Cobra in the Backyard

Fresh off the course, recent first-time PGA tour winner, Ian Poulter, teamed up with Director Kevin Smith of Backyard for Cobra Golf Clubs in Palm Springs.

Talking with the talent, Ian Poulter

Poulter (@Ianjamespoulter) tweeted "Just finished the Cobra commercial, been a long but great day in Palm Springs, the commercials will be awesome," on Monday night.

David Feherty and Kevin Smith

David Feherty, broadcaster and former European and PGA Tour pro, has become the spokesperson for Cobra in a series of recent advertisements and also resides on www.cobragolf.com in the video blog "Face-off with Feherty."

Shawn Meaux: Director of Ops, Interior Decorator?

Backyard's very own Director of Operations, Shawn Meaux was announced as Architectural Digest's Viewers Vote Award for their favorite use of fabric among reader submissions!

The wingback chair was found in a local thrift store badly in need of reupholstering.

The creative use of fabric won over the voters!

Shawn's passion for great design and vintage furniture shines through in his day-to-day work at Backyard, as he also oversees the development of Backyard swag. Congratulations Shawn!!

Carr's Durian Adventure

One of Backyard’s latest spots took the crew to Singapore and China, where we shot Minute Maid for BBH with pop star Eason Chan, who has become one of Hong Kong’s most dominant male singers earning multiple ‘Album of the Year’ awards.

Talking to the talent, Eason Chan. Great guy!

But between the filming and sightseeing was a stop to try what is revered in Southeast Asia as the King of Fruits.

Carr makes friends with the Durian vendor

“Durian is the stinkiest fruit alive – smells something like rotten onions that have been overcooked. Most Westerners vomit when they eat it,” says Producer Carr Donald.

Turns out that Carr actually liked it.

Despite the humidity and the 95-degree weather, the Minute Maid shoot went great!

Smiles all around!!

Suze Orman Chronicles Her Shoot With Backyard

Financial advice guru Suze Orman stars in a new, yet-to-air TD Ameritrade spot directed by Backyard's Don Rase.  In 'Suze's Scrapbook' on her website, she gives a shout-out to Backyard in her visual diary of the retirement-oriented :30 out of Porter Novelli.

To view the full photo set, click here: Suze's Scrapbook and view 'January'

For the Dog Days of President's Day

What good is a Backyard without any dogs sniffing around? To usher in the dog days of the long President's Day weekend, we offer you the resident companions of our own backyards:

CHARLIE

My mellow yellow Labrador Charlie recently starred in a Bayer spot I shot in Toronto.

-Phil Brown (Director)

OLIVE

Olive was a rescue, so when asked what breed she is I say "part chihuaha, part cute." Our best guess is chihuahua - dachshund - beagle.

-Karen Chen (Freelance Producer)

MAVERICK

Maverick is his own dog. You know the type.

-Roy Skillicorn, Partner

LOTUS

He is 1 year old and a true lover boy. I rescued him and got him fixed last week, but the hormones haven't quite leveled off yet. He is wonderful with people and kids but still tries to climb aboard pretty much every dog he sees.

-Virginia (Public Relations)

SYDNEY

A purebred Labrador, this girl was the runt of the litter- believe it or not. She will be celebrating her ninth birthday this May.

-Jason Wolk (Freelance Producer)

Kevin Smith Reports Non-Violent News for Milwaukee PD

Backyard director Kevin Smith delivers benign local newscasts for the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) in two new 30-second PSAs, “Non-Shooting” and “Non-Assault” out of Cramer-Krasselt, Milwaukee, WI.  The PSAs feature tongue-in-cheek newscasts about violence that never occurred to promote that there were 2,945 fewer crimes in Milwaukee last year; no laughing matter.  The “Be A Force” PSA campaign is also a recruiting tool aimed at future area police officers.

            Says Milwaukee Police Chief Edward A. Flynn, “We are sharing the message that in some jobs, success is measured by what doesn’t happen.  At the MPD, we had nearly 3,000 fewer victims of crime last year than the year before.  That’s success that we want to share on a grand scale.”

Credits:

Client: Milwaukee Police Department

Titles: “Non-Shooting,” “Non-Assault” 2 X :30

Production Company: Backyard, Venice, CA

Director: Kevin Smith

DP: Randy Arnold

Executive Producers: Blair Stribley, Peter Steinzeig

Line Producer: Peter Keenan

Co-Producers: Tim Fermino, Kelsi McIntyre, Cathy Chen

Agency: Cramer Krasselt, Milwaukee, WI

Exec Creative Director: Chris Jacobs
Creative Directors: Todd Stone, Michael Fazende

Art Director: Jim Root

Editorial Company: Backyard, Venice, CA

Editor: Justin Lee

VFX Company: Transistor Studios, New York

Executive Producer: Damon Meena                                               

Head of Production: Andrea Sertz Jew                                   

Associate Creative Director: Aaron Baumle                                               

Associate Art Director: Aaron Baker                                                           

Senior Art Director: Jamie Rockaway                                               

Associate Producer: Corrine Liebe                                               

Digital Assets Manager: Andrew Adair