Public access television shows are cursed with this
stigma that they’re really bad. Not so with locally-produced The Basement. What started out as a
YouTube video series has transformed into a local sensation. I recently got
together with Shane Devon, one of the creators of “The Basement,” to ask him a
few questions.
N4U: So for our readers who aren't on the up
and up, what is "The Basement?"
Shane: The
Basement is an improvisational sketch comedy web series we created for
YouTube (we being myself, Kent Blue and David Goble). Basically we get
together once or twice a month and goof off on camera, improvising our way
through loose sketch ideas. The hours and hours of footage is edited down
to a solid eight minutes, thus giving the illusion that we know what we're
doing. While we love the instant feedback we get on YouTube, we kind of
wanted to see the show on television. So in 2009 we contacted our local
public access channel and they jumped right on board. The public access
version of The Basement is a
15-minute version of the show we produce for YouTube. I can't even
describe how satisfying it is to see our stuff on an actual television screen
instead of the tiny box online. Once or twice our show actually aired
after Night of the Living Dead.
I imagine that must be what Heaven is like.
How long have you been producing it?
We've been producing the show since late 2006, back
in the heyday of YouTube. We never really thought anyone would watch and
were excited to get 10 views back then. Over time our audience grew to
over 1800 subscribers and now we get well over 1000 views per
episode. Think about that for a second. It takes a long time to count
to 1000. Now imagine each number as someone taking the time to watch our
stuff. One of our recent videos has gotten nearly 3/4 of a million views
and counting! That's the big time right there, kiddies. It helps us
imagine we're living the life. Now if we could only convince all of Owensboro and Evansville
to watch the show on public access, maybe we'll achieve Jon Brennan
fame. It's the pipe dream. Fingers crossed.
Do you feel like there need to be more locally
produced shows in Evansville? Why?
I don't think there should be more shows for the sake
of more shows. I do, however, believe most local filmmakers are hiding in
the shadows and need to come out. The sun is shining and the water's
fine. If you want to make movies or write movies or act or direct or all
of the above and then some, local public access is the perfect place to
start! Instead of talking about doing something big someday, do something
small now. Even South Park
started as a little animated Christmas card of sorts. YouTube is out
there, public access is out there. Use them. Don't hold
back. You never know who might be watching.
How did you get started with your show?
Me and my pal Kent Blue had been planning on making a
movie but it never seemed to progress beyond the planning stages. In the
meantime we discovered two very important elements: YouTube and our pal
David Goble. We decided to try the "Why Not?" approach and got
together on a whim one day to make a video. We enjoyed it so much we just
kept going. We're still planning the movie but even if that never happens
we'll always have The Basement.
Totally unrelated, but who was your preferred side in
this month's "Late Night War?”
Last I heard Craig Ferguson is sitting pretty, so I'm
good. But I will say "Conan" is a damn cool name.
Cast members of The Basement also include Shanna
Markwell, Andy Shultz, Lucas Jones and Amanda Devon. The program’s Youtube
channel is at youtube.com/octoberroad.
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Photo Credit | October Road
Films
