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Signs of Spring in the Desert by Adam DuBrowa

While documenting the riparian corridors of California after severe winter weather caused flooding, landslides, and mudslides to the region, my work took me to places in six counties in advance of spring's bloom. I was to document the damages associated with flooding, and the response to those communities and public entities that were affected. In doing so, I grew a profound appreciation for the desert, and the wildlife that live in the unforgiving dynamic environment.

I began to see things in my steps in search of the water's source, high notes of nature, and witnessed the gentle birth of the spring season. I saw nature coming out of its slumber, transforming into spring, and I witnessed the sun grow the flowers, which grew the pollinators, which grew the predators. I was inspired by the quiet, simple, and beautiful world of the desert.

Adam is freelancing at Backyard Productions in Venice, CA and completed principal photography on the feature documentary “Tapped,” an inside look into the bottled water industry. His photography for a special National Geographic Society documentary on Grizzly Bear attacks comes out next month. Currently, Adam is deployed on assignment photographing the Calexico, California 7.2 magnitude earthquake for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Learn more about his documenting the damage, as well as the federal, state, and local response to the disaster here.

Losing Gravity

What happens when an everyday slacker gets his helium dose wrong? HELIUM MAN. Also the first narrative short by Backyard director Nick Piper which recently debuted with rave reviews in the comedy genre at the Beverly Hills Short Film Festival (and moving on to the prestigious Atlanta Film Festival later this month).

Transitioning to shorts has been a long time coming for the director who specializes in special effect commercials. But, it wasn't until he had a dream based around the concept of losing gravity that gave him an idea worth committing to.

"Stock markets were crashing, the world was spiraling into a recession. What next?" he said, "No more gravity?" It turns out that making one person float is a bit less complicated than making gravity disappear altogether, and so the adventures of Helium Man began.

For Nick, the easiest part was writing the story. On the contrary, "Producing the bloody thing," he says in his 'Home of Chip Butties' North England accent, wasn't exactly a walk in the park. Not to mention organizing technocranes, multiple camera crews, a rigging crane (the same one that made Tom Hanks weightless in Apollo 13), and nearly 100 extras.

"I'm getting a producer for the next one," says Nick of the short which would have cost nearly $2M if it weren't for lots of helpful folks in the industry who volunteered time and gear.

Keep your eyes peeled for a feature...

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

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."

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

A Trend Worth Watching

Trend:

1.            a general tendency, movement, or direction

2.            a current fashion or mode

vi: to show a tendency or movement toward something or in a particular direction

In a recent conversation with Backyard partner Roy Skillicorn, we touched on some trends worth watching, and some that are more dubious. Each is a hot topic on Twitter and in the trades, but Roy predicts that some will be a flash in the pan while others will “stick.” Some trends like iPhone technology, change our lives forever.

We asked him about commercials and 3D. “Some people think that 3D is to HD as color TV was to black and white,” Roy says. “I hesitate because I don’t know how many people want to put [the 3D] glasses on in their own homes.” That’s seemingly a small matter, but one whose answer will ultimately determine the future of 3D. He did find a recent 3D display for the out-of-home market (at the Boards Summit) that required no glasses; provocative, but not ready for prime time.  

“Precision Marketing” is a trend Roy feels fits into the iPhone category of relevance: the movement toward marketing to individual customers rather than to a mass audience. “The whole concept of precision targeting – not blanketing the same message to thousands, but addressing people one-on-one, is more respected,” Roy explains. “Precision targeting allows you to convey a richer, more personal touch.” Ironically, the current phenomenon of Facebook actually harkens back to an earlier era where personal relationships reigned supreme. Facebook has spawned a movement – both for baby boomers and for youth – to be “much more apt to experiment with brands that have contacted them individually.”

The last trend we considered is the current movement toward personal reinvention in the marketplace. “Many people have lost their jobs because of belt tightening and/or their age, and they are re-inventing themselves.  Many, facing a dreary job search are even starting their own companies.  I see these people rejuvenated and it is inspiring.”

“There is a trend to tighten up and reduce the amount of waste in the work environment.” Perhaps in business, as in life, anything that doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…

Star Power Amidst L.A. Showers

     Despite all the excessive rain and cold that has been plaguing Southern California over the past week, our Choice Hotels shoot pressed on.

     Backyard director Rob Pritts teamed up with John Ratzenberger, the trademark voice for Pixar Studios for one of the spots. A hero among voice actors, Ratzenberger is the only person to voice a character in each of Pixar Animation’s feature films including: John in WALL-E, Hamm in the Toy Story series, and Underminer in The Incredibles, to name a few. We are also huge fans of the star from his iconic role on "Cheers" as the bar know-it-all Cliff Clavin, a beloved character who also guest-appeared on "Frasier" and "the Simpsons."

Mac’s the word amongst our agency guests from Leo Burnett, Chicago

     By the time the spots air all this rain will be a distant memory... Stay dry!

DAY TRIP TO SWEDEN WITH DIRECTOR JESPER ERICSTAM

At work and at play, Backyard's Jesper Ericstam shares his daily routine from his home outside Stockholm to his office in the city.  The warm-blooded Swede may have a secret life as a professional ice swimmer, when he's not creating his brand of visual comedy for spots.

a dip starts the day right

inspiration from the streets of Stockholm

BBH Shanghai is Ad Age China's AGENCY OF THE YEAR

Our friends and colleagues at BBH Shanghai are getting well-deserved recognition for this past year's work, named by Ad Age China 2009 Agency of the Year.  The agency is bringing American pop culture flair and experience to advertising for major International brands in the Asian market.  ECD Johnny Tan and his team have worked tirelessly with Backyard on several campaigns including Minute Maid/Coca-Cola featuring pop singer Eason Chan, and multiple LG work including the recent "Portal" featuring scenes from blockbuster "Avatar."  Congratulations! http://adage.com/globalnews/article?article_id=141483

No rest for the wicked, bringing in 2010

While revelers were prepping for bon vivant bashes to drop-kick 2009, Backyard was sampling craft service, busy filming on the mean streets of LA.  New Year's Eve was celebrated in a film lab with dailies from our recent GM shoot for Leo Burnett, Detroit, with director Nick Piper.


"We thought it was a nice distinction to be the last commercial shoot of the decade in LA county," notes Backyard partner Blair Stribley.  "We are taking this as a good omen for the decade to come."


Happy new year!

BABY, IT'S WARM OUTSIDE

Backyard staff and directors met on our Venice rooftop last week to celebrate the holidays with a few friends, lots of delicious food and good cheer.  With Blair manning the grill, revelers feasted on steaks, shrimp and portabello mushrooms.  Shawn decorated for the occasion, creating an inviting space for relaxation and reflection.  Everyone is grateful for a solid year, and looking forward to a better year ahead.

And if the person who brought the incredible apple pie can share the source, we'll be back for more...

BACKYARD’S PRITTS JOINS THE BATTLE FOR AVATAR AND LG

Backyard director Rob Pritts brings one cell phone shopper knee-deep into the alien world of Avatar in a new :30 “Portal,” for LG out of BBH, Singapore. Promoting the new LG Chocolate phone and the upcoming James Cameron sci-fi epic, the spot features in-movie action as the shopper flees from a vicious creature on the planet of Pandora. Avatar opens nationwide this Friday, December 18^th.

“Portal” opens inside a suburban mall at an LG kiosk. A young man approaches the kiosk where a new LG Chocolate is on display, playing a scene from Avatar in beautiful HD. He picks up the phone, marveling at the HD LCD screen, and is suddenly thrust into an intergalactic wormhole. Transported almost instantaneously to the jungle planet of Pandora, the man stands stunned—and still holding the phone—amidst lush ferns and towering trees. From out of nowhere, a dinosaur-like creature of skyscraper proportions rises above him, ready to pounce. Two azure skin-toned characters from the film appear to scream, “Run! Definitely run!” The young man does, hurling himself off of a waterfall, back through the wormhole returning to the mall kiosk where he stands panting and soaking wet. Passersby stare, unaware of his split-second intergalactic journey. A voiceover concludes, “Feel like you’re there with the 4-inch, HD LCD Chocolate. See things differently.” The Avatar and LG logos appear, accompanied by LG’s tag, “Life’s Good,” closing out the spot.

Credits:

Client: LG

Products: LG Chocolate phone and “Avatar”

Title: “Portal” :30

Airdate: December 13, 2009

Where Shot: LA

Production company: Backyard Productions, Venice, CA

Director: Rob Pritts

DP: Christophe Lanzenberg

Producer: Carr Donald

Exec. Producer: Kris Mathur

Advertising Agency: BBH, Singapore

Executive Creative Director: Johnny Tan

Head of Production: Rebecca So

Creative Director: Kelly Pon

Producer: Krystie Koh

Editorial Company: N/A

Editor: Bob Mori, Santa Monica, CA

Visual Effects Company: Radium, Santa Monica, CA

Exec Prod: Jeff Blodgett

###

MURAKAMI and McG TEAM UP WITH BACKYARD TO TURN ART INTO POP

Japanese artist/producer Takashi Murakami and Hollywood heavyweight director McG join forces in a new, Tokyo pop art-infused short film, “Akihabara Majokko Princess,” installed at the Tate Modern’s current exhibit, “Pop Life: Art in a Material World.” Produced by Murakami and Venice, CA-based Backyard, the short features an effervescent Kirsten Dunst “turning Japanese” in Tokyo’s assault-to-the-senses Akihabara shopping district. Daniel Rappaport of Management 360° and Backyard’s Eriks Krumins executive produced this unique, smile-inducing project.

            Like an anime character brought to life, Dunst is the blue-haired embodiment of eye candy, dancing in the streets and singing “Turning Japanese” by 80’s new wave/pop band, The Vapors. Brimming with colorfully clad Japanese hipsters, “Majokko Princess” takes viewers on a whirlwind tour of Akihabara where karaoke, video games, plush toys and animé rule. ###

Backyard Talks China at the Boards Summit

Owner Blair Stribley, Director Rob Pritts and Producer Carr Donald were joined by Exec. Creative Director Johnny Tan of BBH, Shanghai to present a workshop on "Four Things You Need to Know About Working in China" at the 2009 Boards Summit conference in NYC.

The panel gave the audience of prodcos and post attendees a snapshot of the necessary ingredients for a successful venture into this increasingly important market. Transcending cultural differences requires a well-connected local partner and an understanding of the determined work ethic the Chinese advertising industry exemplifies. The result is respected relationships with Chinese agencies -- plus campaigns with American flair for brands including Coca-Cola and LG.

PHIL BROWN’S AMBIEN WINS TOP PRIZES AT CLIO HEALTHCARE AWARDS

Venice-CA based Backyard director Phil Brown and Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness took home the top honors for Ambien “Silence Your Rooster” at the first-ever Clio Healthcare Awards held last month in New York. Winning Gold and the Grand Clio, the visual spot features an insomniac attempting to ignore a needy rooster hounding her in the middle of the night.  For a complete list of winners: http://www.cliohealthcare.com/winners/pdfs/2009_CLIO_Healthcare_Winners_Book.pdf