Xbox 360 Kinect

Here's a quick round-up of photos from the Xbox 360 Kinect Launch at the Galen Center tonight at the start of E3 week.  I was kindly invited by Stephanie Piche of Mingle Media TV and I jumped at the chance to check out Cirque du Soleil present the new Microsoft system with flair in a way that only Cirque can.  The presentation did not disappoint:  walking on the ceiling, flying, dancing, and a light show the audience participated in with magical capes.  The idea of a gaming system without an actual controller is cool, but I wasn't super impressed with the games they showed us.  And I am talking about it from a casual gamer point of view.  I've got a Wii and an PS3 in the house, and I felt like Kinect gave me a rehash of the games I already own except for the awesome light saber game for Star Wars. (It also received the largest reaction from the audience.) Regardless, the evening was fun, enjoy the photos below, and Happy E3!

In line, while one of the Cirque drummers keeping us occupied while we wait.........

And wait........

Yep, me still waiting..........look, they finally let me in and I encounter a very tall man.....

We are given our magical capes to wear (Matt Crabtree and JD Piche)

Okay, they are really choir robes:

There was a family suspended from the ceiling and hanging out on a couch.  I wanted that job.....

Your typical Cirque shenanigans during the pre-show:

And my own shenanigans.....drinking virtual water:

                                               

We didn't have seats, until I asked the nicest usher ever.  He found us four seats.  This was our cool view.

Very Simba/Circle of Life/Lion King with the life-sized elephant:

And the reason we wore our capes...we were part of the light show!  Green......

Pink............

......and purple.

Be sure to catch the entire show on MTV on Tuesday, June 15th at 3:30 PM ET/12:30 PT.

For the Win: Physician's Endorsed Accessories

It's no secret that I was a network host for ShopNBC and the on-air rep for Stila Cometics on QVC earlier in the decade.  You may think I have put my home shopping days behind me, but I still keep up with all of the news on one of my favorite blogs, Home Shopping Queen.  While perusing the site one day, I happily stumbled upon a Twitter giveaway of Physician's Endorsed accessories. Given that it is summer and I am a befreckled bottle blonde, it is important for me to always cover up in the sun.  Even though I never win these things, I typed my 140 characters on Twitter to enter the contest.  Little did I know, I would be the winning entry!  After communicating with Queen Bea of Home Shopping Queen, I received my new hat and sunglasses in the mail.  Here are the long-awaited photos of my new glam summer look.  Not only are they perfect for my upcoming summer trip, the hat and sunglasses are even better than I ever imagined:  high quality, trendy, and ideal for the fair-haired, fair-skinned ladies of the world.  So, be sure to check out Physician's Endorsed for your summer accessories and stop by and say "hi" to Queen Bea for all the latest in home shopping scoop.   Thanks, QB and Physician's Endorsed!

Behind the Scenes of Backyard FX

         

When this episode came out last week, we posted that it was "fun", "hilarious", and "one of our favorite episodes" of 2010.  The more I think about it and after watching it a second time, it may be my favorite Web Files episode of all time.  That's a pretty hard thing to accomplish given that we have shot 39 episodes of The Web Files and 5 episodes of The Web Files Buzz.  It was a pretty simple set-up with me and Zack Finfrock, the new host of Backyard FX, sitting in a couple of chairs on the side porch of his house.  Okay, not so simple.  While Zack lives out in the country, there are lots of natural and unnatural sound effects to be had in his idyllic environment:  horses, planes, motorcycles, an organ!!, birds, and a lawn mower or two.  All unplanned, but all perfect environmental sounds for an interview featuring Backyard FX.  Another interesting note about the location: the house is actually a geodesic home that was once owned by The Smurfs creator who loved to decorate the house in, yes, you guessed it, blue.

Zack is really laid back, which made for a very natural interview.  His creative talents are numerous and many of you may have seen his work already and not even realized it. Zack was nominated for a Streamy Award, along with Brett Register and Jeff Bell, for Best Visual Effects in a Web Series, for The Crew.  While he didn't win, I am so pleased that he is able to channel that talent as the new face of Backyard FX.  It really is a great blend of his skills as a graphic artist, actor, and now, host in one show.  He's a natural fit and his legion of fans have already followed him to this episode of The Web Files.  Now he doesn't do it all alone, he has a team behind the scenes of Backyard FX that makes up a huge part of the test films you see in the show.  So, their production company, Wayside Creations, truly is a fun band of talented creators.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Puppet Zack who had a nice cameo in the episode.  Zack created the puppet off of one of the episodes that Erik Beck, the original host of Backyard FX, shot.  It is like stepping into a whole Avenue Q performance.  That's how good the puppet looks in person, so I am glad we were able to feature Puppet Zack.  And oh yes, he's a good kisser.  (Stay tuned to the very end of the credits to see what I am talking about.)

Finally, I am really impressed with the slate of shows that Next New Networks and Indy Mogul are putting out on the web.  High quality shows with intelligent content that really hit a core audience.  I hope to one day do a show for them because they seem to be keeping their fingers on the pulse of web television.  So, head on over there and check out their slate of shows.  If you need a place to start, visit VendrTV or Freezer Burns for some foodie fun.

If you missed the episode, watch it here:

Tomorrow brings a new episode and all of the action from the red carpet premiere of Dailymotion's Squatters.

Photos 2 and 6 Courtesy of Jenn Bobiwash.

A Tribute to Ms. J.

I was one of those kids who really loved school.  I loved going everyday to learn something new and challenging my brain with tests and essays.  Yes, I know, that made me a pretty atypical kid, but I loved being a nerd.  So, today, I am honoring one of the greatest inspirations to my academic career, Ms. June Jeswald.  She is retiring this year from The Pingree School and she is being honored today at a ceremony on the front lawn of my alma mater.  While I cannot be there in person, I want to thank her for all the love, inspiration, and guidance she gave me while a student at Pingree.  Her legacy lasts well beyond the campus grounds, because her impact on my life is far reaching.  Thank, Ms. J, this one's for you:


A Tribute to Ms. J:  
As a very focused 15-year-old dancer, I was way out of my element in a public school that weighed your social status in soccer cleats and cheerleader skirts.  So, in the fall of 1987, I transferred to The Pingree School.  I discovered a school that thrived on the arts, supported a dance concert each year, and the Mary Weld Arts Center had just opened that prior spring.  When I toured the school and found a family bowling alley turned into a dance studio, I knew I had found my new home.  Little did I know that my new home included a teacher, an advisor, and a friend named June Jeswald.  I rearranged my school schedule so I could cram in a dance class.  I was so determined to make it work that I added French I to a schedule that already included Spanish III just so I could dance with Ms. J during F period. 

I spent so many days lounging on the studio floor stretching and gossiping with my favorite teacher who became my mentor in my Pingree days.  She always took my concerns seriously and gave me great advice whether it was about the level of difficulty in AP Euro History or what do when I found myself with two dates to the senior prom during my junior year. (True Story!)  She is the reason my dad had a huge clothing bill from the school store each month as I purchased countless socks, sweatpants, and t-shirts to keep me warm in the cold basement studio.  And she fostered my continuing love for the Alvin Ailey Dance Company by trudging all of us into the city one weekend a year just because she wanted to share the joy of dance. 

Through boyfriends, winter musicals, dance concerts, academic concerns, and college choices, there was always someone there for me:  Ms. June Jeswald.

When she came to the West Coast for an alumni dinner in the fall of 2009.  It was as if no time had passed.  She looked exactly the same as she did in 1987 when I walked through that dance studio door…smiling, happy, and ready with a hug.  The only difference is that now we could share that time over a glass of wine. 

So, Ms. J., as you go off to enjoy your retirement, I want you to know the impact you had on my life, not just during my time at Pingree.  You are one of the reasons my time there was so special and why I look back on my high school years so fondly.  They were some of the best days of my life.  On January 25th, 1988, you wrote on my 1st semester report card, “a joy to teach”.  Well, Ms. J, it was a joy to learn from you.  

Kristyn Burtt

Class of 1990

Memorial Day Weekend

Besides the traditional Memorial Day Weekend barbecues and outdoor activities, I attended some pretty spectacular events outside of the three day weekend norm.  Here are a few photographs from the Sex and the City 2 party and the Houdini Mansion/Chilean Consulate Party:

Sex and the City 2:

This was a fun and well-attended event thrown by The Henley Company, The Party Goddess, and Pink Carpet Parties in honor of every gal's favorite series, Sex and the City.  It was the perfect night to get dressed up, slip on your hottest stilettos, and hang with the girls to celebrate another round with Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte.  While the movie was a mediocre extravaganza, the pre-party at the Shangri-La Hotel in Santa Monica was exactly what you wanted a night out with the girls to look like:  cocktails, gift bags, and a lot of pink!  Be sure to follow The Party Goddess for great tips on your next fabulous soirée.  Photos courtesy of Jen O'Sullivan.

Houdini Mansion:

When I received this invitation, my BF and I cancelled our day trip to Santa Barbara and leaped at the opportunity to see the restored Houdini Mansion on Laurel Canyon.  I was glad we changed our plans when we walked up through the breathtaking gardens and came upon a circular driveway housing a vintage Rolls Royce.  The grounds include three homes, a pool, extraordinary gardens, and lots of hidden porches, paths, and hideaways.  The Chilean Consulate held a party in the main house which was not Houdini's original home.  I later learned that there were two floors sealed off underground just below where we were standing and that Houdini's original home is now a private museum.  The public will get a glimpse of the hidden treasures as many of the Houdini artifacts will be seen at the Skirball Center retrospective this fall.   The company was fantastic and I picked up a lot of salacious gossip not fit for print, so I call that a successful evening.  To learn about the history of the Houdini grounds, check out Weird California.

Some of the gorgeous wildflowers and grounds at the Houdini Mansion:

It's hard to tell because it is so dark, but that is an oversized chair á la Lily Tomlin size.                        Photo Courtesy of Cristian Olave

                                 A cool last shot by the fountain in the entranceway of the mansion.  
  

Episode 39: Backyard FX

This episode is one of my favorites from The Web Files in 2010. It features Zack Finfrock, the new host of Next New Network and Indy Mogul's, Backyard FX.  We had a whole series of unplanned special effects going on during this interview that made it frustrating for the crew, but fun at the same time.  Be sure to stick around past the credits for a fun moment with Puppet Zack.  I'll have more behind the scenes of this episode later in the week.  Thanks for watching!

Behind the Scenes of The Web Files Buzz, Episode 5

Another episode of The Web Files Buzz is here and I think I have the biggest hair ever in this episode.  I'm not kidding.  I think it was the perfect element to battle ghosts and zombies on our set visits to Bumps in the Night and Night of the Zombie King from the Gold crew.  There was enough hairspray to ward off any paranormal activity.

                             Melissa Anchondo making my hair as BIG as possible for the shoot that day.

Our first visit that day was to the Bumps in the Night set with Emmett Furey, John Reha, and Greg Benevent We have talked about a shoot with them since the A Good Knight's Quest premiere back in February.  It took a long time to schedule, but we managed to get them in and get the guys in character for a fantastic Ghostfacers versus Bumps in the Night throw down.  Who do you think would win the face-off?  Also, I love that the blue couch that we were sitting on is from Craigslist and plays a hilarious role in the series:  is it haunted or just a reminder that Craigslist can be creepy?  One thing I wish I had mentioned during the interview was that they are using a variety of guest directors this season.  I think it adds an interesting element to the series by showcasing different director' takes on the show.  The week we were there, it was Rudy Jahchan's turn.  You may recognize the name from the Streamy-nominated and Web Files featured show, A Comicbook Orange. (In fact, their episode remains our highest viewed show for 2010.)  Rumor has it that Rudy may direct another episode in the near future, so be on the lookout for his shows and check out another episode of Bumps in the Night directed by After Judgment's Taryn O'Neill and guest starring The Crew's, Ariel Lazarus.  Bumps is definitely a smaller web series deserving more eyeballs, so go show your support and check out their show.

From ghosts to zombies, we headed just down the street on this prolific web series weekend to the set of Night of the Zombie King from Gold creator, David Nett.  These mini-episodes featuring the character Jaz from season 1 of Gold, are going to help tide the fans over until Season 2 is shot and released.  Joining James Lane (Jaz) are a few familiar faces including Stephanie Thorpe of After Judgment as Jaz's high school sweetheart and Maxwell Glick of lonelygirl15.  Adding to the excitement of the series, is the release of the Season 1 DVD of Gold. Sales of the DVD will go toward producing a Season 2, so get out there and support the show.  I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of the DVD which features extras like commentary on each episode from the cast and crew, an interview with Cricket Lee of GirlGamer.com, and a mini-episode not seen before.  I think it's just enough to excite fans for the upcoming second season.  

And one final note, I will give a prize to the first person who correctly answers this question:  My shirt seen in the photo above was also worn by another actress in a 2009 interview on The Web Files.  What show were we interviewing?  First correct answer in the comment will win some fantastic prize from my collection of goodies.  Ready, set, go.........

If you missed our Web Files Buzz episode, watch it below.  We will see you tomorrow with an interview with the new Backyard FX host, Zack Finfrock.  

  

PS  I received amazing PR materials from Jenni Powell of Bumps in the Night and David Nett of Gold before my set visit.  It really is an important component to any show, make sure to read my tips on Publicity and Web Series or ask your fellow content creators for some help.  This type of professionalism creates a stronger foundation within the web community and beyond.  Thank you both!  It made my job easier that day.  (And if you want to see a spot-on interview, watch David.  He mastered the art of the interview, promoted his show, and his section needed very little editing in post.  Woo hoo!)

Photo 1:  Courtesy of Jenni Powell

Photos 2-4: Courtesy of Jenn Bobiwash