Burt Grinstead shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Burt, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
When I’m writing, mapping out a story in my head, I find myself completely lost in the world that we’re creating. I love that feeling of discovering the mystery and magic of a made-up land. It’s like watching a new movie that’s been made just for me, but its story unfolds over time, allowing me to fully explore every set piece, every hidden plot device, every character’s motivation, and be surprised by every twist and turn. I love that feeling.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Burt Grinstead. A few years ago, my wife, Anna Stromberg, and I started a production company where we produce theatre, films, TV shows, and anything and everything else we want to explore. Because it’s just the two of us, it’s necessary for us to fill a lot of different roles, from acting or directing to being our own foley artists and color correctionists. Everyday we find ourselves learning new skills and adapting to new challenges. It keeps life thrilling.
Blanket Fort Entertainment started with a simple idea: we wanted to make the kind of things we’d love to watch. The challenge—and the joy—is that we love a lot of things. One week it’s a historical comedy on stage, the next it’s a found-footage horror experiment, then suddenly we’re knee-deep in a lighthearted gardening program or a noir thriller with a splash of the fantastical. We love playing around with genres, bending and twisting them just enough that the familiar feels fresh and exciting to us.
For us, it always comes back to story. That’s the spark. A good story is the thing that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go, whether it’s being told in a garden bed, a fantastical forest, or behind the shaky lens of a handheld camera.
Recently, we co-produced Our Gardens with GNAT-TV—a half-hour series about gardening in Vermont. Every gardener has a story, and every garden is its own magical world. Inspired by shows like Gardener’s World, we roamed across Southwest Vermont meeting people whose passion for their plots of land was as compelling as any fictional character. That project was pure joy, and we’re thrilled it’s now airing on Vermont PBS.
Now, after years of experimenting across mediums and genres, we’re turning our focus back to feature films. Our latest project, HOLLOW, is a dark fantasy noir about a detective searching for a wealthy man’s missing daughter, who disappears inside a legendary stone circle. To find her, she teams up with a disgraced folklore professor, and together they face the question: is this the work of a killer, a conspiracy, or something much older and stranger? We start shooting next month—and we honestly can’t wait to share it with the world.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Meeting Anna was the most pivotal moment of my life. She’s my person, and I’m grateful every single day that she’s my wife. She believes in me wholeheartedly, sees the good in me even when I don’t, and invites me to be fully myself without apology.
I can sometimes get wrapped up in my own head, chasing worries or disappearing into daydreams, but she has this way of gently pulling me back into the present. We dream together, we laugh until it hurts, and we create things that neither of us could have imagined on our own.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Try it all. Just go for things. Throw ideas at the wall and see what sticks. Don’t get so tangled up in where each choice might lead—let curiosity pull you forward and see what unfolds.
I spent far too much time worrying about doing the “right” thing, convinced I had to live within a script someone else had written for me. It wasn’t until I met Anna that I found the courage to step outside of that, to pick up new skills, to chase new passions, and to become someone beyond what I thought I was allowed to be.
I’d tell my younger self: be bold enough to try, to fail, to shake it off, and to try again. Because life is about learning, and what better teacher than your own mistakes.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I used to be a die-hard meat eater—a self-proclaimed cheeseburger connoisseur—but I’ve been vegan for years now, and I can’t imagine ever going back.
On one of our first dates, Anna and I visited a Farm Sanctuary outside Los Angeles. That’s where I met Bruno, a massive bull who was playful, curious, and surprisingly affectionate. He walked right up to me and gave me a big, slobbery kiss.
Since then, veganism has become more than a diet for me—it’s a commitment to live with compassion and awareness. It’s made me more mindful about the ripple effects of my choices, from the food I eat to the impact on animals, the planet, and even future generations. And the cool thing is, it’s easier (and more delicious) than it seems.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I’ve realized how much I love building worlds, telling stories, and shaping them into something that other people can step into. Getting to do that for work is a real joy.
There are moments in the process—when an idea sparks late at night, or when a scene finally clicks into place—that feel electric. I get the same rush in rehearsal rooms, on set, or during long conversations with Anna about what a project could become. To me, that excitement is the sign I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
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Image Credits
Cooper Bates Photography, Hickory Lawson, Deyan Christakiev
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