Aspiring directors get a shot on local access channel

BOULDER — Is there a little Steven Spielberg in you? Or do you want to share your views on community, environmental or social issues?

Since 1996 Community Access Television (CATV), found on Channel 54 in Boulder, has offered Boulder County residents the opportunity to either create their own programs or join a televised community forum.

“We look at CATV as an extension of media literacy,´ said Executive Director Andrew Bergey. “People can have a voice if they learn how to use the tools. We make that as easy as possible.”

After attending a free orientation session held Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at the Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut Ave., budding producers take classes with CATV. The classes meet for four hours each on two Saturdays and participants can enroll by either paying $30 or by contributing two hours of volunteer work to CATV.

“We by far want people to do the volunteer work,” Bergey said. And CATV, in fact, requires two volunteer hours per month from nascent producers who come in to work on their programs. Volunteers, in turn, usually help other amateur producers with their programs.

After attending CATV classes, or testing out of the classes for a fee, residents can produce educational or entertainment programming for free, using CATV’s equipment. The equipment includes seven cameras, lighting equipment, audio and field equipment, editing rooms and a control room.

“(The CATV instructors) were very enthusiastic,´ said Brian Tydings, a student at Colorado Film & Video Instruction. “But even for a professional, it takes time to learn how to use the technical equipment. CATV instructors have a good approach, but you can’t teach (patience).”

As a video production major, Tydings enjoys producing what he calls art-focused programs. “I check out a camera and shoot something interesting like animals at the zoo, a disc jockey spinning records, or spontaneous camera shots,” Tydings said. “Then I put music on top of it, everything from Beethoven to ZZ Top. That’s what I like to do most.”

Tydings believes that CATV provides “something for artistic people who can still afford to live here but don’t make a six-figure income.”

Amateur Steve Henry, along with his partner Mike Behr, produces Sports Connection, a live weekly program that airs Wednesdays from 8 to 8:30 p.m. “It’s been pretty good,” Henry said of his experience with CATV. “I’ve been able to learn to use the equipment. We’ve gotten a lot of support from people.”

He wishes that CATV had a remote truck so that he could cover local games, but “you have to work with what you’ve got,” he added. Including Henry, it takes seven people to produce Sports Connection. “We use volunteers for camera people,” he said. “It’s a hobby, but we’re hoping to take it to another level. There are so many stations out there.”

Jason Buster, age 12, has produced a couple of programs for CATV. “It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “I liked learning how to use the camera.” He hopes to produce more programs on different educational topics.

For people not interested in learning television production skills, CATV’s forum, Speak Out, welcomes walk-in guests to air their opinions between regularly scheduled CATV programs. “People can sit in front of the camera and say whatever they want to say,” Bergey said.

CATV recently added a Hot Set, a one-person studio “where someone can record a Speak Out,” Bergey said. The miniature studio is also helpful for taping Reach Out, a program that allows non-profit organizations to broadcast information.

CATV is gradually increasing the quantity and quality of its equipment, according to Bergey, with the recent addition of more digital recording and producing equipment.

“Some people thing of community television as a joke,” Tydings said. “CATV is only a few pieces of equipment away from getting a professional look.”

As a 501c(3) tax-exempt organization, CATV receives funding from a variety of sources. “We are always looking for funders and underwriters to help us meet our goals,” Bergey said.

Approximately 95 percent of CATV’s $305,000 annual budget comes from its contract with the city of Boulder, according to Bergey. “Five percent comes from fund-raisers, classes and the volunteer system,” he added.

The city’s funding comes from an AT&T franchise agreement between Boulder and the telecommunications giant. “AT&T lays its cable in the right of way of the city,” Bergey explained. “AT&T gives 5 percent of the profit from the cables to the city.” The vast majority of CATV’s budget funds the equipment, training and support behind amateur productions.

CATV recognized 41 local video and film producers at its annual Boulder Community Media Awards. The most recent awards ceremony, held in February, attracted 150 guests to the Dairy Center for the Arts. There were winners in a variety of genres in the non-professional, student, and professional classifications. Each category was assigned a panel of three judges, comprised of media professionals and people experienced in the category.

“The judges are looking for community content, impact on the community, and a bit of artistic (talent),” Bergey said. All the 112 entries aired on CATV for Community Media Week, from mid-February into March.

on Facebook on LinkedIn