Community Video Report (Fall 1973)

Cable workshop The Center will sponsor a regular continuing workshop on the various aspects of cable television beginning at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the storefront, 2414 18th St., N.W. The workshop, which will last fro about two hours every week, is open to anyone free of cost. Participants will be required to purchase copies of most resource materials on their own. The objective of the workshop is to inform local citizens about the major issues in cable television, which is new communications medium that is coming to D.C. and other large cities. Particular emphasis will be placed on preparing for the upcoming hearings on cable TV before the City Council. A long-range objective is the creation of a working group to investigate the feasibility of a community-owned cable TV system in NW Washington. Nick DeMartino of the WCVC collective will conduct the workshop. Questions should be directed to him at 462-6700. Members of the WCVC staff are available to institutions seeking professional services in the following areas. Rates vary according to many factors, but we can quote you prices if you call us at 462-6700. Speaking: Staff members have been called upon to speak and participate in panels ona wide variety of subjects, includiag: community video, health communications, cable TV policy, public access issues, social services use of cable, citizen involvement in media, and the media movement. Consulting: Our technical WCVC video training The first basic videotape workshop began at the WCVC workshop on August 4 for a class of ten people. .The class, which met for three to five hours on Saturdays for six weeks, was designed as an introduction to half-inch videotape production. This first class was started on an experimental basis so that the evaluate the training process and determine the best way to bring interested community people to the level of skills necessary video. Because of its experimental nature, the first class was free of charge to participants. Upon evaluation, the staff has established a three-tiered structure for future training of in terested community people: Introductory class—This class, which is open only to local, inner-city residents, will be modeled on the six-week course we just finished. Registration fee will be $25, to cover costs of tape and equipment repair. A limit of 10 participants has been set. Grady Watts will be the primary instruc tor. The objective of this class is to introduce beginners to the rudiments of video technology, so that they will be ready to actually We are currently working ontryingto arrange for college credit for this work. Also, persons who legitimately cannot afford the course price can talk with us about a waiver of the Intermediate class—For those who have successfully completed the introductory class or have otherwise demonstrated video, we offer a second-level Our idea here is to offer a directed process where= by a group of up to five students work collectively to completely produce a videotape, from inception to screening. Intern training—The third level is designated as intern training, which means who have reached a level of experience in the basic aspects of video production and are ready to join us at the Center in production of tapes in the community, assist in production jobs which the Center may be contracted for, or assist on other projects. These individuals will be selected by the Center staff on the basis of their skills, interest, and commitments to video and the community. capabilities center around utilization of broadband and other systems, development of pub lie access and loe&él production facilities, citizen participation in franchising and post-franchising process, educational curriculum design and implementation. A list of clients we have consulted with is available upon request. Production: WCVC can provide equipment and personnel for any half-inch video production, and is able to work in any format if costs are provided. We provide post-production and editing services. Center staff could to use portable —drawings:Michel Faubert, Challenge for Change’s ‘Medium Media’ eee = == e Video screenings Every Tuesday night since July 10 the WCVC has sponsored an open video screening at the storefront on 18th Street. Each of these sessions has been different, in audience and activity. Usually we show several tapes—some of ours and some from other places—and then we conduct an introductory workshop with the portable equipment. We also try to involve people by letting them see themselves on the live TV. These open screenings will continue weekly—but the time has changed to every THURSDAY at 8PM everal problems have been con sistent. First, the audience is not representative of the Adams-Morgan community, primarily because most of the publicity seems to reach the white freak audience. We have undertaken a campaign to involve more groups, particularly through AMO and several Spanish groups. Another problem is the fact that people have no way of knowing what tapes will be screened in advance. We hope soon to start advertising the features a week or two in advance so people can come when the subjects interest them. If you have any suggestions, or if you would like your tapes shown at the screenings, feel free to call us at 462-6700. Thanks. produce videotapes. fee. their experience in course, also at $25. work for those people Community Video Report Volume 1, Number 2 Fall, 1973 A quarterly publication of the Washington Community Video Center, Inc., 2414 18th Street, NW, and P.O. Box 21068, Washington, DC, 20009. Phone: (202) 462-6700. Issue dates: June, September, January, March. Staff Collective: Nick DeMartino, Ray Popkin, Grady Watts. Other staff people: Roberto Faenza, Clare Schoenfeld, Steve Conant. Plus our many friends. Community Video Report Editor: Nick DeMartino