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

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'