Come on over and have some fun telling your stories!

Community members can use video gear, take classes, get coaching, and use the studio at no cost - the only caveat is that the work must show on local Channel 26 and/or Channel 22.

WHAT IS A PRODUCER?

A producer creates content that appears on Ch 26 or Ch22.  A producer can be an individual or an organization. As a producer, you create the show and coordinate on-air talent, guests, production crew, and editing. As a producer you (or your organization) take responsibility for the show’s content and how the show looks and sounds.

WHAT CAN I PRODUCE?

Almost anything! Seriously, options are unlimited: talk shows, arts magazines, interviews, documentaries, events at your organization, poetry readings, public service announcements, music videos, ice fishing how-tos, technology discussions, quilt making tutorials, yoga theory, the art of jam & jelly making … like we said, the list is endless. Your piece can run five minutes or 105 minutes - you aren't limited to any specific length or required to fill a specific size.

SERIOUSLY, AREN'T THERE ANY LIMITS?

The limits really boil down to common sense:

• We can’t show anything that is libelous/slanderous

i.e., A show about how Suzy’s estranged husband Bert is a lying sleazy so and so…

• We don’t show blatant infomercials. 

i.e., no Bassmaster 1-800 numbers here! 

• We don't show "commercials"  

i.e., no "list your house with Hal!" or "Come on over for Al's All You Can Eat Buffet" content.

• We reserve the right to decide program dates/times of shows in the channel

schedules and to decide what, if any, placement it has in on-demand locations.

i.e., you deliver the what and we assign it the when and where.

• We reserve the right to reject a show if the technical quality is too low to display properly

or is in a format we don’t support. Ask us if you have questions about accepted resolutions and formats.

i.e., make something you’re proud to share and deliver it in a standard current format. 

• We don’t run anonymously-produced shows.

i.e., include the names of yourself and your team in the credits

 HOW DO I START PRODUCING?

1) First, think about your idea in detail. What elements will it have? Who will be involved? Where will it be recorded? Take the time up front to plan. Our coaches can help you think through your idea; just call or mail the studio and schedule consultation/coaching time.

2) Coordinate with your guests, prepare your scripts, and sign up your production crew.

3) Record your elements. 

• If you are doing a studio-based show, book you studio time via email at production@lowercapetv.org.

• If you doing a field show, book your production gear. You can use your own preferred gear or take the equipment card workshop, get an equipment card, and borrow from the circulating equipment collection.

** REMEMBER - You’ll need an equipment card to sign out gear **

4) When you’ve completed taping, sign up to use one of the editing Macs at the studio or edit on your own system at your leisure. If you need help editing, book a coaching session by contacting production@lowercapetv.org.

WILL I NEED PERMISSION FORMS?

You do need to be sure that the people in your production are  willing  participants. 

Also, you'll need to be sure you use only elements you have the right to use - that means: 

** NO COPYRIGHTED MUSIC, IMAGES ETC .**

 Just because you can find it online, does not mean it is free and available to use. 

Here’s a few tips:

• Get any permissions you need in advance; don’t just show up with a camera and assume you can set up and record.

• If you are recording something that includes music performance, ask the performers to confirm it can be recorded and replayed.

• If you are recording in a non-public location, like a private club, ask an event organizer to sign a form confirming they will allow the event to be recorded and replayed and that people in the private space know they may be recorded.

• Be extremely sensitive if you are interviewing or naming children and get clearance from their parents or guardians. If you are recording in a school, make sure that any students in the scene have signed the school’s form allowing them to be recorded - the teacher/principal will have information about this permission; ask them.

• If you are using music in your show as background, be sure it is cleared for use in a recorded production. Many sources offer royalty-free music or music that can be used as part of Creative Commons copyright. Visit the Creative Commons website for more information: https://creativecommons.org.

• If you are using graphics or photos as B-roll, be sure you have the rights to use them. Images that have watermarks may not legally be used, for example.

• If you are recording a public meeting subject to open meeting law, you always have the right to record; you just need to notify people in the room that you are recording. Typically the chair of the meeting will ask, at the beginning, if anyone is recording the meeting – just let them know that you are.

I FINISHED MY SHOW ... NOW WHAT?

Let us know when your show is complete we'll walk you through the submission process.

HOW DO I GET COPIES OF MY SHOW ?

A few years back, people routinely used DVDs, but the world has changed. Today, uploading and downloading to a cloud-based location is the norm. When you produce a show at LCCAT, we’ll upload the final version and give you a link you can use to download it to your own computer or share it with others.

WHERE WILL MY SHOW RUN?

Your show will run on Channel 26 and/or Channel 22, depending on the content. We reserve the right to decide station and time placement.

-> Channel 22 features content by, for, or about education, families, students, and teachers. Typical Channel 22 producers are NRHS, the Nauset Regional School District, schools, parent groups, or community youth groups.

-> Channel 26 shows can be about anything; it is the public access station. Typical Channel 26 producers include both individuals and local organizations.

-> Some shows are appropriate for both channels – for example, a financial show about college investment might appear on both 26 and 22.

DOES MY SHOW APPEAR ONLINE, TOO?

It might. We curate several Vimeo channel. We also show a subset of programs via Video on Demand on our website. If there is a reason your show is TV only (performance music rights, for example), please let us know.

WHO OWS MY SHOW?

Anyone producing a program using LCCAT equipment retains ownership of the copyright to that program, as well as responsibility for any copyright disputes that might arise.  

LCCAT reserves the right to replay the program in perpetuity and to use clips or stills from the program for publicity and/or production purposes.

I'M HAVING FUN! HOW CAN I LEARN MORE?

High five! We love producing too! LCCAT offers a variety of ongoing (& free) workshops and classes. Make sure you are on our producer email list to get a heads-up when we open registration (just ask!).

Work with other members of the community on their projects too – it’s a great way to meet new people and learn from others.

We also need your feedback – let us know what workshops or classes or topics you want to learn more about and we’ll try to schedule them.