GlamBOT Director Cole Walliser on What It's Like to Work the Red Carpet

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Hollywood’s awards season is in full swing. After a four-month delay, the 75th Emmy Awards will air on Monday. But before the ceremony honors the best in TV, celebs will walk the red carpet and (hopefully) strike a pose in front of the GlamBOT — a high-speed camera that takes up close and slow motion video of, well, all the glam. We caught up with GlamBOT director Cole Walliser to learn more about how he’s covering this year’s Emmys. Here’s what he had to say…

Q: The Grammys, the Oscars, the Golden Globes — you’ve covered countless red carpet award shows. Are you trying anything different at this year’s Emmys?

I started the GlamBOT in 2016, and this is my eighth year doing the Emmys ... I’m always trying to refine all the camera moves and my directing style to connect with the talent the best that I can. So that’s always growing and changing … My job’s actually gotten easier as more people recognize me and know what the GlamBOT is. So, I need to make sure I don’t rely on that too much and stay on my toes to make the best content possible.

Q: Red carpets involve a sea of photographers, reporters, and cameras. How do you get celebrities to say ‘yes’ to posing in front of the GlamBOT?

We have two field producers who are essentially running up and down the red carpet, talking mostly to publicists and asking ‘Hey, does your client want to do the GlamBOT with E!?’ … If they say yes, obviously that makes it easy … It’s definitely happened where publicists say ‘No, we’re not doing press.’ But then, the celebrity sees me and the GlamBOT and goes, ‘Oh my God, I want to go do that.’

... The GlamBOT is also still relatively new. You can do a different pose and have more fun with it. That makes it a bit more appealing than doing an over-the-shoulder red carpet photo ... [Also, there’s an] incentive that celebrities have for cool content … [Not to mention] it’s a huge robot making noise and moving fast ... There’s 12 or 13 people running this camera ... So just by the nature of what is needed to create a GlamBOT, that already sets us apart too.

Q: Who has been your favorite celebrity in front of the GlamBOT so far?

Lady Gaga. She’s gone to the Emmys, the Golden Globes, the Grammys, and the Oscars. I shot a GlamBOT of her multiple times. We became friendly because I was seeing her all the time. She was super sweet and always had a really cool GlamBOT video. She obviously had really amazing outfits. So, she stands out as one of my faves.

Q: Is there one celebrity that you really want to capture?

The standard answer for me has always been Beyoncé ... She often comes to the Grammys. I’d love to [capture] her and Rihanna.

Q: What are some of the fun moments that you’ve experienced?

What makes it really fun is when a celebrity is really into [the GlamBOT] … When [they’re] willing to do a cool spin, dress toss, or jump … A good example is Liza Koshy, who was at the Golden Globes last year. Her energy was at 100. She was super excited to do some cool moves. Of course, a crazy big outfit that has items we can move — whether it be a long train or big sleeves — always makes it really fun because we can do something unique and different … But you don’t necessarily have to do something crazy. Sometimes the super subtle [poses] can end up being the most impactful. 

Q: A lot of us are working with regular cameras, not a GlamBOT. What are your top tips for looking good in photos and videos?

It’s important to think about how your body moves naturally and find a pose within that. Also, practice [helps]. With the GlamBOT, a lot of people comment ‘Oh, everyone is always so perfect and good.’ And I’m like, ‘Yes, but these are professional actors that are used to taking photos.’ They know their good and bad angles and how to make themselves look great. I think practicing in front of the mirror is and can be kind of funny, but try different poses — tilt your head up and down, look and move around in different ways to figure out what looks most natural. 

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💅 In beauty…

“Nuance” nails are the rock-solid manicure to get. Plus, looking for the perfect tan? Try electrical tape. Speaking of getting sun-kissed, freckle tattoos are leaving their mark. If that doesn’t raise eyebrows, calf Botox probably will. 

🍹 In drinking culture…

People are thirsting for an NA menu revamp. No surprise, since it’s Dry and Damp January. Meanwhile, Miller Lite’s got beer-flavored mints. Not to your taste? Try spicing your NA drink with Tamarind. And if you need to pick some up, don’t forget your grocery shopping etiquette.

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