In 1981, John Webb McMurry, Robert Field and Steve Mims collaborated to create a twelve minute short 16mm film, WEBB WILDER, PRIVATE EYE.  A film class final project for Mims at the University of Southern Mississippi, the short sprang from an idea hatched by Field and McMurry.  The resulting black and white short became a surprise hit in film festivals and on television, including the ARTS and ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK, a three-year stint on the USA Network's NIGHTFLIGHT and winning the Grand Prize at the University of Texas Student Union Film Festival.   It struck a nerve and minted instant fans of the offbeat, ERASER HEAD meets ANDY GRIFFITH hillbilly detective, quickly becoming an underground cult classic.  Wayne Bledsoe of the KNOXVILLE NEWS-SENTINEL wrote:  "It became a staple on the USA Network's late night program 'Night Flight' for a good reason.  It's a scream."