Latest news with #Glambot
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
How the Canadian behind the Glambot became a ‘talent whisperer' for celebrity red carpets
Cole Walliser didn't move to Los Angeles with the intent of becoming a presence on red carpets. But today, the charismatic 43-year-old's signature laid-back energy and voluminous curls stand out even among the glitterati. You've likely seen Walliser's work, even if you didn't realize it. Since 2016, he's been helming the Glambot, a high-speed robotic camera that captures slow-motion portraits of celebrities, from Cynthia Erivo to Demi Moore to Ice Spice, at major awards shows such as the Oscars and the Grammys. At the same time, Walliser engages A-listers in candid moments as they decide how to co-create the most iconic shots. Originally from Richmond, B.C., Walliser came to L.A. in 2004 with a psychology degree from the University of British Columbia and a love of videography cultivated while filming his friends doing kickflips at the skate park. It was his keen attention to detail in motion that made him the ideal director of the Glambot. The execs at E! Entertainment 'were looking for someone who had directed beauty stuff, done a bunch of movement and choreography, and worked with A-listers,' says Walliser of getting the gig. After early-career experience directing beauty campaigns and music videos for artists such as P!nk and Miley Cyrus, 'I checked all those boxes,' he says. His role, technically, is director. But in practice, Walliser is part cinematographer, part movement coach, part talent whisperer. 'The big challenge is trying to get talent to do a cool, interesting move,' he says. Once Walliser calls out to his operator, the camera rapidly flies forward, capturing its subject's twirling or hair-tossing in a dazzling 1,000 frames per second at 4K resolution. The cost to operate the Glambot at a single event is upward of US$500,000. It's a serious piece of equipment, requiring a team of 13 to run, including video editors and social-media managers. Most Glambot clips are filmed in one superquick take. To nail it, Walliser is watching closely – trying to read what kind of direction a celebrity needs; how they are preparing to move, whether they seem nervous about the giant robot arm about to fly toward their face. He says his psychology background helps. 'I use that every day in the approach I have to creating.' What sets the Glambot apart from other red-carpet photography, he believes, isn't just the spectacle of hi-def slow motion – it's the raw, behind-the-scenes moment that happens between him and the celebrity before the shoot begins. 'You really get a candid, creative conversation which you essentially get nowhere else in entertainment,' he says of these interactions, which are captured and uploaded to social media in near-real time during awards shows. 'Even in behind-the-scenes footage for movies and TV shows, you never actually hear a director and actor talk about a shot. With Glambot, that moment is front and centre.' It's that mix of real-time collaboration and cinematic payoff that keeps the public fascinated. 'A lot of people who watch these envision what they would do if they had the chance to do a Glambot,' he says. 'And to see others confidently – or self-consciously – go through it makes it feel relatable.' Walliser's top Glambot moments include viral clips with Ariana Grande ('arguably the best ever Glambot shot,' he says of the singer's 2020 Oscars capture in a tiered Giambattista Valli gown), Brad Pitt, Billie Eilish and even Weird Al. He's now a kind of avatar for the experience, someone who has been doing it long enough that emerging actors see walking up to him as a rite of passage. 'There are people who've been watching for years, dreaming of doing one, and then they book a TV show and show up at the Emmys,' he says. 'That's just the coolest thing ever.' Representation matters to him, too. Walliser, who is half Chinese, says, 'I feel a sense of pride when I see Asians get opportunities to portray roles that are no longer stereotypical. If they find success and end up on the Glambot, it's so fun to shoot.' Walliser, a freelancer, is also busy with work beyond the Glambot. He's shot Super Bowl commercials, hosted a photography show on Hulu and hopes to direct his own narrative feature films. On weekends, he races cars, surfs and cares for his pet fish in a coral reef tank at home. He has no plans to stop vibing on the red carpet. 'I'll continue doing it so long as E! will have me,' he says. 'It's been so much fun, and my career has grown tremendously.' And if he could Glambot anyone in history? 'Michael Jackson,' he says. 'You couldn't get any better than that.' 'The pose at which you feel most natural is more likely the pose at which you're going to look your best,' says Walliser. 'Find a position that feels comfortable in your body and that you feel confident in. ... That's really going to resonate the most.' If you're working with video, try what Walliser calls a movement pose: 'You just sort of alternate, you twist, you turn in and out of that position, and then when someone says 'three, two, one, action,' you go into it.' 'I wouldn't be ashamed about practising,' says Walliser. 'The people on the red carpet, they're so good because literally their job is to pose. ... Set your phone up, hit a couple of poses, watch it, see what's good.' And most importantly, don't psych yourself out. 'If you're like, 'Oh no, I can't pose, I'm so awkward' – you're guaranteed going to be awkward. Let that go. Just relax and feel comfortable and natural,' he says. Making a lower-tech DIY Glambot is totally possible. 'The new iPhones shoot at 240 frames a second, which is pretty slow-mo,' says Walliser. Ask a friend with a steady hand to film while moving toward you and zooming in as you move into your chosen pose. For inspiration, Walliser recommends checking out the tutorial he made with creator Haley Kalil (a.k.a. Haley Baylee). 'People do home Glambots for their proms, for their events. I get tagged in them all the time, and it's really awesome to see.'
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
Creator of the infamous Glambot on how to master the slo-mo shot
ABC News' Linsey Davis spoke with Cole Walliser, inventor of the now-well-known Glambot shot he executes on red carpets, and how he came up with the idea.
Zawya
27-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Qatar Sports Investments highlights latest innovations and technologies at Web Summit Qatar 2025
Doha, QATAR: Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) highlighted key technological advancements and various new initiatives across its portfolio during a busy four days at Web Summit Qatar 2025. The event, held from February 23-26 at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre, drew more than 25,000 attendees from 124 countries, including 1,520 startups and 723 investors, all exploring the latest innovations in technology and sports. QSI's participation featured key portfolio companies, including Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Premier Padel, and SC Braga showcasing how technology is transforming fan engagement, performance analytics, and global outreach. A major highlight was the launch of PSG Labs, a pioneering global initiative designed to drive technological innovation in sports, fan experience, and performance. PSG Labs will act as the French club's dedicated innovation hub, supporting high-potential startups, entrepreneurs, and technology partners to develop industry-changing solutions. As part of this initiative, PSG established its first international PSG Lab in Doha, reinforcing QSI's commitment to advancing the sports industry, particularly in the Middle East. Two PSG officials participated in summit panels. Fabien Allègre, PSG's Chief Brand Officer, spoke on global brand expansion, detailing how the club has positioned itself as one of the top franchises in the sports industry while growing its global brand, while Jerry Newman, PSG's Chief Digital and Innovation Officer, joined a panel discussion on innovation in sports, offering insights into emerging technologies and strategies shaping the industry. Allègre said: 'We are still the youngest football club among the big clubs, and we had the chance in 2011 when QSI took over to establish a clear vision of building one of the top franchises in the sports industry while also shaping PSG into a global brand. The takeover allowed us to think differently from the traditional voice of football and tap into culture to attract and retain new fans, especially the younger generation. That is what we are – we are the club of the new generation.' Newman added: 'Most recently, courtesy of our partnership with beIN MEDIA GROUP, we are delighted to be the first football club to publish a live competitive match in Virtual Reality [VR] in the United States. This is the first time US fans can feel as though they are in the stadium without physically being there. It is much more than just watching a regular match; the atmosphere is incredible. Allowing fans to immerse themselves in a VR experience from different parts of the stadium is as close as you can get to being there.' Beyond the panel discussions, QSI's booth featured interactive experiences, including the Premier Padel robot challenge, where attendees tested their skills against the world's first padel-playing robot. Guests also engaged with the Glambot and received personalised PSG, Premier Padel, or SC Braga RoboCards from an engraving robot – an exclusive Web Summit Qatar 2025 keepsake. Additionally, QSI hosted the Premier Padel Pro Zone, where attendees joined professional coaches for padel sessions to refine their technique or discover the sport, appealing to both beginners and experienced players. The QSI booth meanwhile attracted high-profile visitors, including dignitaries, industry experts, and even some famous sports personalities such as footballers Gabriel Batistuta and Adlène Guedioura, and former NFL star Kelvin Beachum. QSI also hosted a masterclass on blockchain, artificial intelligence, and decentralized identity in sports. Led by PSG's Head of PSG Labs and Web3, Pär Helgosson, alongside Petrix Barbosa, Founder and CEO of Matchain, the session explored how these technologies can enhance fan engagement, improve performance, and strengthen security in the sports industry. About Qatar Sports Investments Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) is a strategic, long-term private investment vehicle targeting established and early-stage sports assets. QSI adds value through hands-on, expert driven management, and innovative capital solutions. QSI was founded in 2004 and is one of the foremost groups in world sport, investing in and operating assets in the sports sector across the globe. QSI has established itself as a world-class sports investor and operator, notably through the transformative investment in and long-term ownership of Paris Saint-Germain; the formation of the world-leading professional padel circuit, Premier Padel; and investment in the Portuguese sports club, Sporting Clube de Braga, amongst several other investments. QSI's highly experienced leadership team and management across portfolio entities bring with them wide-ranging expertise, a long track record of commercial success, and operational excellence.
