An Incorporated, 501c3, Registered with the Illinois Attorney General's Office
About A4PG
Community Producers have banded together to form a non-profit charity and help set up productions to replace the previous Comcast studio. (Read more . . .)
Things have been moving along quite nicely so far this year. Producers have been attending workshops and getting familiarized with the equipment in order to produce their own shows, Access Magazine has several new installments coming and new projects are coming with the Spring weather.
We are currently working with an intern, Justin Gonzales, who we would like to welcome aboard. Justin was interested in acquiring experience in doing shows and working with the software and technology involved these days and we are giving him that chance while he helps with much needed assistance both on site and in the studio. To anyone who is interested in helping as well as an intern or volunteer, please contact us at (217) 691-1301.
The fundraiser had to be postponed once more due to the inability to find a suitable date for everyone involved. More news on that subject to come.
We will be accepting applications for interviews for Access Magazine, our flagship show which is cablecast every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on Channel 4 at 11:00 P.M. Applications can be submitted by using our contact form. Please state your name, contact information, affiliation/organization, and tell us what you do in the community. We cannot interview everyone, but we will make selections based on the most appropriate submissions. The interviews will be conducted at Donnie’s Homespun at 107 W. Cook St. in Springfield, IL, between 6:00 P.M. and 10:00 P.M. during the Third Thursday Art Show every third Thursday of the month.
The new calendar is set up and all the workshop dates and interview dates are listed now. Any new events or meetings will be added when the time comes. Please refer to it to know when and where events and meetings are occurring.
Stations 2 and 3 have been operational and two producers so far have been assisted. One was a new producer doing their show for the first time. This producer wanted to video an event for his first show coming up on Access and missed the regularly scheduled workshop (second Monday of each month at Lincoln Library Bicentennial Room) so he made an appointment at Studio 2 for a special workshop to use the Camera remote kit to video his first show.
The second producer made an appointment at Studio 3 at the public library to go over the use of Sony Vegas and all went well.
In each case, be it the library Station 3 or Station 2 at 619 S. 4th, it is necessary to take the remote kit workshop and/or to have an appropriate individual go over basic details of editing with Vegas. Without this knowledge (which includes the password for getting on the computer at station 3) you will find it difficult to do your show. A4PG requires that you take the remote kit workshop before you check out the camera, but going over use of the computer at Station 3 at the public library is necessary in order to log on as you need the password and need to know where to create your show folder.
Access Magazine
We took some time off working on Access magazine during the holidays but production has resumed and new shows will be airing in the coming weeks. They will include coverage of the Music for Manning in Douglas Park from October 20th and several musical performances, and interview with Secretary General Rasmussen of NATO, and 3T: Glaze (which includes an interview with Chanell Bradbury).
Second Camera Purchased
We purchased a second Kodak Playtouch camera in case something happens to the main one in the remote kit and so that either two can be checked out or while one is being checked out the other can be used for Access Magazine. The next purchases will be made in order to put together a new remote kit so that there will be two complete kits. In each will be a wide angle lens and two lavalier mics, so this means we will be purchasing another wide angle lens and three more lavaliers.
New Calendar
A new calendar has been set up so that everyone can check on the dates for future fundraisers, workshops, and when the remote kit is checked out. To go to the calendar, click hereor at the top left of the page where it says “calendar.”
Board Meeting
We held our annual board meeting in January and ideas were had regarding the next fundraiser which will possibly happen in March, stay tuned.
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As always, to set up an appointment or to ask questions, please call (217)691-1301 or email to info[at]a4pg[dot]org
In terms of funds raised, this was the best fundraiser ever. If anyone remembers, our July 2010 fundraiser at Broadway Nites, with runway model show upstairs and art show downstairs, was the best in terms of number of guests, but we only raised around $300. Last night we raised twice that.
SO many things went well that it is difficult to know where to begin.
Thank yous:
Dan Rohde – sound, Scott Kelly – proprietor , Heather & Jamie – bartenders, John Aten & Don White – door/raffle, Cameron Counts – Interviews, Matthew Schultz – logo design, Greg Bishop & Summer – FM/AM Radio DJs, Brandon Scrimpser, Rhyno Ranch, Bubba from Southern Fryed Radio – Internet Radio, Nathan Mihelich – video promotion, Darrel Moore – cross promotion with Lincoln Land Roller Derby League, All the musicians, Chris Umhoefer of Lincoln Apparel and Mick Conboy of Texas Trucker Speed Fiends for generously donating his half of the 50/50 to the cause! Thank you all!
ARCHIVES
Thanks to Southern Fryed Radio we have archives of Can Fest! Also, every half-hour Ted Keylon was calling in to Saturday Session with Greg Bishop on WMAY from 3pm to 7pm and the show was also archived on the web.
SFR Archive Highlights (these are mostly complete sets and not just the one song each as recorded for Access 4 and interviews include those which did not turn out on the Access camera)
The results of the review revealed that there were some issues with audio on two of the four reviews. The review with artist Matthew Schultz and Greg Bishop will be re-recorded in James S. Murray Gallery at Lincoln Land Community College, location of Matt Schultz installation exhibit, “The History of the Division.” Usable video was captured of at least one song from each of the performers with the exception of Hot Shot Sugar Force, however, an interview of Tenika Beard and Carrie Jo Stuckey of the band by correspondent Mason “the Piper” Summers in Tin Can Alley was shot to make up for it. The interviews of Caleb Smith of Black Queen and Food Fantasies and Drew Duzinskas speaking as an Occupier are both usable.
NEXT WORKSHOP
At our next workshop, which are held every second Monday in the Bicentennial Room of Lincoln Public LIbrary (the next one is September 10th), we will test the camera and attempt to get some usable video for “So You Want To Do A Television Show,” a demonstration of how to do an Access show here in Springfield. This show will be produced by A4PG and be available to be included in all producer’s shows as well as on the upcoming A4PG show. If we get the video successfully, we will move on to getting the video onto the editing computer and opening it up in iMovie. As we progress, we will then use Final Cut at the next workshop.
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The posts leading up to the event:
The fundraiser has taken shape! Details below….
A quick business update first. At our last meeting it was proposed and agreed to that we would stop having monthly business meetings and simply hold an annual Board meeting each year on the second Monday of January. The other Mondays we have scheduled at the Library’s Bicentennial Room will be for workshops and Q&A and will continue every second Monday of each month.
Right now the editing station is reserved for fundraising operations; to edit shows that will be played at the fundraiser itself. It will be reserved indefinitely, however if someone calls Brian to reserve time, we will arrange to have it returned to his studio with one week’s notice. During the time after the fundraiser, work will be done to create the slide show tutorial and an instructional video.
Here is the schedule for the events at the fundraiser (please join us at the FaceBook Event page):
*ON site LIve-to-tape interviews for Public Access 4 by Cameron Counts of the Central Illinois Film Commission and Access 4 Producers Group
*Screenings of 3 Access Shows brought to you by Poop TV, BTWTV and A4PG on the Flat Screen!
* WCVS 96.7 FM Live Remote 2-4pm
*Twice Hourly call-ins to WMAY AM 970 Saturday Session with Greg Bishop 3-7pm
* Southern Fryed Radio Cybercasting live on site!
* Lincoln Land Roller Derby League After Party after 10pm.
*Raffles
*Music:
Noon – Ted Keylon
******1:00 – Announcements/Interviews
1:30 – Josie Lowder
*******2:30 – Announcements/Interview with Artist Matthew Schultz!
3:00 – Dan Rohde
*******4:00 – Announcements/Poop TV – Lincoln Land Roller Derby League Part 1
4:30 – Hot Shot Sugar Force
*******5:30 – Announcements/Poop TV – Lincoln Land Roller Derby League Part 2
6:00 – Ghost Hollow Road
*******7:00 – Announcements/Interviews
7:30 - Grocery Store Ninjas
*******8:30 – Announcements/Interview with Greg Bishop of WMAY’s Saturday Session!
9:00 – Black Queen
*******10:00 – Announcements/Blowing the Whistle TV – Hot Bag O’ Donuts at Soho 2012
10:30 – Texas Trucker Speed Fiends & Lincoln Land Roller Derby After Party
At our last few meetings we have amended the by-laws and made progress on the use of the remote kit. We have formulated rules for using the kit and have held two hands-on sessions with the kit directly after the last two meetings. At the last hands-on session, board member Brian Crowdson properly attached the wide-angle lens to the camera and surveyed the equipment for the first time since itemizing it for purchase last winter. Now that we have the kit, a bag and a tripod, we are ready to learn how it integrates with the editing station.
Logo designed by Matt Schultz.
Brian will be bringing the iMac from the editing station to the August meeting. After the business meeting at 6pm, we will go over shooting video with the camera and getting it over to iMovie and Final Cut right there in the Bicentennial Room at the Lincoln Public Library. The public is welcome.
We also approved the proposal for our next fundraiser now that we have sorted things with the Attorney General’s office and are legal and registered to solicit funds and donations in the State of Illinois. The fundraiser will be at Tin Can Pub on Saturday, August 25th. There is a FaceBook Event Page for the event if you are on FaceBook and you can get there by clicking this link.
The meeting was adjourned due to lack of a quorum. On the bright side however, we have a working editing station and remote kit so it is now possible for producers to make shows. Ted Keylon will be working with the station on Friday the 13th at Crowdson and Company. Here is Boardmember Brian Crowdson’s message regarding access to the station:
“For now, the editing station will be by appointment only, and there is no guarantee of availability. It will be available only when I or one of my employees is scheduled to be in my office. Email me for an appointment - brian[at]imaketv[dot]com.”
1999 Wabash Ave. Suite 203, Springfield, IL 62704
The Remote Kit will be available after this Friday 13th to check out by contacting Brian at the email address. There will be a log book at the editing station to sign up for it. Until voted on at a meeting we will allow up to one week at a time to use the kit.
A slide show of step by step instructions is in development and workshops are being planned. Please come to the next meeting to help decide on these matters and how we can teach the producers how to use the equipment.
Due to the library being closed on our regular meeting night, we will be meeting the following Wednesday, February 15th at 7pm instead of 6pm in the Bicentennial room at Lincoln Public Library. As per the decision at the January meeting, we will inventory the new remote kit and if we have time, we may try it out as well. The public is invited.
All the equipment itemized by Brian Crowdson has been ordered and received except for a bag to put it in and a tripod. Those last two items will be purchased soon and on the next meeting, we will take time to remove all the items from packaging and inventory them by writing down their serial numbers in a registry that will be kept by Cameron until further notice.
Plans are underway to set up a time to have a workshop on using the equipment, both the remote kit and the editing station.
Treasury:
Only two producers have paid dues this year, not counting the Board members who have all now paid their dues. Dues are $10 per year and 2012 is due by July 2012.
Fundraiser:
The next fundraiser was scheduled to happen in February but may have to be postponed until later, depending on how long it takes to set up the editing and remote kit workshop. There is the offer to work with Basement Radio Network on the fundraiser as well as with a physical space. At the last meeting the pros and cons of this were discussed in general the group assembled thought it would be a good idea. More discussion will happen on that at the next meeting.
This year’s officers have been elected and are as follows:
Ted Keylon – President
Cameron Counts – Vice President
Meredith Dumyahn – Secretary
Danny Hicks – Treasurer
Irma Wallace – Assistant Secretary
Bhikkhu Mahunda – Assistant Treasurer
Meeting Night Changed to Second Monday of Each Month
In the time left after the election, the general group expessed interest in changing the meeting night to the second Monday of each month instead of the second Wednesday to allow for more of the church producers to come since Wednesday night is a church night for many. The first meeting on Mondays will be in July on July 11th in the Bicentennial room.
Production Committee
Brian Crowdson, Lisa Hensley, and Darryl Moore are making plans to set up the editing station at Brian’s place of business. It was suggested at the last meeting that we set up a workshop on how to use the editing softeare on that station as well as how to go about acquiring a camera and editing software for PCs for producers that want to have a cheap personal alternative and a workshop will be set up for that as well.
Three words describe the reason our fundraiser went so well: Mandy Saia Magill. She was the best person to pick for curator of the photography exhibit. Jeremy of Norb Andy’s suggested a photography show to spotlight the artists who too often take a back seat to painters and sculptors at shows. Mandy is a recently juried member of the Prairie Art Alliance and her photography plus that of her peers graced the show that many attended in spite of the car show blocking off traffic and parking space.
We made $223, half of which came from 40% of the photography sales. Everyone had a great time and there were people in and out all night.
Plans are underway for the next fundraiser and the discussion turns on the question of whether or not to have another one before the end of the year.
Equipment Update
The equipment was turned over to Brian Crowdson who is storing it for us until we can get it set up in some studio space that will be available for the producers. Brian’s help has been invaluable and his background with Access both techinically and as a tireless advocate is a true asset to our cause. It is for this reason he is being nominated for board member at the next meeting.
There were enough pieces missing from the equipment to render it incapable of being useful for production until they are replaced such as a tripod, batteries, and power supply for all three cameras, a DV tape deck, and several other odds and ends but nothing impossible to replace with enough time and support.
Full Group Meeting
The next full group meeting is planned for Wednesday, October 20th at 6:30 P.M. at the Bicentennial Room in Lincoln Public Library in downtown Springfield. We would like to see all the producers there to get back on board now that things have been done. We will answer questions, take contact info and nominate more Board members.
Channel 4 and the City
Last Monday the 4th of this month, Secretary Lisa Hensley, Treasurer Ted Keylon, and Municiple Delegation member Brian Crowdson all went to speak with Ernie Slottag at the city. He said that requirements such as how soon to update shows before the slot would be given to someone else or what format to give them will be as lenient as possible due to the confusion of the change-over to their management. Ernie assured us that they plan to be as understanding and compassionate as possible while we try to organize and help all the producers figure out a way to keep doing their shows.
The delegation also asked about the missing pieces of the studio equipment and Ernie said they have not found any pieces that may have been misplaced and does not suspect that what CACC gave us would be any different than what they gave them and what Comcast have given them in the first place. We agreed to pursue the matter with Comcast and Brian agreed to contact them via his associates there.
