Take a Bow
Tony Lentini They may be called the “lazy days of summer”, but the summer months offered no rest for Comcast’s Public Access staff. Between the barbecues and trips to the beach, our staff was busy rolling our cameras and trucks to the four corners of Chicagoland to cover the events and activities that are an integral part of summer for many of our communities. If you tuned in to Public Access Television during the past few months, you will have seen the many concerts, parades, pageants and fairs that Comcast has covered, to name just a few. While we are proud of the hard work and dedication of the Comcast Access staff, we are equally proud of -- and grateful for -- the dedication and hard work of the many access volunteers who have worked with our staff to bring these productions to our viewers. These Community Producers have selflessly given their time and energy to help cover events in their communities. For many, satisfaction comes not only from civic involvement, but also from the insight and production experience that is gained while working with the Comcast staff. “It’s great to see that the Comcast crew actually does things the way we learned in class,” said Nancy Moore of Highland Park, “it makes things seem not so scary”. We are pleased that so many remain committed to public access television and have volunteered their time. We’d like to take this opportunity to let you know who they are and to thank them. They are:
Jay Bartusiak Jared Brown Rich Buckler Linda Buksar Paul Cesarz Esther Chambers Anthony Diaz Bill Haggerty Ken Heinemann Stephanie Holloway Jenny Hsu David Innes Cathy Kloss Mitzi Kruppe John Ligda Mike Mikrut Earl Mirsky Bruce Nayer Andrew Holland Paul Parello Dave Schleich Matt Matyas Mike Palumbo Georgene Pate Isidro Perez James Perles Lew Radabaugh Rachael Radabaugh Ben Rodriguez Laura Shallow Maxine Simpson George Skagerberg Brian Solinske Bobbi Trail Neil Trilling Dan Whitford John Wilinski Rob Wilson Earl Winfrey Duncan Maxwell Dean Connley Paul Parello, Jr. Amanda Schleich Don Fries
Addison Dolton Elmhurst Highland Park Lake Forest Libertyville McHenry Niles Oak Park Orland Park Palatine Park Forest Romeoville Skokie Zion 630-351-5046 708-201-5312 630-600-6121 847-266-1887 847-615-4343 847-549-7295 815-759-5335 847-965-4071 708-383-2678 708-460-4115 847-991-5880 708-747-6730 630-226-3822 847-674-5148 847-746-8807
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Of course, our work does not end with the turning of the leaves. As the days shorten, you can be sure that Comcast will continue to be actively involved in the community. With this activity comes additional opportunities for access volunteers to take part in our fall and winter productions. We encourage those of you who have assisted us in the past to keep up the effort, and we invite those of you who have not yet volunteered to take a more active role in public access television.
Advice For New Producers
Les Kloss
One of the greatest frustrations confronting newly certified public access producers is the perceived lack of outlets for their recently acquired television production skills. While many enroll in a public access class with a specific project in mind, others are just excited about “doing TV”, and have no specific plans for a production. Sadly, most people who do not come in with a show idea will not return to the studio after completing the class. Fortunately, there are many ways to get involved in public access. Even if you never do a full production of your own, you could still make a significant contribution to public access. One of the best ways to get started is to help other volunteers with their productions. This is something that Comcast strongly encourages as it creates a win-win situation for everyone involved; your fellow producer gets the benefit of your help while you gain valuable experience. You may even discover you are very talented in a specific area of production. Some access volunteers are happiest behind the camera, while others enjoy working on graphics, others still may find audio fascinating. Another way to get your feet wet is to lend your skills to others. Consider helping one of the many community organizations in your area. By assisting a group and publicizing their good work in the community, you’ll have the satisfaction of producing a show, while giving the organization far more exposure than a few lines in the local newspaper would otherwise give. Above all, don’t be afraid to jump right in. Once you get started the opportunities to expand your production experience will begin to flow.
“Our Sole Objective is to Entertain”
Guest Writers Gary Nacco and Tom McMahon
While the casual observer might assume that we are a Theatrical Company, we are first a Production Company, one that happens to have had its start in the theater. Though our latest Public Access production ‘SATURDAY LITE FEVER’ is a live taping of our last theatrical production, we have spent the last three years producing shows strictly for the camera. Of course, you need some technical expertise, which is where the whole Public Access thing comes into play. After taking the class to become certified Access Producers, we embarked on our first of three 30-minute episodes of the serial ‘DEFENDERS – HEROES FOR HIRE.’ Once we got into the editing segment, we were fascinated at the magic we could create in future shows if certain scenes were shot with the camera purposely, with editing in mind. With this knowledge we embarked on the first and only 60-minute episode of ‘CHINA DOLLS’ a parody on the 70’s hit TV show and current film ‘Charlie’s Angels.’ The taping took approximately two months, followed by another four months of editing and post-production. Our
Access Close-Up
shows are scripted, narrative and edited. We have been very fortunate in regards to talent, putting out “casting calls” in all the trade papers, which gave us a huge turnout of talented actors interested in ALL of our projects. Then you need places to shoot; here is where we had to rely on the kindness, and trust of strangers. Cozy Corner Restaurant in downtown Oak Park let us shoot after hours. We are regulars at the coffee shop and the owners took a liking to us, and our ambitions. Concordia University in River Forest let us shoot on their main stage when school was out. With all our projects we do not pretend to teach or to elevate anyone. Our sole objective is to entertain.
“The Saint”
Joann Freidhof
When I think of Public Access volunteers the first name that comes to my mind is Dan Whitford. Dan is a dedicated volunteer who’s always eager to lend a hand. The Public Access department covers events all year round and we are often in need of extra help. Imagine: Parades for every season in communities all over the south, west, and north suburbs; Dan Whitford has done them all. When we feel the stress of a last minute request for coverage of a community event, and no one else is available to cover it; Dan Whitford saves the day. Picture doing a truck shoot for a football game, working camera on the roof of a press box in the pouring rain; Dan Whitford was right beside you. When we decided to shine the spotlight on Dan Whitford in this issue of Access Close-Up, the Comcast Public Access Staff jumped at the chance to tell their favorite Dan Whitford adventures. As Skokie Access Technician Jeff Maher recalls, “While shooting a B-Sharp Kids show in Evanston. The SVHS camera Dan was using just stopped working. Dan drove all the way back to Skokie to get a replacement camera, then back to Evanston to finish taping the show.” Now that’s what I call dedication! “Dan coined the term ‘Band Cam’,” says Comcast staffer Mark Radabaugh, “...one time while doing ‘Band Cam’ Dan was almost trampled by a drum major who was walking backwards while directing the band. Everyone saw it coming, but Dan stood his ground, all for the sake of getting that great shot” From concerts and boxing tournaments to fishing and community benefits, Dan Whitford did all of the above. He doesn’t get paid, but he gives his time generously to cover community events and get them on the air. Dan Whitford deserves his nickname, "The Saint," because Dan truly is the saint of access volunteers.
Lights, Camera, Access!
Bill Allan
For several years now, residents in communities throughout the Chicago area have had the opportunity to attend Public Access television production classes. Many certified access producers have fond memories of their class experience. A major component of this experience is the exciting class show, “Lights, Camera, Access!”. The show gives students a practical opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in a hands-on environment. The class show is traditionally a 30-minute talk show format, recorded in the studio, as a live-totape production. The class show is generally divided into 3 segments that may or may not be related in theme or content. The content of the segments within the show vary from office to office, and class to class, and much of the creativity for content comes from the students. Once the class
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show is completed, Comcast broadcasts the show so that students as well as the general audience can see what a class can do with less than one month of experience. If you know anyone who is interested in our free classes, please be sure to refer them to our website so they can register, and don’t forget to mention the class show so that they can watch what others have done. Some of the offices that teach classes more frequently will broadcast their class show on a regular basis, so check your local schedule on
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