Training for the Masses: Don't You Get Technical with Me!
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But then, that's exactly what these essays are about: Telling you things that you've never heard of and reassuring you as to their ordinariness so that you won't be intimidated by them.
Technical terms are certainly important and have their place, but they needn't stand in the way of participation. Which, after all, is much of the point of public-access television: It gives the public (that's you) access to production and cable-casting equipment and facilities.
We make it possible — and easy and pleasant — for you, the public, to produce your own TV shows, which we will then air for you. Without subjecting you to all the technical jargon that professionals use to demonstrate how technically savvy and professional they are.
Well, I often say (to the annoyance of people who have to listen to me all the time) that you don't have to be a professional to get professional-looking results. What this means is that you don't need to be fluent in a plethora of technical terms; you don't need to have years of training and more years of experience to produce a sharp-looking show.
You need a basic understanding of your equipment and how to use it, certainly; but you also need a mind-set. Professionals plan carefully, and then stick to the plan. They make every shot look as perfect as they possibly can. They (may) improvise as they go along, looking for situations and conditions they can use to their advantage, and they keep track of the details.
They also have huge crews of camera operators, audio and lighting technicians, grips, costume coordinators, caterers and production assistants, all talking in a mind-boggling language of technical jargon, in addition to gazillions of dollars in equipment.
Well, reduce the crew to one or two people with six technical terms between them, reduce the equipment to a camcorder with a hand-held microphone, and you have a typical public access crew.
But there's nothing to prevent that crew from turning out as good a show as — or better than — the huge crew with all the expensive equipment will produce. Make a plan (called a script), and stick to it. Look for conditions and situations you can use to your advantage, and keep track of the details. As the old saying goes, take care of the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.
If this sounds like your kind of thing, or at least something you'd like to be involved in, give us a call at NBCTV at 413-663-9006. Or better yet, come visit us in Building 6 in Western Gateway Heritage State Park in North Adams.
Sign up for a workshop series. Get some hands-on experience. It's easy, it's fun, and before long, you'll be knocking people's socks off with your technical skill!
Paul W. Marino is the program director of Northern Berkshire Community Television Corp. His column runs once a month
