YOU'RE THE PUBLIC, SO GET CABLE ACCESS
by Lisa Sousa

Five Steps to Public Access Success

* Contact your local Public Access station.

For contact information, call your local cable operator or go to the Alliance for Community Media's Website at www.alliancecm.org. This site also details current legislation on community media.

* Get training.

You must get training on the studio's equipment before you can use it to produce your own show or serve as a crew member on someone else's show. Courses are usually free or available for a small fee.

Several Bay Area organizations also offer training in video skills, including the Bay Area Video Coalition, Artists Television Access, and East Bay Media Center. These organizations can be a great resource, since many Public Access centers are short on equipment and staff. They may also offer high-end training not available through the Public Access station.

* Volunteer.

Once you get the initial training, you'll need to practice your new skills--it often takes a few sessions of operating the equipment before you truly feel comfortable using it. A great way to practice is to volunteer to crew on other people's shows. Each station usually keeps a volunteer list that you can sign up on.

Television production cannot be done alone, and networking is a big part of the Public Access experience. Making connections at this stage of the game is very helpful later on when you are looking for people to crew on your show.

* Produce your own show.

Turn in your proposal (most Public Access stations have a form you can fill out) when you're ready to produce your own show and secure a time slot. You may get one right away, or you may have to wait two to three months, depending on the demand for Access at your local station. But you are ensured a slot–the station has to air anything you give them as long as the show adheres to FCC guidelines.

You can use the station's equipment to tape your show, or you can submit a tape you created elsewhere--just make sure it's in the appropriate format. Berkeley's Channel 25 accepts only SVHS, while San Francisco's Channel 53 accepts SVHS, VHS or 3/4-inch tape.

If you want to be a producer but don't have an idea for a show, consider producing a program for an organization you care about.

Keep in mind that producers take full legal responsibility for their shows' content.

* Build up viewership.

Once you secure a time slot, you can maintain and build your viewership by airing your show consistently and advertising upcoming shows--by posting flyers around the city, for example.

Unfortunately, there is no way to measure how many viewers are tuning in to your show. Martha Wallner, executive director of Berkeley Community Media, recommends accepting live phone calls from viewers to get an idea of who is watching.

--L.S.

Lisa Sousa is the office manager at Media Alliance. She has also been an assistant instructor for film production classes at U. C. Berkeley Extension and has worked with Canyon Cinema Cooperative to help promote experimental film.