Starting Your Own Public Access\Campus TV show
When I was in high school, I served as a producer/camera person for both the local radio station and public access TV. When I hit college, during the age of Beverly Hills 90210 and John Grisham, my friend and I co-executive produced our own TV show, Mock Trial, surrounding a college Mock Trial team investigating the mysterious death of the lead character’s mother.
Below find suggestions based on my experiences.
Plot your idea
If you have a germ of an idea, before you pitch it, develop it first. Identify your main idea and your core characters. Everything will change, but creating a pilot framework and character list will help.
My friend wanted to start a series about a college freshman who runs a Lexis Nexis search using her mother’s legal account before going to college. The search flags the attention of a shadowy organization, who assumed the lawyer mother is onto them and kills her.
My friend wanted the show to surround a debate team, but hadn’t added supporting characters. So, we sat and brainstormed. I came up with Asia, the outspoken feminist; the lovey dovey couple who co-led and co-parented the team, but behind closed doors the male abused the female; John, the womanizing male feminist; and Janice, the quiet previously abused stringy-haired female who blossomed under John’s interest. We made the people surrounding the girl a Mock Trial team traveling to weekly debates where each week surrounded the competitions while bringing the heroine closer to her mystery.
Fill out the paperwork
Now that you know the idea, identify the stations you want to show it on. Google ‘public access’ and your area. You can also try local radio community stations. Complete the paperwork. Submit it. You’re done.
Divvy Up Responsibilities
Since this is public access (or college TV), you probably aren’t making money and will balance this with other duties. My friend and I investigated the possibility of a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly schedule balanced with our schoolwork.
If you do it with a friend, divvy up responsibilities according to what you prefer and your strengths. But, remember, the minute you invite someone on our board, they’re a part of your dream, so don’t pull back if you don’t like their suggestions.
By default, my friend served as the artistic director focused on publicity, fundraising and videography while I served as the managing director who organized the casting board, created the audition scripts, and developed the sub-characters. Together, we created the pilot framework and split up the pilot’s writing duties.
Even then, we were swamped and eventually publicized for producers who would help with the writing duties. Miscommunication and bruised egos can always occur, so always do a health check with each other.
Cast your stars.
If you have time, plan out auditions. But, it isn’t necessary. I pulled together a casting board of friends with a theatre background, borrowed a camera to tape auditions, and compiled audition monologues for each character as well as dialogue scripts.
Don’t get too caught in your original casting idea.If you see talent, take advantage of it. For Asia, the outspoken feminist, I had a Condoleeza Rice type woman in mind. However, an actress with an earth goddess meets steam punk vibe breezed in that we cast immediately. Although one actor didn’t fit the college age range, he was so awesome I brought him on as an acting coach.
At the same time, don’t force casting if it doesn’t fit. At the week’s end, the only uncast character was the womanizing feminist. I’m glad we waited. During the follow-up auditions, I wandered into the hallway and spied my studious, musician neighbor coming home from a performance. Although he still wore his tuxedo, I pulled him into the audition room and bullied him into reading the script. Despite lacking an acting background, he was magic on screen and we immediately begged him to join.
Fundraise
Odds are you won’t need funds if you start small. But, if you want to incorporate special effects, props, or even partially compensate the professionals who assist you, then hit up the local businesses. If you’re on a college campus, take advantage of the undergraduate student activity fund or request funding assistance from student groups with a similar focus. For non-college students, there’s kickstarter.com, gofundme.com and other on-line sites.
Technology
My friend and I discussed using a one-camera versus a two-camera setup, as well as using 8mm. While two cameras offered more coverage, the splicing was a pain back in the days of actual film, before Final Cut Pro made the rounds. Additionally, using a multi-camera setup meant using cameras of the same quality or you might get pictures that appeared slightly different.
If you don’t have high quality cameras (or can’t afford one), the local public access or college campus can provide them (or borrow from people you know). But, if you’re just starting out, don’t worry about that yet.
For music, some channels prevent producers from using copywriten music without written permission. We lucked out and tapped a musician friend to create a custom score.
Don’t forget to have fun. It won’t be perfect. Ours wasn’t. Even so, I view the co-executive producing my own show as an amazing experience. You totally wear all the hats and fill in the gaps between the writers, casting directors, sound guys, directors, camera men, and actors.
Although I’m big on organization, that isn’t everyone’s style. Remember, you’re doing this to add your own voice. We need more Dan Harmons in the world, more Awkward Black Girls, more Vampire Mobs, and more Felicia Days.Don’t just recreate what other people do. Use it as a place to start, but remember, if you haven’t done it, it hasn’t been done. So go crazy!
Clacked by An Nicholson 
on Jul 16, 2012 @ 10:00 EST5EDT
