Studio Update

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 here or 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

Coverage of Can Fest, our seventh fundraiser, comprised the content of the very first show in a series of A4PG-sponsored programmming on Access 4. Making this show allowed board member/producers to investigate the exact steps required to produce a show and troubleshoot the process in preparation for workshops and tutorials to be provided for all Access producers to assist them in producing their own shows.

But since the producers for so long had their shows technically produced by Comcast employees (and before that, Insight and UIS/SSU employees) the learning curve and the lack of experience behind the camera rather than in front of it has made doing one’s own show seem too daunting and attendance at A4PG workshops and requests to set appointments for the editor and check out the remote camera kit our donations paid for have been scant at best. In order to combat this problem, we have begun work on a series of shows produced by a volunteer news team comprised of Access 4 staff at city hall, A4PG board member/producers, and members of the community who want to contribute to public access, the content of which other requestor/producers can use for their own shows as well.

Work on these shows allows the board to stay in touch with the latest videographic techniques to pass on to would be requestors as well as showing viewers of Channel 4 substantial results on the cablecast which has been almost completely non-stop re-runs for the last 3 years since Comcast shut the doors on the production studio. It also allows more people from the community to have access to the channel without taking on the responsibility of doing their own weekly show. It fosters cooperation by setting a concrete example. Producers could always have helped each other do their shows and many have had co-hosts and co-producers, but just as coming together as a group could have happened before and took a crisis to motivate, an environment of cooperation needs a solid avenue to grow and become the norm.

Most importantly, the content of the shows, which is derived entirely from what the community has to offer, will also stand as an example to others and perhaps encourage them to become public access producers themselves. Access Magazine will be a news magazine format that marries interviews with performances and news in a variety of shorts from 30 minutes to an hour, updated weekly, and cablecast Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights on Channel 4 at 11:00 p.M. (rerunning at 7:00 A.M. and 4 :00 P.M. the following days).

Work is also being done on Access Kids, Access Music, and Access Talk.

New Logo

Artist Matthew Schultz has been hired to create a vector logo us which you now see on the website. Matthew also donated his services on the can logo for Can Fest.

Studio 2 & 3

Although the IMac at Brian Crowdson’s studio at Crowdson & Co. Video has suffered kernel panic (and the other IMac from the Comcast studio has never functioned since we received it) and as a result the editing studio which was set up there has been suspended until repairs can be made, another studio has been made available and a third is on the way!

Studio 2 has been set up at 619 S. 4th St. here in Springfield. This is Ted Keylon’s painting studio and until recently there was not enough room to help with A4PG, but now he has moved into a new area with twice the space. This studio will be by appointment only, just like the editing studio at Crowdson & Co., but here Ted will provide assistance and has set up a small recording area as well, where ‘talking head’ style shows can be recorded. The money from the Can Fest fundraiser has gone to purchase a PC editing station with Sony Vegas 11 (consumer version) since the IMac went down and that is set up at studio 2 for editing as well.

The city has approved spending some of the subscriber money to set up an editing station in a private room in the Lincoln Public Library which will also have a PC with Sony Vegas (here they have purchased the pro version). This editing station will be available during library hours and will be called Studio 3.

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.

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.

Production:

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.

Annual Election

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.

More at the next meeting . . .

STAy tUNed!

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Fundraiser 5 UPDATE

The FUNraiser was a big success. We raised $361 after expenses.

For the first fundraiser of the season it was very well attended and everyone had a blast. A4PG would like to thank Babbling Brooke for the Hula Hooping and the Hula Hoops, Steve Sowers and everyone at Maldaner’s, Casey Cantrall for doing sound, Mandy Saia Magill for bringing bake sale bags full of chocolate and homemade “healthy” chocolate chip cookies, her own photographs for donation and sale, and watching the space while artists dropped off their artwork.

Thanks to artists Chris Martin, Matt Schultz, Melanie Edmonson, Michael LaFrance, Tom Kelly, and Jenifer Snopko. Thanks to the Legendary Clampetts, Long Story Short, and Hot Bag O’ Donuts (you all know who you all are), thanks to community producers Tom Schafer (for donating a huge spread of free food), Pamela Woodson (for handing the 50/50 raffle), and Archer Logan (for running the donation box at the entrance).

If we have left anyone out, please let us know.

Below are the details about the show . . .

The next fundraiser is going to be at 7:00 P.M. to Midnight on Friday, February 25th at Maldaner’s Upstairs in downtown Springfield. The entertainment will be provided byHot Bag O’ Donuts , Long Story Short, Bük and The Legendary Clampetts. There will be a cash bar. There will be no cover and all ages are welcome.

Thanks to Greg Bishop and Kirk Farah of WMAY, John Reynolds at the State Journal-Register, Patrick Yeagle and Tom Irwin of Illinois Times for all helping get the word out in local media about public media.

Thanks to Tom Schafer of the Shooting Sport for chipping in with some Maldaner’s catering for the first 50 people to show up!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Access 4 Producers Group FUNraiser 5 
Date: Friday 2/25/11, 7pm to midnight
Place: Maldaner’s Upstairs, 222 S. 6th St., Springfield, IL
Contact: Ted Keylon, (217)691-1301

Admission is FREE
The Access 4 Producers Group FUNraiser 5 will be held to help raise funds for the community producer’s non profit organization to assist them in their quest to provide production and advocacy for the producers.

There will be a lot of room so many events are planned. There will be a Hula Hoop Workshop by Babbling Brooke during the music, a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, and an art sale and exhibit featuring a number of local artists.

The restaurant will be open downstairs, but there will also be food for sale upstairs by Cameron Counts and perhaps some potluck items as well including Maldaner’s catering for the first 50 people to arrive courtesy of Tom Schafer of the Shooting Sport.

The music schedule will feature The Legendary Clampetts at 8pm, Long Story Short at 9pm, Hot Bag O’ Donuts at 10pm and Bük at 11pm.

All sales of food, the raffle, and silent auction will go to the FUNraiser with the exhibiting artists giving 20% of their sales to the cause.

For more information please go to http://www.access4.tv/ or email toinfo@a4pg.org or call event organizer Ted Keylon if you have any questions at (217) 691-1301.

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Equipment

The Equipment Comittee was authorized at the last meeting to sell a pice of equipment that we do not need for productions but was included with the equipment we received. The money from this sale will go towards the purchase of the piece wil still need to do productions.

PO Box

A Post Office box was purchased for six months. This will go on our letterhead. Now we have the ability to accept donations in check form written to “Access 4 Producers Group” (no apostrophé) and sent to:

Access 4 Producers group
POB 5214
Springfield, IL 62705

STAy tUNed!

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Round Up

At recent full group meetings it was agreed upon to wait until after the New Year to plan any further fundraising events. In the meantime we are open to suggestions for venue possibilities. We have some in mind that offer accessibility and some that are not in bars. We could still use some more suggestions.

The equipment is still being stored by Brian Crowdson and an Equipment Committee was formed to look into the exact cost of what we still need as well as to put together a simple set of instructions for producers on the least expensive and complicated way to set up your own home studios.

The 501 c3 paperwork and final fees were submitted which left us with $777 in our account. By the New Year we should know whether or not we were accepted and possibly what else we need to do. With the certification we will be privy to many more fundraising opportunities as well as looking forward to another year of our events where we spotlight local talent.

We encourage other producers with cameras to be on site for as many of these events as possible to get footage that can be used for fundraising DVDs and as material for other producer’s shows.

Please come to the next meeting the first Wednesday of January and let us know your ideas and what you might be able to do to help. The master list of producers is being put together so that we can keep as many producers informed as possible. We also do not want to give out anyone’s personal contact information without permission so we are trying to be careful with the list.

We know we have a pool of talents within the community producers and if we can work together we can get some more shows produced until we can get a down payment on a year’s lease for a studio.

Please also know that you do not have to be a producer to come to a meeting and help out with this cause. Whether you want to become a full member of our group or just help, your ideas and concerns are welcome at our full group meetings.

STAy tUNed!

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