1. STAFF

Our Studio Associate Robert attended the National ACM Conference in Portland, Oregon. This was a great opportunity for him to rub shoulders with compatriots from around the country and compare notes on the many aspects surrounding the operation of local cable access stations.

BevCam attended the July 22 public hearing at the Statehouse on the proposed “Verizon” bill, which would change the fundamentals by which municipalities negotiate our cable licensing agreements. Don, Beka, Robert and Walt joined a huge outpouring of cable community supporters to speak out against the bill. Walt gave testimony for the record, as did Mayor Bill Scanlon on behalf of the Mass Municipal Association.

Don and Walt met with Dr. Hayes and a representative from Mount Vernon Group, architects for the new High School, and with their fixture/furniture consultant. We discussed issues relating to equipping the BevCam studio within the new building.

The new media teacher Jo-Anna Lloyd, was joined by Judy Miller and consultant Pat LaMorte, a high school media teacher from New Jersey, for a comprehensive 2-day session intended to develop a media curriculum for her to use once the fall semester starts.

Dennis, Robert and Beka have been conducting a 4 week course for the BCOA group on remote location taping, giving the seniors more skills to enhance their productions.

2. PRODUCTIONS

“Out and About,” the Film North produced series featuring host Chava Hudson taped two shows in July. One was an interview with Swampscott author Michael Palmer, who wrote the screenplay for the Hollywood film thriller “Extreme Measures”, starring Hugh Grant and Gene Hackman. It featured Palmer analyzing how several scenes in the movie compared to his original script.

The other show was an on location taping in Salem’s official witch Laurie Cabot’s studio. Chava and Laurie discussed witchcraft related topics, and Chava got a psychic reading by Laurie in the bargain.

We taped another of Nancy Loring’s “Senior Solutions” programs, this time with a live audience asking questions of the guest panel. Live audience is a production technique which we don’t do very often but the results were great.

A new producer and new show had its debut in July. Ian Smith taped the first in a planned series of programs entitled “The Smith Report”, where he discusses financial and investment topics. The set utilizes a unique use of the green screen with slides in the background, while the host speaks from a table in the foreground.

Debra Crosby’s Talent Quest series produced another show in July, featuring amateur performers. Film maker and radio talk show host Anthony Duva was this month’s special guest.

Muriel, Don and Walt continue pre-production for BevCam’s election coverage programming including “Conversations with the Candidates.” The final slate of candidates was reported by the City Clerk’s office, and they will be receiving an invitation letter from BevCam to appear on the show.

Patrycia Tobis, taped her first show entitled “Debuts” featuring local composer/musician/singer Marcin Malewski. She has plans to continue showcasing local bands and musical talent and has even purchased special strobe effect lights to dress the set.

3. OUTREACH

BevCam hosted Bonnie Rynkowski and a group of children from the North of Boston Arts center for a studio tour. As always, the chance to play highjinks in front of the green screen was the high point of the visit. We had a chance to do some substantive outreach with the various groups involved in the latest “Senior Solutions” production, including the Council on Aging, VNA Care Network, Senior Care and Essex Park Rehabilitation & Nursing center.

Bill and Marguerite Coughlin hosted the crew of “Livin’the Good Life” to a barbecue at their home. BevCam staff were also invited to share in the picnic lunch atmosphere.

Walt had a chance to acquaint the new Editor of the Beverly Citizen, Wendall Waters, with the BevCam studio during a July visit. They also discussed some possible mutual projects and feature articles in the paper.

Walt met with Kathy Abbott, a Briscoe parent interested in starting a videography club for students. This is a great opportunity to reach out in our attempts to foster interest in middle and high school students to get involved with TV production even before they have access to media classes at the high school.

4. TECHNICAL ISSUES

When it rains it pours, literally, and then some. While still awaiting a root cause analysis of our recent spate of technical problems (reported on last month), Beverly was hit with an intense microburst storm July 31 causing a 3 day power outage at our studios, and also severing the fiber line from BevCam to Comcast’s headend. That meant no subscriber signal for channels 10 and 22 was being sent out. Comcast crews worked on the problem for several days and as of this writing, Comcast has just repaired the line and we are back on the air.