TV Stylist: Audrey Mansfield

Perception is reality. Image is everything. Looks matter. 

All of those are true to varying degrees of scariness in the TV business, even at the lowly local television news level. So a lot of TV stations will invest in consultants, who come in periodically to coach the talent (a term loosely used to describe the people who appear on air.) The consultants will discuss all sorts of things, from your vocal delivery to your on air presence to your hair, make up, and wardrobe. It depends on what type of consultant they fashion themselves to be.

I've met with a few over the years, but a couple weeks ago I had a mini breakthrough when the station brought in Audrey Mansfield to talk to us about our on air look. She's worked with a lot of national and local TV types and she has things down to a science.

We were instructed to bring in 6 of our favorite outfits, along with accessories, and we were to come to our session in full hair and makeup. Sidenote: Unless you work at the network level, or your salary has two commas in it, it's highly unlikely you have a hair and makeup person other than yourself. That is definitely the case in this market, as I've often been asked if we have "people who do your hair and makeup." I AM the people.

Luckily for me, I only had Marianne Favro in my session so we had a fair amount of time to go over the essentials with Audrey.

She was the first stylist who brought in "lookbooks," page after page of suits, dresses, jewelry, and haircuts ripped from magazines and catalogs that could really illustrate the points she was trying to make about what is a TV news fashion YES, and what is a HELL NO.

Problem for me was, I was yessing on some of the hell no's. Like prints. What woman doesn't love a good animal print? Or a DVF dress with splashes of color? Or a BCBG wrap dress flecked with brightness? My boss has long told me to avoid prints when I'm in studio. Even my News Fairy Godmother warned against leopard on the anchor desk. But deep in my print-loving heart of hearts, I thought they were wrong. They just didn't understand. A woman does not live by solid colors alone!

Until Audrey put it this way: "Prints make you look young. And you don't need to look any younger." She may have added a "Missy" in there too. I don't remember. I was actually taking notes on my phone because she had such a long list of do's and don'ts. Thankfully, as Janelle Wang pointed out, her accent made it easier to take the blunt criticism. "Dreadful!" "Mumsy!" "Too young!" Simon Cowell in a female TV consultant form.

Not only are prints out, but so are puffy shouldered suits. Pink too. Darker shades of pink are OK, but baby pink is a "Please don't take me seriously when I tell you there's been a terrorist attack. I'm wearing the color of your baby's onesie."

No giant accessories like big pendant necklaces, "the third eye" as they're called. Small, natural stones and delicate pieces are preferred. I can think of quite a few people who need that memo.

There was a long list of things she advised us about, and she backed them up with actual photos. Sophisticated, tailored, solid colored dresses and tops are the way to go. Pencil skirts flatter most figures. Say no to stuffy jackets and the reporter uniform of "collared shirt outside the suit jacket lapel." Some prints are OK if you throw a cardigan over them and just let a little bit peek through. No silky/satiny blouses or asymmetric necklines, gasp, two things I love.

Audrey talked about the Today Show anchors. You remember how great they look but you don't really remember their outfits. And sure enough, the day after I met her, I saw Ann Curry in a light green pencil skirt and a dark green V neck sweater. Natalie was wearing a sheath dress with a jacket over it and pumps that matched the dress. Understated, fitted, minimal jewelry, just "one point of interest," like a belt or a necklace, and off you go.

Giuliana Rancic has a wardrobe to die for, but her hardest hitting news is Kim Kardashian's last minute wedding plans. Hoda and Kathie Lee get to wear crazy jewelry and prints because they also get to drink cocktails at 10AM on TV. They, and their clothes, can be the story. In local news, we need to get out of the way of the story and look presentable without being a distraction. It sounds no-brainer, but people need HELP. And sometimes we get in a rut. What worked 10 years ago ain't still working. 

It's a hard pill to swallow when you want to be an individual who loves prints and wants to have some flair, as some of us do, but Audrey's visuals sent the message well.

It's funny because some people are very resistant to this kind of advice. To that I say, HELLO?! We work in a visual medium. It'd be great if we could just write well and ask the tough questions, but people are watching us with their eyeballs. It's superficial but it's part of the gig. And if you don't want to change, there's someone in that stack of DVD's in the news director's office who will. Or who already gets it. So good luck to you and your jankity oversized trench coat. 

I only wish I could've been a fly on the wall in some of the other sessions. Meow. The truth shall set you free. 

Emmy Awards Photos

A few fun snapshots from the night. I can't believe I don't have a candid with Jeremy Carroll, my teammate for this award. We do have our official photos though--the ones they take after you exit the stage and walk all giddy to the black backdrop with all the gold Emmys printed on it.

The Good Doctor is thinking, "Finally. She can stop being a nutjob about this."

Thuy Vu, Eye on the Bay host and multiple award winning super journalist and a role model and mentor to me from my early days at KTVU.

Garvin Thomas, my teammate at KNTV, perspective keeper, a great inspiration and kvetching partner.

Pam and Vera--the lovely ladies who work magic and promote our stories and our station.

And Rob Mayeda. Unflappable. When I first began filling in for Kris Sanchez on weekend mornings here and there, I had many a trifle and tumble and awkward transition into weather. You could toss to Rob with, "And it looks like my hair's on fire, Rob" and he would segue out of it into some clever weather-speak that would tie right into the maps and the 7 day forecast. He is smooth like butter. 

"Emmy Award Winning"

As Uncle Mike said, "Just like the president they can never take the title from you." George W. and I are very relieved about that.

Good things about winning an Emmy:

1. See above. The Good Doctor has been instructed to refer to me as his "Emmy award winning wife" and I now refer to myself in the 3rd person, "The Emmy award winner is thirsty. The Emmy Award winner wants some Ben & Jerry's." 

2. It's really shiny and pointy and has a nice hefty feel to it.

3. You see who is really happy for you.

4. You get wear a pretty dress and a feather in your hair.

5. You get to scream and shout and clap and burst with pride for your friends when they win.

6. Mike Sugerman, someone I've admired and listened to on KCBS and watched on CBS5, comes up to you after he co-wins the category for best reporter and says, "Man, I just wanted you to know, I watched the entries in our category and if I was judging--I would've voted for you. Really." Almost as good as having my name on the best reporter Emmy. But very, very kind and a compliment well taken.

7. You get awesome texts from your family and friends who are watching the webcast. Especially my "punctuation free spirit" dad.

After I bumbled through my speech:

Dad: "No need to thank husband or .... ? :-)))"

After I lost the last 3 categories I was up for (Specialty Assignment Report, Reporter, Writer-News):

Me: "We lost." Mom: "Next year babe. Looked,that guy has 40 yrs in the business." 

Less fun things about winning an Emmy:

1. The ceremony is loooooong. And not as interesting as you might think.

2. It is -- shockingly-- a teeny tiny little bit anticlimactic. This was THE single most astonishing thing to me once we got in the car. I was holding the Emmy, and thinking, "DUDE, this is what I've been fiending for like a maniac and obsessing about and wanting to win so badly?"

Don't get me wrong, I am SUPER HAPPY to finally be an Emmy winner. But it surprised me how quickly it put things in perspective--awards are fantastic, but your health, your family, your life, all the things you can't "win" are so important in the big picture and even if you don't win an award, having all those other things and making sure your priorities are straight is a W in its own way. That said, the night is WAAAAAY better when you leave with a shiny golden ladyfriend. (That's what he said.)

3. You give a terrible speech because you're flustered and unprepared and a rambler when you're nervous. And you forget to thank THE most important people--the Kim family and adorable Sophie, for being such incredible people to welcome us and share their story and for trusting us to tell it. 

4. Raj Mathai teases you endlessly and asks you if you will "still talk to the little people." Last time I checked, he was a MULTIPLE Emmy award winner. 

5. Sometimes really average, run of the mill stories win. I don't mean in my categories. Losing to Wayne Freedman (who now has 51 Emmys, that's five-one as in FIFTY-ONE) and Mike Sugerman (who has 40 years in the biz) and Anna Werner (one of the top investigative reporters in the industry) is as close to not winning-winning as I can get.

But some of the stories that win do not fall in Garvin Thomas' "You have to have really good stuff to win, but really good stuff doesn't always win" philosophy. And that part is what dilutes the Emmys and adds in that element of total randomness that comes from this process. By and large, Emmy winning stories are worth watching and they do represent the best stories of the year.

But a few slip in there that make you say, "That won?!?" And people who you think are just spectacular, and who've won best reporter in the past, can submit 5 things and not even get nominated. The beauty of subjectivity.

6. In two of your categories, there were four nominees and two winners (Writer-News and Reporter) and you were in the losing half. #ouch But still not as bad as a very talented anchor I used to work with. He boycotted the Emmys altogether after he was up for Anchor and there were 3 winners out of 4 nominees. They called every name but his. #thatreallyhurts

Now comes the fun part. Where do I put it? Suggestions? 

It's currently on our buffet, between a lily White Grandma gave me for Mother's Day, and the shrimp and snail biosphere I got The Good Doctor for his birthday. 

Here is our story in the "Feature News Report--Serious" category: "Saving Sophie"

The other story that also won in this category is here. (Emmys are supposed to be judged against the Emmy standard, not against each other, so some categories can have multiple winners.)

Vicky Lucci No Longer

I sort of look 7 feet tall with Lamar Odom hands in this photo but it's the best one I have from the night that actually shows my new golden lady friend. Will detail the night here soon and add in some better photos but my better half scheduled a fun day at Gilroy Gardens, not thinking we might oh, be dead tired after a long night in the city.

So Sunday morning we woke up early, dropped off the dogs, and spent the day walking around a theme park with the Emmy I gave birth to.

I am pooperschnitzeled but happy that I have finally broken the streak. 11 years. 7 nominations. 1 live Emmy birth. 1 actual Emmy award. 

No episiotomy needed!

Things Not to Say to a Reporter: Comment

I thought this deserved its own post, since I'm the only one who goes back and actually reads the comments. Mike McCarron is one of the area's long time and well known PIOs. He represents San Francisco International Airport. And he gets it. Not only does he do his job well, he also trains other people and does workshops for the media too. Smart. Train us if you want us to do better. That's what I was trying to do with my previous post.

He left the following comment in response to my follow up.

Thanks Mike, it's nice to hear what the other half has to say. For the record, I have NEVER asked how planes fly. Only helicopters.

Mike McCarron, SFO spokesman:

All excellent and salient points. From my view on the other side of the microphone I am constantly amazed at what bad instincts (policies?) some PIOs bring to their job. It is always my goal to get the information out as quickly and accurately as I can (basically, so you reporters can leave me alone!). My philosophy has had me at odds with some of our tenants who prefer to exercise the Conastoga method of public relations (circle the wagons) or the Subterranian Avian methodolgy (bury your head in the sand), neither of which serve anyone's purposes.

I have no problem publicly stating "I don't have that information right now" or "Due to security constraints I can't comment on that issue" or "Yes, we made a mistake" but I always add on "and here's what we're going to do to fix it." Everyone who has ever held a job in their life knows that things at work don't always go accordning the Hoyle so they're not shocked when something doesn't go right someplace else. What they don't appreciate (IMHO) is some shiny-suited mouth-piece trying sugar coat things and talk down to them.

The vast majority of the reporters I deal with are real pros. I can count on one hand the ones that I really believe had an agenda and didn't want to give me a fair shake. My biggest irritant about the media, and this is probably a systemic issue due to rapidly changing world of the media and the constant drive to cut costs, is the amazing lack of depth of experience for some working in a market as large as San Francisco. I have no problem answering questions but I expect the reporter to have done his or her homework and not waste my time with stupid questions. ("How do planes fly?" "How do they find the Airport in bad weather?") There are a lot a resources out there (several of which I have written just to help the media!) that can be mined with just a few keystrokes. I also have a standing offer to any reporter to take a couple of hours with me to show you the Airport inside and out so you have a better understanding of the operation and how the Airlines, the FAA, the TSA, Customs, and the Airport are all different entities with different functions and roles.

That's a little more than my two-cents, but I was in good Friday frame of mind.

Keep up the good work and writing the blog.

Mike