The basics of creating a web series

By Juliana Stumpp

San Diego is filled with little-known restaurants, bars or hangouts that aren’t mainstream…yet. It’s always fun having a local place that you can bring your friends or family to. With summer approaching, finding places to eat and enjoy is a must. Kyle Miller, the creator of the YouTube web series “Backyard Adventures,” goes around Southern California places and documents his experience for his viewers. Miller sat down with The Cougar Chronicle to explain his process and what it’s really like having a web series.

Question: What prompted you to start a web series?

Answer: What prompted the idea for me to start a web series was my first class that I took here; Chicano Theatre. A lot of my classmates told me that I was really good and I should use my talent. Then I got the idea to do my own travel web series, “Backyard Adventures,” and make comedy videos like the “Dating Tips with Kyle Miller.”

Q: For every webisode, how do you come up with ideas?

A: For “Backyard Adventures,” it’s a bit of a challenge because you have to get permission from the owner of the restaurant, bar, etc. to film. So far everyone has been nice about it because they are small businesses. In a way I’m helping the community. As for the “Dating Tips,” I found it humorous of the advice people would give me. So I wanted to make a comedy about dating advice people have given me.

Q: Is there a creative process you go through for every webisode?

A: For “Backyard Adventures”, I wanted to do something different than other travel series. There are elements of travel hosts I see within me like the dorkiness of Huell Howser. My main goal in “Backyard Adventures” is educate and entertain like in Chicano Theatre. As for the “Dating Tips,” I pick an advice and start writing.

Q: How do you balance the time to do a web series on top of other responsibilities?

A: At first I thought I could balance it out. In the end, it was too much. School must be a priority as well as family and work. With summer vacation near, I can do more episodes for “Backyard Adventures,” “Dating Tips,” and hopefully write short skits like “Cholo Adventures.” Hopefully, I’ll be able to do a trip to Latin America which is where I want to expand “Backyard Adventures” after I’m done graduating since I’m going to teach English down there.

To check out “Backyard Adventures,” visit http://kylesbackyardadventures.blogspot.com/