EQAL
Encyclopedia
EQAL is a media and technology company founded in 2008 by Miles Beckett and Greg Goodfried, two of the creators of lonelygirl15
. EQAL builds influencer networks around celebrities and brands. Prior to building influencer networks, EQAL was best known for producing lonelygirl15 (LG15) as well as for producing other series in the LG15 Universe (the universe using the mythology started by the lonelygirl15 series) including KateModern
in association with Bebo
and LG15: The Resistance
, as well as Harper’s Globe, the original web series, commissioned by CBS
as a tie-in for the series, Harper’s Island. The company builds custom social media networks and online solutions around the websites for a variety of celebrities, including Tori Spelling, Lauren Conrad, Bethenny Frankel, JWOWW, Nick Cannon, Ty Pennington, Randy Jackson, Chelsea Kane and others.
, a screenwriter, at a birthday party. Beckett had the idea to use short internet videos to tell a story. Flinders had developed a character that he thought would be perfect for the project. Together the two of them contacted Greg Goodfried for legal advice, and the three of them subsequently created lonelygirl15. The group became formally known as LG15 Studios/Telegraph Ave. Productions.
While Mesh Flinders went on to pursue other endeavors at the end of 2007, in April 2008, Beckett and Goodfried announced the formation of EQAL. The new company raised $5 million in venture capital. Among EQAL’s initial investors were Spark Capital, Marc Andreessen
, co-founder of Netscape, Conrad Riggs, formerly with Mark Burnett
productions, tech investor Ron Conway
, and Georges Harik, former developer of new products at Google.
In May 2008, a partnership between EQAL and CBS
was announced to create new original programming and online tie-ins for CBS network shows. A few months later, it was announced that EQAL would produce the Harper's Globe online companion show for CBS's Harper's Island. Through the CBS deal, EQAL met Anthony E. Zuiker
, creator of CSI, and was hired by Zuiker to create the online component for Zuiker's first novel, Level 26, which was released in September 2009. The Zuiker partnership was the first in a series of similar media partnerships. In 2009, EQAL launched two new original web series with dedicated social networks: Get Cookin for Food Network host Paula Deen
and The Kind Life With Alicia Silverstone
for Silverstone about global warming and vegetarian topics.In 2010, EQAL launched The Real Women of Philadelphia with Digitas for Kraft Foods and Paula Deen which went on to garner a gold Effie award in 2011. (link: http://www.effie.org/downloads/2011_Winners_List_with_trophy.pdf)
EQAL continued to launch celebrity sites including AlisonSweeney.com, Healthy Bitch Daily in association with Skinny Bitch and Made Just Right with Earth Balance. In 2011, EQAL launched their Media Networks division to build social networks around celebrities and influencers. They have launched more than 20 sites with another 5 expected this year. Sites include LaurenConrad.com, Editorial with Tori Spelling, Bethenny.com, NickCannon.com, ElleandBlair.com, Michelle Phan.com, TyPennington.com, JWOWW.com, and many more. EQAL continues to work with brands. In March 2011, Real Women of Philadelphia season 2 launched as well as Real Women of Philadelphia Canada. In April 2011, Walgreens announced a partnership with EQAL and Alison Sweeney for Walk with Walgreens, a site dedicated to getting users fit through the power of walking. (link: walk.walgreens.com). EQAL created the highly successful Miss Glambitious 2011 for mark. cosmetics (Avon) and EQAL partner Elle and Blair Fowler, ringing together the message of empowerment held by both brands.
and its spin off KateModern
.
Beckett holds a B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of California at Berkeley and an M.D. from the University of California at San Diego. He completed a one year internship in plastic surgery at the Loma Linda University Medical Center and conducted one year of tissue engineering research at the National Institute of Health as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Scholar. During medical school he was the founder and editor-in-chief of “The Pulse” a UCSD Medical School newsletter and “The Inhuman Condition,” an underground comedy newsletter.
Prior to creating lonelygirl15, Beckett was the founder and CEO of Shoutboy, a comedy podcast and the writer and director of West Wingers a political spoof of White House press conferences. Beckett is also known for his art nouveau
film The Great Cloister Caper, completed in 2001-2002 while he lived in Bethesda, Maryland.
along with Miles Beckett and Mesh Flinders
. He is currently married to Amanda Goodfried and together they currently have one child, Jack Goodfried.
Goodfried holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Berkley and a J.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Prior to starting EQAL, Goodfried was a first year associate at Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, LLP, where he worked as an entertainment attorney.
Lonelygirl15
lonelygirl15 was an interactive web-based video series which began in June 2006 and ran through to August 1, 2008. Developed under the working title The Children of Anchor Cove, the show gained worldwide media attention when it was outed as fictional in September 2006.-Overview:lonelygirl15...
. EQAL builds influencer networks around celebrities and brands. Prior to building influencer networks, EQAL was best known for producing lonelygirl15 (LG15) as well as for producing other series in the LG15 Universe (the universe using the mythology started by the lonelygirl15 series) including KateModern
KateModern
KateModern was the sister series of lonelygirl15. The series, which was announced on July 16, 2007, began filming on July 9 and the first video, Fight and Flight, was released on July 16. The show is produced by EQAL in partnership with Bebo...
in association with Bebo
Bebo
Bebo is a social networking website launched in July 2005. It is currently owned and operated by Criterion Capital Partners after taking over from AOL in June 2010....
and LG15: The Resistance
LG15: The Resistance
LG15: The Resistance was a web television series produced by EQAL that took place within the LG15 Universe. The series was first announced on July 4, 2008 via the official behind-the-scenes LG15 blog, Inside...
, as well as Harper’s Globe, the original web series, commissioned by CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
as a tie-in for the series, Harper’s Island. The company builds custom social media networks and online solutions around the websites for a variety of celebrities, including Tori Spelling, Lauren Conrad, Bethenny Frankel, JWOWW, Nick Cannon, Ty Pennington, Randy Jackson, Chelsea Kane and others.
History
In 2006, Miles Beckett met Mesh FlindersMesh Flinders
Ramesh "Mesh" Flinders is a screenwriter who, along with Miles Beckett and Greg Goodfried, is best known for creating the groundbreaking lonelygirl15 video series which received international attention during the summer months of 2006....
, a screenwriter, at a birthday party. Beckett had the idea to use short internet videos to tell a story. Flinders had developed a character that he thought would be perfect for the project. Together the two of them contacted Greg Goodfried for legal advice, and the three of them subsequently created lonelygirl15. The group became formally known as LG15 Studios/Telegraph Ave. Productions.
While Mesh Flinders went on to pursue other endeavors at the end of 2007, in April 2008, Beckett and Goodfried announced the formation of EQAL. The new company raised $5 million in venture capital. Among EQAL’s initial investors were Spark Capital, Marc Andreessen
Marc Andreessen
Marc Andreessen is an American entrepreneur, investor, software engineer, and multi-millionaire best known as co-author of Mosaic, the first widely-used web browser, and co-founder of Netscape Communications Corporation. He founded and later sold the software company Opsware to Hewlett-Packard...
, co-founder of Netscape, Conrad Riggs, formerly with Mark Burnett
Mark Burnett
Mark Burnett is a British television producer and executive producer, based in the United States. He currently is the executive producer of five network television series with seven hours of network programming. Works with which Burnett is associated have won multiple awards and recognition...
productions, tech investor Ron Conway
Ron Conway
Ron Conway is an American angel investor, often described as one of the "super angels". Conway is recognized as a strong networker and is based in Silicon Valley.-Early career:...
, and Georges Harik, former developer of new products at Google.
In May 2008, a partnership between EQAL and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
was announced to create new original programming and online tie-ins for CBS network shows. A few months later, it was announced that EQAL would produce the Harper's Globe online companion show for CBS's Harper's Island. Through the CBS deal, EQAL met Anthony E. Zuiker
Anthony E. Zuiker
Anthony E. Zuiker is the creator and executive producer of the American television show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He produces all three editions of the CSI franchise: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY...
, creator of CSI, and was hired by Zuiker to create the online component for Zuiker's first novel, Level 26, which was released in September 2009. The Zuiker partnership was the first in a series of similar media partnerships. In 2009, EQAL launched two new original web series with dedicated social networks: Get Cookin for Food Network host Paula Deen
Paula Deen
Paula Deen American cook, cooking show host, restaurateur, author, actress and Emmy Award-winning television personality.Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates...
and The Kind Life With Alicia Silverstone
Alicia Silverstone
Alicia Silverstone is an American actress, author, and former fashion model. She first came to widespread attention in music videos for Aerosmith, and is perhaps best known for her roles in Hollywood films such as Clueless and her portrayal of Batgirl in Batman & Robin .-Early life:Silverstone...
for Silverstone about global warming and vegetarian topics.In 2010, EQAL launched The Real Women of Philadelphia with Digitas for Kraft Foods and Paula Deen which went on to garner a gold Effie award in 2011. (link: http://www.effie.org/downloads/2011_Winners_List_with_trophy.pdf)
EQAL continued to launch celebrity sites including AlisonSweeney.com, Healthy Bitch Daily in association with Skinny Bitch and Made Just Right with Earth Balance. In 2011, EQAL launched their Media Networks division to build social networks around celebrities and influencers. They have launched more than 20 sites with another 5 expected this year. Sites include LaurenConrad.com, Editorial with Tori Spelling, Bethenny.com, NickCannon.com, ElleandBlair.com, Michelle Phan.com, TyPennington.com, JWOWW.com, and many more. EQAL continues to work with brands. In March 2011, Real Women of Philadelphia season 2 launched as well as Real Women of Philadelphia Canada. In April 2011, Walgreens announced a partnership with EQAL and Alison Sweeney for Walk with Walgreens, a site dedicated to getting users fit through the power of walking. (link: walk.walgreens.com). EQAL created the highly successful Miss Glambitious 2011 for mark. cosmetics (Avon) and EQAL partner Elle and Blair Fowler, ringing together the message of empowerment held by both brands.
Key personnel
Miles Beckett
Miles Beckett (born Miles Zajaczkowski on February 15, 1978) is the CEO and co-founder of EQAL as well as the co-creator and producer of lonelygirl15Lonelygirl15
lonelygirl15 was an interactive web-based video series which began in June 2006 and ran through to August 1, 2008. Developed under the working title The Children of Anchor Cove, the show gained worldwide media attention when it was outed as fictional in September 2006.-Overview:lonelygirl15...
and its spin off KateModern
KateModern
KateModern was the sister series of lonelygirl15. The series, which was announced on July 16, 2007, began filming on July 9 and the first video, Fight and Flight, was released on July 16. The show is produced by EQAL in partnership with Bebo...
.
Beckett holds a B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of California at Berkeley and an M.D. from the University of California at San Diego. He completed a one year internship in plastic surgery at the Loma Linda University Medical Center and conducted one year of tissue engineering research at the National Institute of Health as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Scholar. During medical school he was the founder and editor-in-chief of “The Pulse” a UCSD Medical School newsletter and “The Inhuman Condition,” an underground comedy newsletter.
Prior to creating lonelygirl15, Beckett was the founder and CEO of Shoutboy, a comedy podcast and the writer and director of West Wingers a political spoof of White House press conferences. Beckett is also known for his art nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
film The Great Cloister Caper, completed in 2001-2002 while he lived in Bethesda, Maryland.
Greg Goodfried
Greg Goodfried is the President and Co-Founder of EQAL, and one of the three creators of lonelygirl15Lonelygirl15
lonelygirl15 was an interactive web-based video series which began in June 2006 and ran through to August 1, 2008. Developed under the working title The Children of Anchor Cove, the show gained worldwide media attention when it was outed as fictional in September 2006.-Overview:lonelygirl15...
along with Miles Beckett and Mesh Flinders
Mesh Flinders
Ramesh "Mesh" Flinders is a screenwriter who, along with Miles Beckett and Greg Goodfried, is best known for creating the groundbreaking lonelygirl15 video series which received international attention during the summer months of 2006....
. He is currently married to Amanda Goodfried and together they currently have one child, Jack Goodfried.
Goodfried holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Berkley and a J.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Prior to starting EQAL, Goodfried was a first year associate at Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, LLP, where he worked as an entertainment attorney.
Original productions
- lonelygirl15Lonelygirl15lonelygirl15 was an interactive web-based video series which began in June 2006 and ran through to August 1, 2008. Developed under the working title The Children of Anchor Cove, the show gained worldwide media attention when it was outed as fictional in September 2006.-Overview:lonelygirl15...
- KateModernKateModernKateModern was the sister series of lonelygirl15. The series, which was announced on July 16, 2007, began filming on July 9 and the first video, Fight and Flight, was released on July 16. The show is produced by EQAL in partnership with Bebo...
- LG15: The ResistanceLG15: The ResistanceLG15: The Resistance was a web television series produced by EQAL that took place within the LG15 Universe. The series was first announced on July 4, 2008 via the official behind-the-scenes LG15 blog, Inside...
- N1ckolaN1ckolaN1ckola is a Polish webseries based on the Lonelygirl15 Universe. It was produced by EQAL, Agora SA, and A2 Multimedia and began in 2009. According to Greg Goodfried and Miles Beckett of EQAL, the show "blends reality, documentary, and fiction. It was always our hope to expand the LG15 Universe...
- Harper’s Globe
- Get Cookin' With Paula DeenPaula DeenPaula Deen American cook, cooking show host, restaurateur, author, actress and Emmy Award-winning television personality.Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates...
- The Kind Life With Alicia SilverstoneAlicia SilverstoneAlicia Silverstone is an American actress, author, and former fashion model. She first came to widespread attention in music videos for Aerosmith, and is perhaps best known for her roles in Hollywood films such as Clueless and her portrayal of Batgirl in Batman & Robin .-Early life:Silverstone...
- Voltaggio Brothers
- Real Women of Philadelphia
- "Walk With Walgreens"
- Made Just Right
Media networks
- LaurenConrad.com
- ToriSpelling.com
- Alicia Silverstone's TheKindLife.com
- JWOWW.com
- Bethenny.com
- NickCannon.com
- TyPennington.com
- MollySims.com
- PadmaLakshmi.com
- ChelseaKane.com
- JillianHarris.com
- [http://ElleandBlair.com
] ] - MichellePhan.com
- RandyJacksonNext.com
- TayeDiggsOnline.com
- Alison Sweeney.com
- JWOWW.com
- Bethenny.com
Other original content
- LG15: The LastLG15: The LastLG15: The Last is a social show produced by Australian lonelygirl15 fans in 2009, and presented by EQAL on LG15.com. Due to the downturn in the economy, EQAL's show LG15: The Resistance was put on hiatus, and instead, the producers decided to open a contest for the fans...
- Level 26
- LG15: OutbreakLG15: OutbreakLG15: Outbreak is a social show produced by lonelygirl15 fans in 2010, under the name of Tempest Pictures, and presented by EQAL on LG15.com. Due to the downturn in the economy, EQAL's show LG15: The Resistance was put on hiatus, and instead, the producers decided to open a contest for the fans...