Conversations with Silke Burmeister

Today we’d like to introduce you to Silke Burmeister

Hi Silke, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Silke Burmeister is a journalist and TV producer who works in many facets of the entertainment industry.
Originally from Germany, I was fortunate to spend most of my childhood and teenage years in Niger, a country full of stunning landscapes, and home to the Sahara Desert and Aïr Mountains. Growing up with people from different cultures and making friends from around the world sparked my interest in storytelling. Niger is also the place where I first discovered my love for cinema. At the time, there was no movie channel on local television, so instead we visited the only outdoor theatre where Hollywood films were shown many months, sometimes years, after their initial US premiere – and man, were they worth the wait! I remember being 11 years old and writing interviews between myself and actors whose movies I had seen, imagining what they would answer. Little did I know that one day my dream would come true and I would really interview some of them.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Overcoming obstacles is an essential part of life. Everyone faces challenges, and I wouldn’t be who I am today without them. When it comes to work-related obstacles, a tough one for me was dealing with the popular “work life balance.” I think many freelancers and creatives can relate. For a long time I had difficulties setting boundaries. I would answer emails and calls late at night, even when I was out with friends or had a day off. I was afraid to upset the current client or lose the job to the competition. During the day I would often skip lunch to meet deadlines. It took me many years to listen to the wisdom of my body, integrate self-care and embrace the “hey, this is good enough!”

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Being born with a natural, genuine curiosity, I enjoy learning about someone else’s background, beliefs, experiences, and growth. I’ve written and produced documentaries, docu-series as well as some fun reality shows for television and streaming platforms. Here in Hollywood, I work for German speaking TV networks that are based in Europe who are always in need of content from Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world. I report live from the Oscars and other award shows, I produce news segments, cover film premieres and interview Jennifer Aniston, Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck & Co to promote their American films to international markets. I am also a voting member of the Critics Choice Association for whom I review and rate many films for the annual Critics Choice Awards.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Check out my podcast “Du und Ich in LA” on Apple, Spotify or up in the air on all Lufthansa/Swiss/Austrian international flights 🙂
If you speak German, and are fascinated by the City of Angels, this podcast is for you!
We interview Deutsch-centric guests with unique, interesting careers who share their personal LA love story, along with the ups & downs of expat life. We also cover the latest Hollywood news, dive into the film industry, share typical “so LA” moments and offer some cool (often unusual) things to do in the city. Thanks for listening, hope you enjoy it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.silkeburmeister.com
• Instagram: @worldgonesilky