John Champion and Jeff Kehe produce pop culture “land of geekdom” webTV shows for cult followers

WHO THEY ARE: Founders of two-year-old, Evanston-based Stone Face Productions, director John Champion and writer Jeff Kehe produce the webTV “BIF! BAM! POW! WOW!” at www.bifbampowwow.tv.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT: In less than 10 minutes, quirky, Lincoln Park comic book store manager Tom Seymour hosts viewers through the “land of geekdom,” with cartoon-style segments about superheroes, sci-fi or pop culture.

The show is produced for ON Networks, the company which owns and distributes “BIF! BAM! POW! WOW!”

PROS: Champion:“I get to choose to work with people I like.”

Kehe: “Meeting people like self-professed vampires or ?Spiderman’ every week.”

CONS: Champion: “As a small company, being responsible for every small detail.”

Kehe: “I’m not necessarily the biggest comic geek.”

CURRENTLY WORKING ON: Eight more segments and resuming production on more of their flagship show, “DVD Geeks.”

They just delivered 13 half-hour segments to Atlas Worldwide for international and domestic distribution. The shows will air at www.itvi.com.

MOST MEMORABLE PROJECT: Champion: “Interviewing ?Star Trek’ stars William Shatner and Will Wheaton at a trekkie convention in Las Vegas last August.”

Kehe: “Interviewing a self-professed vampire family in Rogers Park that’s also the head of the ?Anne Rice Appreciation Society.'”

“We could only conduct the interview at night. They used to drink vampire blood, but say they now just live off people’s energy.”

BIG BREAKS: Champion: “I don’t believe there is such a thing as one big break, but many opportunities.”

Kehe: “Meeting John in Trader Vic’s in a quirk of fate and realizing we had the same dreams.”

HEADACHES: Champion: “Postproduction?making sure all HD formats are the same when editing in Final Cut.” Kehe: “Trying to find P2 cards for our Panasonic camera. Finally found them at Zacuto.”

KEY TO SUCCESS: Champion: “Patience and tenacity.”

Kehe: “The talent we’ve found. I don’t know if we could pull this off in any other city.”

BACKSTORY: Champion produced/directed documentaries while earning his BA in media studies at Fordham University. In Chicago he worked in publishing, PR, and held graphics jobs for six years. He produced a Six Flags Great America Halloween promotion for two years before founding Stone Face with Jeff.

With BA degrees in business and marketing from Concordia University, Kehe started writing for CPA Digest in Mequon for two years. He spent four years as a Daily Herald reporter in Arlington Heights and wrote for Country Sampler’s Country Business Magazine for five years.

ON THE SIDE: Champion: Founding member, N.U.F.A.N. Ensemble, an acting troupe that’s performed at Live Bait Theater.

Kehe: “Master of the un-produced screenplay and potty training my 3-year-old son, Everett.”

WHAT COULD CHICAGO USE: Champion: “Better BBQ?I grew up in Alabama.”

Kehe: “More networking groups.”

ULTIMATE GOAL: Champion: “I see us having sort of a little geek empire.”

Kehe: “To keep growing?developing and producing more shows for distribution.”

WORDS OF ADVICE: Champion: “If you want to produce, or whatever you want, just go out and do it. Pick up a camera and shoot.”

Kehe: “Put yourself out there and network by joining professional groups. Keep your eyes and ears open all the time.”

Stone Face Productions is located at 1703 Darrow St.,Evanston; phone 847/563-8322. See