Backyard, baby!

Gianna Todaro, daughter of long time Backyard freelancer Joel Todaro and his wife Krystyne, chows down in style sporting her Backyard Wear!   Get it Little G!

GET A ROOM

Jeffrey Karoff is directing an HIV PSA awareness spot called, Get A Room.

"I wanted to capture that blush of first lust and the inappropriate public behavior that accompanies it," Karoff says of the PDA laden PSA.

With the technique, inspired by Hockney’s photo collages, every image is a paste-up of multiple, motion frames highlighting the ‘It’s only you and me, babe’ feeling of young lust.

Using the Canon 5D has proven to be the perfect tool.

"When I’m out there, I look like a still photographer.  My location scouts consist of me setting up a tripod to see if anyone kicks me out.  So far, I’ve been pretty lucky. It’s been a liberating job in that I am shooting this myself, often with one assistant,” says the director.

New York editor Brandon Beck will do the composites and editing.  The project is shooting over a long time span – Karoff will shoot a scene or two a week, then send to Beck for assembly – and so the interaction is lively. What a luxury.

Who wants ice cream!?

Meet Our Intrepid CFO/General Manager, Alison Ivy Seligson

Alison is a Southland native, hailing from the mean streets of the Valley.  Although technically a Valley Girl, she rarely uses the word “like” in a sentence and prefers the easy beach access of Venice.  A great lover of NASCAR, Alison says “Jew Billy” is a much better way to describe her.  She loves the people, the power and the strategy involved in NASCAR.  Alison and her husband recently watched a race from the Pit at California Speedway.

In addition to being a racecar fanatic, Alison is an accomplished singer.  After graduating high school, Alison shipped off to Maui to sing in lounges for several successful years.  Managing her band in Maui is where she first discovered her business acumen.  She returned to LA to study business while also working for Lucas Films Commercials and other ad-related companies.  With an MBA in tow, she graduated from assistant to management positions in several commercial production companies, ultimately landing at Backyard.  Her six-year mark as the company’s CFO/General Manager is coming up this April.

In what little spare time she has, she still manages to book a singing gig or two for her band, James and Al (James being her brother). Check out their myspace page: www.myspace.com/jamesandal.

Dog Day Fridays.. and a Cat!

More of our favorite four-legged companions...

SCOUT

The biggest love muffin there is. I have a little saying - It's Scout's world... we just live in it.

     -Jen Shami, Freelance Production Supervisor

BUTTERS

This is Butters enjoying a weekend away in Palm Springs (it's really good he's outside as his owner shared that bulldogs this age, around 2, have intense gas!)

     -Carr Donald, Proud Papa / Producer

NIKKO

Here is my four legged friend, Nikko... He is quite the little monster which makes him all the more loveable. He loves to be outside, take long walks in the grass, his guilty pleasure is seafood, and he can't resist a good back rub!

     -Genevieve Adams, Receptionist at Backyard

COCO CHANEL

This is Coco Chanel Keenan in all her natural glory. About 4 years old.

     -Peter Keenan, Mesmerist / Producer