Access 4 Producers Group

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.

Fundraiser Review

The Access 4 Producers Group Fundraiser 3 raised over $550 before expenses and the total after is unclear until the board decides how much to absorb in advertising costs that were incurred during the promotion when a meeting could not be scheduled. The treasurer has agreed to cover the difference and proceeded with the necessary promotions. It is likely that we made at least $300.

But we were the only ones to come out on top. We regret to say that Broadway Nites did not do so well in spite of the huge numbers of people there due to the fact that drink sales were down. We appreciate their working with us and hope to remedy that for any future events to take place there.

Equipment Update

The Capital Area Career Center Board of Directors has agreed that the producers should have the equipment from the former studio since we cannot take them up on their offer for services. Perhaps in the future, as A4PG grows with Access, we can work with them. We are working on transporting the equipment into storage where it may be possible to set it up for limited use.

Next Fundriaser

The Group Board is looking to continue raising money to acquire a lease on a physical space. The next fundraiser will be at Norb Andy’s on September 24th, 2010, featuring the work of local photographers. DJ MsLisa qwill be playing electro and there may even be some more surprises in the works so stay tuned for more info. (If you have FaceBook, check this page out.)

Channel 4 and the City

Thanks a MILLION!!! to the City, to Ernie, Kerri, the Council, our donors, the FaceBook Cause Members and followers of our Fan Page and everyone and anyone else who helped or wanted to help. Access 4 is BACK!

STAy tUNed!

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