Profile: Indy Mogul’s Backyard FX
Show: Indy Mogul’s Backyard FX
Launched: May 2007
Distributed by: Next New Networks, at IndyMogul.com
Located: East Bay, CA
Talent: Erik Beck
Runs: Weekly
Latest Episode:
The angle:
Backyard FX is hosted by self-proclaimed “zero budget wizard” Erik Beck. The quick (never more than 6-7 minute) videos show how to create practical film special effect, followed by an always-entertaining “screen test” to show off how the effect actually looks when completed. Episodes have covered how to make zombie make-up, a robot, aging make-up, a giant sandwich (a must-watch, in my opinion), and a gunshot effect, among others.
Our Thoughts:
The show is only a couple months old, but already looks to be a big winner. I have never had even a remote interest in film-making, but the clips still appealed. Learning how to make fake brains or convincing zombies is just interesting stuff, even if the viewer won’t actually be using the practical advice themselves. It helps that the episodes don’t overstay their welcome. It quickly shifts from intro, to explanation, to the final screen test, and you’re left wishing it wasn’t 7 days until another episode is available.
Host Erik Beck, besides clearly knowing his stuff (anyone know his film background?), also comes off as very likable. The show’s oddball humor occasionally misses the mark, but hits it far more often.
The strong viewer interactivity, the short running time, the host himself, and nearly all other aspects of Backyard FX make this one an example of Web Video done right.
Resources:
About Indy Mogul
Facebook Group
Myspace Page
1M Streams News Story
