and YouTube and Facebook and my site, it’s great because I can interact with people, they can ask questions about their favorite celebrity. Where, on television, you know, you kind of have to wait for it to air or it’ll only runs once and if someone missed it and they didn’t DVR it, that’s the end of it.
With web, it lives out there forever. It’s amazing to me that sometimes interviews that I had done two or three years ago, which are still out there on YouTube, people would get back to me and ask questions or Oprah writes feedback and I think that has been the most incredible thing. I love being able to interact with people because you’ll see what people like and you’ll see what people don’t like. And that can also affect your coverage because you sit there are think, well, people aren’t looking for information on the celebrity but they’re really interested in this movie or the character or this person so it really can dictate what you’re covering as a journalist.
Michael London: And Kristyn, a moment ago, you said that someone just jumping into this business right now probably couldn’t follow the same path you did. What advice would you have for those newbies just jumping in?
Kristyn Burtt: I think, now, you definitely need a broadcast journalism degree and that means that only being able to work on camera but it means also being able to write, produce, and edit your own segments. And with that whole YouTube generation, that’s what they’re looking for. They’re looking for a journalist that’s really well-rounded, that could do all jobs, and that really has a point of view. I mean, you need to have a kind of a plan, like who are you as a journalist, what you like to cover? You can’t just cover – I’ll cover a little bit of entertainment, a little bit of politics, a little bit of international news. You need to focus on something, go for it and really get out there and create a name for yourself.
That includes doing internships that includes getting there on social media and starting to build that social media young. Start building it out there when you’re 18 years old so that by the time you graduate, you can say oh, I have five thousand followers on Twitter; oh, I have, you know, a thousand people that follow me on the Facebook page or Instagram, or whatever it is. Because this is the wave of the future and this is the direction that media is going.
Michael London: Let me ask you about Jesse Ventura, then. Is he crazy? Or is he just so smart that he seems crazy?
Kristyn Burtt: He is so smart that he seems like he’s crazy. That was probably one of the most wonderful experiences I’ve ever had and also probably the most traumatic experience I’ve ever had. In that, you know, Jesse Ventura, there’s only one opinion and that’s his. So my job as a news reader on his show was to – if he said, I would say white. Like I there to debate with him and irritate him a little bit. But at the same time, it was a great opportunity to just listen because he had so many fantastic stories. He was a former Navy Seal. I grew up in a generation where he was a wrestler with a pink feather boa around his neck and then he was governor. And at this point where he was the former governor but he was teaching at Harvard and everything else. You know, there’s a lot to learn there. He didn’t ask much about me in the time that I worked with him, but I absorbed a lot of knowledge and I thought it was a really fun place just to grasp some ideas about politics and about life that I wouldn’t necessarily thought of. He was a really outside-of-the-box thinker.
Michael London: I’m going to ask you some questions about you now so you have so many irons in the fire, tell us where we can see everything, Kirstin.
Kristyn Burtt: My main hub where everyone can find all of my work and that’s probably the easiest place to go is www.redcarpetcloset.tv and there, I sit there and put all of my jobs and all of the media that I do on that site. But this summer, I’ve been working a lot because of the big summer movie season with www.iVillage.com and that is NBC/Universal’s property. I do the press junkets here on the west coast. So I just recently interviewed the cast of Magic Mike including Channing Tatum and also Matthew McConaughey. So it’s just kind of fun to get out there and interview the big celebrities and see what else is going on.
And of course, I also host the “After Show” for “So You Think You Can Dance” and this is on www.AfterBuzzTV.com. It’s a new site that was started by Maria Menounos who is entertainment journalist on “Extra” and we discuss what happened on the show. We bring in former contestants and do interviews with them and it’s a really fun format because people can call in. We do it live and debate like what happened during that episode. So that’s been a really fun show.
Those are the two projects that I’ve been working on mainly this summer in addition to some other jobs like I do, some live streaming for Hyundai. I’m going over Germany with Pfizer. They have me host a game show in Europe once a year. So, there are some fun things that are coming up this summer but the two main projects are iVillage and AfterBuzzTV.
Michael London: So its summertime 2017, what do we find Kristyn doing?
Kristyn Burtt: 2017. Well, I hope to be doing a little bit more producing by then and really continue on this path of covering the red carpet but not in just the glamorous way but for people to understand that, you know, Hollywood’s great and it’s so much fun and I love living here but at the same time don’t buy into it. You know, it has its own truth and its own reality so I would really love to get, sort of, that type of show up and running and really get people to understand like this is the real Hollywood. Take away, like the curtains come from Oz and there you go.
Michael London: Excellent! Kristyn Burtt, thank you so much for joining us today on Spidcast.
Kristyn Burtt: Absolutely, thank you so much for having me.
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
Monday, 13 August 2012
Last week, I was invited to sample the latest drinks from EFFEN Vodka created by local mixologists. Honestly, this was the perfect end to a hot summer day in Los Angeles. We have been dealing with a heatwave throughout the Southland, so a crisp summer drink at the downtown Marvimon in their outdoor garden lounge was just what the doctor ordered. My favorite cocktail had a delicious mix of Cucumber EFFEN Vodka with an infused mix of honeydew melon, dill, and red and green bell peppers. It may sound wacky, but it was delicious and refreshing. My +1 for the night was my friend, Julie, who ran with me from table to table as we tried spicy and sweet concoctions with EFFEN vodka and voted with marbles on our favorite drinks. One recommendation for next year's event? Food. You had skinny LA girls gulping down EFFEN Vodka all night and then hopping in their cars to drive around LA. This Gluten Free gal was begging for a cracker or bread to sop up a little alcohol, that's how badly I wanted a morsel of food.
If you are looking for a way to spice up your summer cocktail recipes, check out EFFEN Vodka. (Only if you are over 21, kids!)
Enjoy the photos from the evening........
The delicious ingredients infused into the cocktails.
Julie posing in the outdoor lounge at Marvimon.
I loved the lighting arrangement at Marvimon.
Mixologists creating summer cocktails.
Disclaimer: I was invited to the event by EFFEN Vodka and Brand Influencers. All opinions are my own.
Monday Media:
6:30PM PT/9:30PM ET: Behind The Red Carpet Live with guest, Kelly Lynch, from Socialite Life talking the latest in entertainment news....Aniston engaged! Live on Spreecast.
7:00PM PT/10:00PM ET: Olympics Wrap-Up with Stuart Brazell. Live on Spreecast.
7:35PM PT/10:35PM ET: Driving With Gass talking entertainment news with Kevin Gassman and Cindy Love. Listen in at KWSS.org. #RadioBurtt on Twitter.
Sunday, 12 August 2012
Grand Canyon, May 2007
"Be glad of life, because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars."
Henry Van Dyke
What are you looking forward to most this week?
Me: Bill Irwin, Vampire Mob, and Hellos.....Not Goodbyes.
Friday, 10 August 2012
Happy Weekend, everyone! I will go back to my regularly scheduled blogging and entertainment news on Monday. It's been a crazy two weeks of the London Games and it has been a blast covering them for you. Today, we talked about our favorite moments of the Olympics. My top moment involved gymnastics, but it wasn't Gabby Douglas or the Team Gold. You will have to check out our broadcast to see what it was:
Guest: XiXi Yang of PopStop TV
I am off to have a relaxing weekend before a very big week. Here's where you can find me on Monday, August 13th:
6:30PM PT/9:30PM ET Behind the Red Carpet Live on Spreecast
7PM PT/10 PM ET London Games Wrap-Up with Stuart Brazell on Spreecast
7:35PM PT/10:35PM ET Entertainment News on Driving With Gass on KWSS.org
Guest: XiXi Yang of PopStop TV
I am off to have a relaxing weekend before a very big week. Here's where you can find me on Monday, August 13th:
6:30PM PT/9:30PM ET Behind the Red Carpet Live on Spreecast
7PM PT/10 PM ET London Games Wrap-Up with Stuart Brazell on Spreecast
7:35PM PT/10:35PM ET Entertainment News on Driving With Gass on KWSS.org
Monday, 6 August 2012
Hit me up on Twitter, Facebook, or in the comments below.
Saturday, 4 August 2012
Friday, 3 August 2012
1. Gabby Douglas: My girl won. The best thing about this Women's Gymnastics All-Around competition is that it was fiercely fought and won. The top 2 ladies didn't have a single fall all night. In this day of incredibly difficult gymnastics, that is almost unheard of. Also, Gabby is the first black gymnast to win the Olympic All-Around Gold Medal, this is historic. If you want to understand how significant this is, watch former Olympian, Dominique Dawes, well up with tears when talking about Gabby's win.
2. Michael Phelps: After a rough start, he finally became the most decorated Olympian ever. While I don't find him compelling as a personality, I sure can appreciate his unbelievable athleticism and competitive fire. At this point, he has 20 medals and he still has two races to go. Impressive, but it sure is going to be weird to experience the 2016 Rio Games without him.
3. Kayla Harrison: While Judo may not be the sexiest sport of the Olympics like Women's Beach Volleyball or Water Polo, this athlete has brought a lot of great attention to her sport. She has had a long road as a survivor of sexual abuse from a former coach yet, she can walk away from these Olympics with a gold medal. I think we can all feel her emotion when she hit that the medal podium on Thursday.
4. McKayla Maroney: This girl has so much fire, she's tiny, and she's fab. She's also the best vaulter in the world. If you missed her vault in Women's Gymnastics Team Finals, then you better watch the video. She's also a total ham and her sassy Instagram photos are the subject of this awesome tribute from Buzzfeed.
5. Missy Franklin: Besides being a gifted swimmer, this girl looks like she is having the time of her life at the Olympics. Too often, we see stressed out athletes because this is the biggest meet or match or game of their life. Missy is soaking in every moment while still performing like an elite athlete. It's kind of awesome to see someone smile before a race. Oh, and she's only 17-years old, she has two gold medals, and she received a tweet from the Biebs. That's a good day at the office.
What has been your favorite moment from the first week at the Olympics? Share it with me on Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments below.
If you want to join me this weekend, I will be talking all about the Olympics and entertainment news. Here's where you can join me:
Saturday: Cocktails and Conversation talking entertainment news with my favorite ladies. 5AM PT/8AM ET. Listen here.
Then, at Noon PT/3PM ET on Spreecast, Stuart Brazell and I will be joined by tech blogger, Ashley Esqueda, who just returned from the London Games.
Monday: Behind The Red Carpet Live with guest, Hank Chen. He's been ruffling a few feathers on the internet this week, so we will be sure to hit all of the hot topics in entertainment news. Join me on Spreecast at 6:30PM PT/9:30PM ET. Watch here.
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