”
And we’re live in 10
… 9… 8… 7… 6…
”
Ah, the thrill of a countdown!
“And we’re live in 10… 9… 8… 7… 6…” Ah, the thrill of a countdown!
CMAP Programming Manager Jan Janes and I were simultaneously counting down to the beginning of the first live meeting out of the Hollister City Council Chambers with the new remote video system CMAP installed. I was on my cell phone at the chambers and Jan, on hers, was back at CMAP at Gavilan College. Our production-crew-in-training was crammed into the TV closet in Hollister Feb. 3, witnessing history.
Not only was this the first meeting cablecast with the new two-camera remote system, this was the first meeting being cablecast over fiberoptics, using the I-Net that Charter built – and can you tell the difference.
“Fade up to camera 1, bring in mics, bring in graphics.” Our operator W. Clay was calling the shots and executing them with the new equipment.
This is a far cry from the one camcorder and a mic pointed toward a speaker in the ceiling that Clay had been operating.
I heard a loud cheer over my cell phone from several people.
“Who’s there?” I asked Jan, who generally requires absolute silence in her playback area.
“Kelly brought her studio class in here to watch.”
Our Operations Manager, Kelly Abbott, was teaching a studio workshop for CMAP during our cablecast. The students were able to witness a live studio-style shoot from Hollister as part of their workshop. It was quite a team effort.
The meeting went smoothly, with a few expected glitches. Then the fire chief got up to do swear in two new firefighters. One had his wife pin his badge, and the other, his girlfriend.
After the swearing-in, the fire chief handed the mic to the single guy unexpectedly. Before you know it, the firefighter dropped to one knee and presented his bride-to-be with a ring. I couldn’t believe it. Our first meeting with the new gear, and we get a proposal on TV.
“ZOOM IN!! ZOOM IN!!” I started screaming at Clay as we all got teary-eyed.
Poor Clay. It was his first time really operating the gear and the mechanics are a little different than that of a camcorder. He eventually got the shot, though, and our mics caught the cheers of the audience as well as the all-important response of “YES!” Very touching. How do you top that?
Well, we’re gonna try …
In addition to the new camera system, San Benito County residents will also be watching community announcements created with a new graphics system with classical music behind them.
Hollister cable subscribers will also see a lot less bulletin board and a lot more actual civic programming. We’ll be featuring Highway 25 safety videos produced with the Stay Alive on 25 Committee, as well as our PSA Day videos that include spots from the recreation departments, the Women’s Republican Committee, the YMCA, Chamber of Commerce, Adult Literacy Program, Rebekah Children’s Services, South Valley Civic Theater and San Benito Home Health.
Also debuting on CityView 17 is Army Newswatch, live NASA feeds, the Panetta Lecture Series, Sam Farr’s updates and the CMAP-produced program “Our Town.”
Keep your eyes on our Web site as well as the newspaper for schedules. They’re coming.
While Gilroy has been enjoying many of these features for years on their Channel 17, it’s all new to Hollister viewers.
Gilroy cable viewers will also be seeing CMAP-produced and imported programming added to their line-up, as well as PSAs pertaining to Gilroy.
I’ll leave you with a production tip for those of you who want to surprise a loved one during a city council meeting: Tell the video crew in the closet so that we can set up a good shot.
My congrats to the happy couple.
