Behind the Scenes of the Governors Ball

While I have covered highlights of the Governors Ball the week of the Oscars, this is the first year I was invited to cover the preview that happens in the actual ballroom. The committee sets up about a quarter of the room to give you an idea of what it will look like for celebrities like George Clooney, Anne Hathaway, and Jennifer Lawrence on Oscar night.  The chandelier alone that changes colors from moment to moment to create a really cool atmosphere.  If you saw my photo on Facebook, you know that I looked like I was in Oz. A minute later when we took the photo of my cameraman, AJ, it was orange.

The food by Wolfgang Puck is always delicious from the Kobe Beef Sliders to the Smoky Tuna Tartare, it's just delicious.  However, watch the video below, we catch him wiping his nose.  Ew.



My article and photos from the morning at SheKnows will give you even more insight on the morning and I shared quite a few photos from the room and the decor.
From Dining to Decor: A Sneak Peek at the Governors Ball

Finally, I was lucky enough to make the official cocktail sponsored by Patrón.  It shows that I have no backup plan in my career because I make a terrible bartender.  So, I better keep at this entertainment reporting thing.  I drank wine, champagne, and tequila all before 11am.  It was quite nice.


My article for Starpulse, along with the videos, will be a feature this weekend, so I will update it here later this week.

Look at how excited I am to dive into a cocktail at 10am.  It was delicious!

If you are free tonight, please join me LIVE on Spreecast at 7:30pm PT/10:30pm ET as I interview the nominees from the 2013 Slamdance Awards.  The lucky nominees are in Park City, Utah while I will broadcasting from rainy LA.  RSVP here.

Last chance to enter my Metric CD giveaway!  You have a REALLY good chance to win because I have multiple copies to give away.  Enter here.

A Farewell to Fringe

I know so many of you out there are fans of the show Fringe which didn't get all of the ratings and praise it deserved during its five season run.  I had the pleasure of interviewing some of the cast at the 36th and 37th Annual Saturn Awards and they couldn't be nicer.  Here's a little tribute to the show and its cast.  My interviews with Anna Torv, Lance Reddick, and John Noble.

Thanks for a great five seasons!  Watch the two-hour finale tonight on FOX at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Be sure to check out my photos from the 36th and 37th Annual Saturn Awards. 

Don't forget to enter my Metric CD giveaway.  10 of you will win!!!

Taylor Lautner Talks About His Abs

I doubt this boy needs much of an introduction.....but here's breaking news for you:  I get Taylor Lautner to talk about his hot abs. You're welcome.  Enjoy!




Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?  Let me know in the comments below!

These interviews were shot for iVillage.

Should Celebrities Give Great Customer Service?

On my flight to Chicago yesterday, I picked up a People magazine to bide my time on the three and a half hour trip.  I am actually one of those crazy people who reads a magazine cover to cover including the MailBag section.  A letter to the editor caught my eye, so here is the letter in full:

"Thank you for your usual fine coverage of the Oscar celebrations.  This year I had the good fortune 
to be in the red carpet bleachers, and I must report that absolutely the most generous and kind celebrity in terms of fan interactions was George Clooney.  He was clearly having a great time and was the only star I saw who came over to the velvet ropes to sign autographs and allow fans to take photos.  As an expert in customer service, I applaud George Clooney for great service to his customer at the 84th Annual Academy Awards." 

Donna Cutting Asheville, N.C.

Most people might read a letter like that and pass it off as a fan letter to George Clooney, but what struck me was her comment about customer service to his fans.  After going through two Oscar cycles and interviewing more celebrities as a result, it is important for actors to understand that giving great customer service is a part of their job.  Now, I'm not talking about jumping up to greet fans at every meal or while on vacation, but making an effort to walk over to fans at premieres, red carpets, and public press events goes a long way with the people who are essentially paying the stars' salary with each film that is released.  George is a master at this, but the man who wrote the book on fan customer service is Tom Cruise.  Whether you like him or not, he is one of the kindest celebrities who always says "yes" to his fans.  Why?  He "gets" it.  He knows that these are the people that created his career, that bought tickets to Top Gun and stayed with him through his latest Mission Impossible film, and he knows that one small interaction with him will make a great impression.....and keep that fan buying tickets to his movies.  

When I do radio appearance like here or here, I often get asked who my favorite celebrities are to interview.  My favorites celebrities are usually the ones you don't expect because often times the bigger names have a tendency to disappoint me in interviews.  They hate to do press, they don't want to be in the room, and they don't try to hide it.  I totally understand that the questions can be inane and repetitive, but sitting through eight hours of a press junket at a five star hotel is way better than being a coal miner, right?  I have repeated it over and over, but it's a part of their job.  It may not be their favorite part of the job, but it comes with the territory of fame, money, and celebrity.  So, I would love to see some stars embrace this part of their job and enjoy the process because it is the press and the fans who make sure your next ten million dollar paycheck clears.  Sadly, the George Clooneys and Tom Cruises in the industry are pretty rare, but that quality is also what makes them huge A-List stars.  They just "get" it.  

If you want to read more on press and the entertainment industry, see my other articles here and here.  

To continue the conversation, join me on Facebook, Twitter, or Google Plus.

Dos and Don'ts on the Red Carpet, The Sequel

I have received such a strong response to several of my posts on media training, particularly Red Carpet Dos and Don'ts and Publicity and Web Series. To continue with the series, I am going to give you a few more insider tips on red carpet behavior.  I have been hitting the premieres hard lately and there are a few behaviors that keep showing up over and over.  Oddly enough, they are actually self-sabotaging habits in media.  I don't know why anyone would want to self-sabotage on the red carpet, but it is more common than you think.  Here are a few things to avoid:


1.  Self Deprecating Behavior:  Okay, here's a weird one, the act of self deprecation is the "belittling or undervaluing oneself", according to Dictionary.com  I get that you may want to appear modest and not boastful of your accomplishments on the big screen, but when it gets to the point of saying "My acting sucks" into the microphone, I start to question why you are even an actor.  Chances are, that clip will make it into the interview because it is so unusual to hear, but I doubt that is the press that you, your agent, or your publicist want for your career.  Sure, be grateful for the art you were allowed to create, talk about challenges of shooting, but darn, don't tell people you weren't good in the role.  They will start to believe it and you are here to build your career, not destroy it.  There are very few people that can get away with self deprecating behavior.  They are usually comedians like Gilbert Gottfried, but hey, that's his schtick, not his real self.  See the difference?  Now, go out there and be positive, you earned your moment in the spotlight!


2.  Sounding. Like. A. Robot.:  In my time on the red carpet, I find the Disney premieres the most challenging.  Why?  Because the Disney Channel kids have all been prepped with one cute sound bite that they repeat and over and over down the press line.  They have been so coached, it comes across as robotic.  After ET or E! has used that clip, it becomes less valuable to the smaller media outlets who may be trying to sell the footage to overseas clients.  There is nothing new or fresh about that interview.  So, if you have to go down the press line and talk to ten, fifteen or even twenty-five reporters, try as hard as you can to be slightly original.  Yes, some things will be repeated, but the worst thing you can say to a reporter is, "I was just asked that before" or "I keep getting that question".  It's hard to be the 25th reporter in line and often times the A-List stars won't stop for press after the Big Three (E!, ET, Access Hollywood).  Just know that the reporters understand you are getting asked the same questions, they have to get certain things answered for their jobs, so pretend you are talking to Reporter #2.  You will be loved forever for it.  Love=favorable media coverage.  It's a game, play it! 


Here's a great example of a bad red carpet interview, courtesy of Mr. Billy Dee Williams.  Yep, he behaved like this all the way down the press line:



3.  Crossing In Front Of Camera:  Okay, time to call out this behavior.  Stop doing it.  It happened at the Streamy Awards, it happened at The Resolve premiere, and it happened at the Egyptian Theatre's Summer Festival of Short Films.  It's just rude.  I don't know how else to say it.  Can you imagine you are being interviewed live by a reporter and a fellow actor crosses in front of the camera blocking your shot?  Yep, it's been happening a lot lately.  Well, on a live broadcast like the Streamys, there is nothing you can do.  With taped footage, we can at least cut it out in post.  If you are on the red carpet, I completely understand that it is exciting and overwhelming.  It is a busy place, but think of like you are crossing the street.  Look both ways, see if someone is shooting.  If they look like they are in the middle of an interview, walk quietly behind them.  It's that simple.  You don't want someone ruining your big interview, so extend that courtesy to your fellow artist.  Publicists and reporters have long memories, trust me.  You want to be that person that people love to cover, it will extend your career by miles even during the lulls.  A little consideration on the red carpet goes a long way in my book.


And the worst kind of blocking on the red carpet?  Spock Blocking!  Watch the whole mess unfold....a big no-no.  Here are a few more details on the event if you want the juicy scoop.



I hope some of these tips are helpful for you the next time you stroll down the press line on the red carpet.  Let me know what other areas of media you would like me to cover here on Red Carpet Closet.  I am going to leave you with one of my favorite recent interviews, Anna Torv of Fringe:  gracious, lovely, and fun.  Enjoy!

Red Carpet Interviews...Some DOs and DON'Ts

Okay, Streamys time is upon us and the spotlight is on web series, actors, and all of the talented people behind the scenes.  It is an exciting time and I know that getting publicity for your show is an integral part of finding new viewers or connecting with your current fans.  So, I hope all of you who wake up to a Streamy nomination get ready for a thrilling time in your career, but prepare yourself for the round of media that is to follow.  Do yourself and your show a favor, mentally prepare for the red carpet. Here are a couple of things I have noticed recently on the red carpet, a few bad habits, and some things to point out.  At The Web Files, we want to showcase you and your show in the best light possible:

1.  Talk to the reporter.  Don't talk into the camera.  It is a conversation between two people.  Trust that the cameraman is focusing in on you and he will get the shot.  If you look directly into the camera while being interviewed, it makes you look a bit crazy because you are ignoring the person asking you the questions. (Now, you can casually glance at the camera to include the audience, but don't get stuck in that lens.)

2.  Don't EVER, EVER, EVER, hijack someone else's interview.  I had this happen on Monday night at a web series premiere and it made the actor look like a big, old jackass. I was interviewing the creator of the show....it's his big night, his big moment, and his chance to shine.  The actor comes stumbling into the shot, puts his arm around the creator, and expects me to start interviewing him.  Sorry, nope, no way.  The creator hired YOU, he wrote a part for YOU, he directed YOU.  Without him, you wouldn't be on this red carpet.  Show respect.  Let everyone have their moment in the spotlight.  Trust me, you will have your turn, but if you jump into my shot....forget about it.

3.  Finally, sound bites.  During a sit down interview with The Web Files, I want more in depth answers.  On the red carpet, I want sound bites.  A reporter from any show, whether it is a marquee entertainment show like ET, Access Hollywood, or E!, or a little one like The Web Files, is looking for the funny, off the cuff, short quips.  If I asked you to tell me about your show, do it in less than 20 words.  A 2 minute explanation usually makes your clip unusable because red carpet footage is edited in a faster paced rhythm.  If you want to watch successful interviews in 30 seconds or less, take a look at the clips from the Whatever Works premiere from June 2009 for Focus Hollywood:  See Larry David, Peter Fonda, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson, and John Lithgow all giving great little moments in an extremely short period of time.  They are true masters at dealing with red carpet reporters when we only were allowed to ask them one question each that night.

I hope that some of these tips are useful to you and your cast.  I am happy to offer up a few more helpful hints as we get closer to April 11th, 2010, so feel free to fire away with questions or suggestions on this topic in the section below (Anonymous posts are okay).  I can address them in another post soon.   See you at the Streamys red carpet!

PS  All of the photos posted are examples of GOOD red carpet interviews, so don't start any gossip that I think you stink on the red carpet.  xo kb