WGN Around Town Visits Backyard Dream Productions
The Excitement of Hosting My Former News Team at Backyard Dream Production’s New Virtual Production Studio
By Ken Stouffer, Producer at Backyard Dream Productions.
Setting the Stage: The Anticipation Builds
Before Backyard Dream I spent more than 3 decades as a Television Production Freelancer. Nearly 20 years of that career was in News Production at Chicago’s Very Own WGN Morning News. One of the segments on the Morning News is “Around Town” where Ana Belaval and her team go out into the world to share stories of interesting things going on locally. The team here was very excited to be a part of this segment, especially me. Not only was this a professional opportunity, but it was also personal, as I would get to see old friends. It is never easy moving on, especially from a Market like Chicago to Kenosha Wisconsin, so this was a great opportunity to show that Kenosha isn’t a step down… it was just a perfect opportunity to start working with a business between 2 big markets Like Chicago and Milwaukee.
A Walk Down Memory Lane: Reuniting with Old Colleagues
I can’t express the joy I felt seeing old friends in my new “home”. So many hugs and kisses. “Look at Kenny! He’s all grown up! He’s mature now!” Exclaimed Ana.
After showing them around and sharing some gossip that I had missed in the last years we were ready to get to work.
Exploring the New Production Studio Together
For me this felt like the first time that my wife and I introduced our parents to each other… It was a very surreal “new families/old families” moment for me. I introduced the Backyard Dream crew to Around Town, and in turn each one shared their expertise. Founder Alex Kudrna told the story of how this Dream began in his own Backyard at the age of 8 and how he produced plays with his friends on his backyard stage for the neighborhood families. His Dream has always stayed the same, as figuratively, his Backyard continues to grow. Jeff Rodriguez, the creative director at Backyard Dream demonstrated how Unreal Engine is used to create fully immersive 3D worlds that are able to be customized and optimized to fit the needs of production. Mike Determan, the resident cinematographer was busy framing shots and tweaking lights to attain the most realistic effects. There was so much to see and do that morning, that I almost wished we could have been on-air live the whole time!
Showcasing Our Latest Projects and Innovations
Virtual Production is a relatively new field. Most people assume that it is just like green screen, or they will say, “Oh. Like the Mandalorian?” We love to use every opportunity to explain the differences and advantages of Virtual Production. When you’re pioneering your way through the front lines of new technology, there are many opportunities for learning and teaching.
Some of the things we like to explain is that Virtual Production is not 2D or flat, it is a fully immersive 3D environment with depth of field, parallax, and perspective. Some of the advantages of shooting on sets like this are that you no longer have to concern yourself with weather, time, lighting, travel, permits, or generators, just to name a few!
Appreciating the Journey and Growth
In my career I have been fortunate. I’ve seen and done so many amazing things. I’ve met people that you would never believe, and in the future I am going to continue to grow with these experiences. When Around Town reported from our studio, it meant so much to me. Not only did it give me the opportunity to share with the world what we’re doing, but I also got to spend the morning with friends, both old and new.
Most importantly, it gave me a moment to reflect.
Alex started this dream in his backyard, and now I’m like a tree in that yard. I have deep roots that remind me of where I came from. I have a strong trunk because I am constantly growing and I am proud to say that my branches are spreading, and bearing fruit.
