Archive for month: June, 2013

I really wanted to interview Kirpi since she lives in LA, interviews celebrities all the time and I find that some people lose themselves when they live in Los Angeles. Kirpi has not, she is truly a real person who enjoys her job. A woman who has met anyone from Beyonce, Jonny Depp to George Clooney – take a guess who is her favorite celebrity and especially the reasons for her choice.

Who is Kirpi Uimonen?

I am a Finnish freelancer journalist. I write mostly entertainment stories from Hollywood to different publications in Finland. I moved from Helsinki to Los Angeles little over 10 years ago.

At what age did you know that you wanted to be a reporter?

Well, my childhood friend just recently reminded me, that as a kid I always said I will never be a journalist. My mother and many of my relatives are journalist and as a kid I was thinking that it is too unstable of a job, you pretty much don’t know when you have to work and where you go next.

When I was visiting my mother’s work place her colleagues were always asking: So, when are you going to be journalist and they laugh at me when I said never ever. They said wait and see. And for sure, when I was twenty I started my first summer job at United Magazines (now Otava Media). End of that summer I wrote my first story about Finnish musician for Seura magazine. By then I knew I wanted to be a journalist

What has been the most exciting story that you’ve covered during your career?

I have covered many exciting stories. As a young writer I did cover most Finnish music festivals and interviewed hundreds of bands. Lately, last 10 years, I have interviewed most Hollywood stars. But one story is at the top of everything. Late 1990’s I inter railed with my friend around Europe for a month and we wrote 20 + page story for a youth magazine called Suosikki about our experience and people who we met. That was fun!

Is there any particular story, an award or a moment throughout your career that you are proud of?

I am proud that I got accepted to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association little over two years ago. It is a foreign journalist organization in Hollywood. It arranges hundreds of interviews every year for its 85 members. We also vote for Golden Globe winners every January.

What would you say is the biggest misconception that people have about your profession?

That it is always glamorous. Sometimes it is, like if you are an invited guest to some event. But usually it is hard and time consuming work. Research, interviews, transcribing, translating, traveling, watching movies and TV-shows takes time, and last but not least, writing takes a lot of time and you are always alone with your thoughts when you are writing.

What do you enjoy most about being a reporter?

Meeting people and listening their stories. Every person sees life differently.

Have you found to be the biggest difference between the types of stories you covered in Finland, and the ones you currently report on in Los Angeles?

I covered mostly entertainment in Finland and I do the same here in Los Angeles. The biggest difference is that I am doing my job in a different country and different language.

Are there any stories that you hate to cover?

Not really. I think I can learn from everything.

Do you ever get into fights with other reporters?

Journalism is a very competitive business especially now-a-days. Media industry is at a transition time, we are unsure what happens to print media and digital media doesn’t pay much yet. We also have more journalists in the field than there are jobs. Fees have collapsed during the last five years. So all this has an impact on my profession. People are more competitive, they have to be in order to survive and sometimes people disagree with each other.

What advice would you give to other aspiring European journalists and reporters aiming for the stars in Hollywood?

Be ready to work long hours, evenings and weekends. Your schedule will change all the time and nothing is sure unless it already happened. You need to be able to handle stressful situations; you will compete to get interviews, what and when you can ask your questions, your clients, pretty much everything. If journalism is your passion – go ahead and do it.

What and who captivate you in the world of celebrities – and why?

This is already a cliché because everybody likes him, but I have to say George Clooney. He takes his work seriously but not himself. He is always friendly and funny. Besides being actor-director-producer-screenwriter he is politically active and devotes his time to humanitarian work

Since you are Finnish – must ask what do you miss most from Finland – think you will ever return to live back there?

I do miss my family, friends and sauna. Sometimes I miss salty liquorice and rye bread, but not as often as in the very beginning. And I have learned that I should never say never. So yes, I could think of returning back to Finland. When? I have no idea. But I think it is a great country.

And how is the Finnish community in Los Angeles?

Finnish community has been growing in Los Angeles the last few years. We have more up and coming artist here than before. Or I should say in the last ten years because I don’t know how things were before that. Creative Finns meet every month. Everybody is welcome, and one can participate when he or she wants to. You can find our group from Facebook, Creative Finns in Los Angeles. There is also another group where everybody can share information, Finns in California.

What do you see the best about the Finnish culture/people vs. American?

Both cultures have they good and bad sides, sometimes they are different sides of the same token. I like that Finns know how to enjoy, relax and keep their vacations, but at the same time I admire the American work mentality, entrepreneurship like mentality and persistency. Americans don’t give up easily.

We have many great things in Finland; education, universal healthcare, long maternity leave, long vacations, sick days, social security. Over all as a society it is a safe place when compared to many other places.

Photos: Theo Kingma and HFPA
Website: www.kirpinhollywood.fi
Facebook: /www.facebook.com/#!/KirpinHollywood
Twitter: @KirpinHollywood

Lotta Luolamo is a freelance fashion stylist in the city of angels – Los Angeles – from Finland. We were delighted when she agreed to complete a full in-depth interview with us. Read on to discover, amongst other things, which fashion designers Lotta is inspired by, what she’s hoping to achieve over the next 12 months and what she does to relax. www.lottaluolamo.com

What are you currently working on?

At the moment I’m having my first week off in forever. For the past couple of weeks I’ve been working on shoots with Chris Brown (yes, the one with Rihanna), including his album packaging shoot. I’ve also worked my new client, up and coming artist J Randy and last week I also did a photo shoot with Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat.

How have the last 12 months been for you?

The last 12 months have proved to me that hard work really pays of. I graduated from Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in December 2012 and got hired immediately to work as a assisting stylist for Mozie Campbell Inc. I’ve also done freelancing, both as a stylist and a set designer. Basically I’ve been on sets of TV-shows, commercials, photo shoots and music videos trying to gain as much experience and inspiration as I can.

What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion is obviously a part of our appearance and our appearance is a part of who we are – a way of expressing ourselves. Fashion brings out personality, it’s a statement. The main thing is to feel comfortable in what you are wearing from clothes to accessories. I believe if you are comfortable with what you are wearing your personality and self esteem will get a boost.

Which modern day fashion designers or fashion icons do you look up to?

Alexander Wang has been my inspiration since the beginning of his career. He’s daring and simple at the same time which to me is a appealing combo. At this moment I’m also obsessed with Dries Van Noten and his colors and prints. My fashion icon is Rihanna, just because she has this crazy ability to change from romantic and flowy feminine looks to these urban and even masculine looks and still always look like her self and represent what she is. She always looks like she is comfortable in what she is wearing.

What was the first thing you ever designed? How does one think about becoming a stylist in Finland..

I never really designed anything. Unless you want to hear all about my school projects from designing a bag to designing a window display. Other than school I have no own designs.
To be honest I wouldn’t want to work as a stylist in Finland. I mean I would love to work there every now and then on interesting projects for sure, but living in Finland and trying to support yourself by styling might be a challenge since it is such a small country. LA is probably the best place to be for an aspiring stylist.

Where do you get your inspiration? Who and what inspires you?

I get my inspiration from every where, literally. It can be someone or something on the street, nature or a magazine I read. Of course these days it’s incredibly easy to find inspiration online with all the blogs and online publications. But the unexpected inspirations come everyday where ever I go – and will be captured on my iphone. It can be a quote, an outfit, a picture or a song.. Anything can inspire me and spark an idea.

How would you define your personal style
 vs. how would you define the style your work exemplifies?

I dress according to how I feel or what the atmosphere is like. I can go from sweatpants to a dress in 10 seconds. Whatever goes with the mood I have or the surroundings I’m in, from floral jumpers to boyish baggy jeans and snapback hats. My work actually is pretty much the same.. whatever the client needs and wants I’ll get, and what ever the atmosphere of the shoot is I’ll create. It’s all about feeling out the people and the surroundings.

Where are you based?

I’m now based in LA but will hopefully travel where ever my work takes me. I’m not tied to staying in LA even though my home is here right now.

What’s it like being where you’re from?

The contrast between Finland, where I’m from, and LA is huge. Everything from the weather to how people interact is quite different in Finland. It’s cold most of the year and the people may not be as outgoing as in LA but I have a huge respect towards my homeland and the toughness and integrity it taught me.

How would you define your current city’s (LA) fashion?

LAs fashion is kind of hard to define, or try to summarize since LA has everything. That’s what I love about LA. There’s everything from Hollywood glamour and red carpets to street wear and urban clothing, from the Sunset strip rocker style to the Downtown artsy hipster scene. You can be who ever you want to LA and dress everyday according to exactly how you feel – no restrictions.

What’s been the highlight of your career to date?

Highlight of my career by far was definitely getting hired by Ugo Mozie and Daver Campbell, the amazing team Mozie Campbell Inc. They’ve been great mentors and a true inspiration to me. Also getting my first own client, J Randy a couple of months ago was an achievement I’ll cherish and continue working hard on.

What are you hoping to achieve over the next 12 months?

I’m now working to get my O1 visa to be able to work both Europe and here in the States. After that I just want to concentrate on working as much as I can and continue living a dream I’ve already achieved.

What do you do to relax?

Hike at Griffith park! Or drive down to Malibu and breath the fresh air – simple things.

Where would your favorite holiday (vacation) be and why?

I love the Caribbean islands. I’ve been to Curacao and Barbados already so I’d probably go to a new one..

What songs are you listening to at the moment?

Cody Chesnutt – ‘Til I met Thee
Daft Punk – Give Life Back To Music
Police – Walking on the moon

Do you have interesting hobbies?

I do have hobbies but they’re not that interesting. My hobbies are my relaxation so hiking, like mentioned before, going to the beach for a run or surf (I’m horrible at it). I would say music too but it’s more of a daily routine than a hobby. I love to learn about new artists and genres.

Any advice for other aspiring European stylists?

Network! That’s all I can say. It’s so important to know the right people and make yourself available for as many projects as you can! Don’t sit around waiting for IT to happen.

Lotta Luolamo’s Website: www.lottaluolamo.com
Twitter: l_otta
Instagram: l_otta

Kaisa’s note: given how Finland is, this is really not the most typical profession for anyone. I am really impressed what Lotta has accomplished and hope she can get her visa sorted out. I also agree with her what is great about Finland..integrity is something you expect other people to have. It is given. It is also dangerous in the sense that many Finns – including myself – may get unlucky trusting people way too easily. We tend to have a lot of trust especially in other women..the two biggest disappointment in my life have been women who turned out too be totally fraudulent. I would never have guessed that – ever! In LA Lotta has probably started learning not to believe that people are what or who they say they are..or do what they say they do.

I want to tell you about Casa de Espana Austin. I like Spain, visited multiple times (Madrid, Marbella, Barcelona, Tenerife etc) over the years. Gary (my boyfriend) is obsessed with Spain. He thinks he must have been Spanish in his previous life. When we moved from NYC to Austin I knew nobody in Austin – and then EuroCircle NYC members hooked me up with Casa de Espana Austin. The first EuroCircle event which we had at the gorgeous Austonian hosted by the lovely Carla Wilkenfeld – was filled with beautiful Spanish ladies. The beautiful Antonia Warren Garcia de Vaso, Michi Spielman Fernandez Spielman and their fun husbands Mike Warren (Fox News) and Terence Spielman (PayPal at that time) brought in the most people. Antonia’s sister Maria Garcia de Vaso is an integral part of the Casa de Esapana Austin group. The two sisters make an amazing team. This is a very good European ethnic group!

Who are you and what group do you represent here in Austin?

My name is Antonia Warren and I am the co-founder of Casa De Espana Austin, a non-profit socio-cultural organization. I work as Director at Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. I am originally from Cartagena, Murcia.

What is your role with the group?

I am the current President of Casa De Espana Austin

What does your group want to accomplish?

To keep the relationship between Spain and Austin, to provide assistance to Spaniards that comes to Austin and to promote the Spanish culture live in Austin

What would make you really happy as an accomplishment with your group??

See the culture of Spain featured in some ways in Austin’s daily life.

How do you think it is working out, what are your biggest obstacles and the best surprises that have come along?

As any other non-profit, the volunteer work by different people is very important. We truly need more volunteers helping with all of our events and organizing new ones.

How many SPANISH are there in Austin area and how is your membership??

We believe there are over 2,000 – 100% Spaniards – in Austin but our network of CDEA friends is over 4,000 people.

CDEA friends are people from many different backgrounds, not only Spaniards but people that like Spain, want to know about Spain and what we do.

What kind of activities do you do and how do you fund the groups activities?

We celebrate Spanish holidays and major events just like our friends do back in Spain i.e: San Fermin, San Juan, Feria de Abril, Navidad, flamenco, etc.

We get together to follow our soccer teams, cook paellas, bring Spanish talent and artists from Spain to Austin to showcase their art and Spanish culture in Austin. We help with the process of moving to USA, we watch Spanish cinema etc.etc.
We have a website and a facebook page where people can find us and get the invitation to our events

What is the most captivating thing about Austin for you?

I like to be able to walk, eat, have a coffee and music in downtown. I appreciate Austin’s relaxed feeling. I also love the lake.

I feel Austin is one of the cities with the most potential for the future. Having three kids helps with my decision on staying for my children’s future.

What would you tell a visitor not to miss in Austin?

Walking along the lake downtown, a completely different perspective of the city. The best time to visit Austin is in October because of ACL (Austin City Limit Festival) or SXSW time (March). Editor’s comment: The weather is usually very nice from October to April (summer is super hot).

Where do you go in Austin to chill out?

Our friends’ homes, dinners out, running, kayaking

What is your favorite restaurant?

Saltlick

Casa de Espana Austin Website: www.casadeespanaaustin.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDE.Austin

Casa de España Austin – CDEA Non Profit
6801 Blissfield Dr.
Austin, TX 78739
(512) 809-4469

International Potluck on Sunday, June 23 2013 at Icenhauer’s! Casa de Espana Austin is one of the organizations attending. We hope to see something very Spanish from their members!