Producer Notes

When you are ready to develop your own show it's a good idea to think about your audience and how you plan to present the content of your show. During development you may discover that your out of pocket costs are more than you are comfortable with. Underwriters? are be approached to help you with your production. When ready you must complete a production agreement? and meet with MCTV 15 staff to assist in it's planning. You can then book studio?, editing? and portable equipment? time. During the production of your show, it's a good idea to get signed release forms? from each on the people that will appear in your show. Once your show is complete you can submit it on DVD together with a sign show agreement? for cablecasting. Some fees may apply to your production. See the Rate Sheet? for details.

Once you decide to produce a show for cablecasting on MCTV 15 there are some things to think about and to do. Most of it should be done prior to the day of the show.

• Book and pay for Studio time or field kit.**
• Contact volunteers from volunteer list found on the web site and get commitments to assist in the production of your show. Do not assume that volunteers will just show up and help unasked, and do not not expect MCTV 15 staff to do this for you.
• Assign specific tasks to the volunteers, covering each production station necessary: Director, Technical Director, Audio Technician, Character Generator, Lighting, Set preparation, up to 3 camera operators. (It is possible to pre-set some cameras and get by with fewer people in the studio.) Floor Director (sometimes one of the camera operators can cover this job as well)
• Write an outline or script of your show establishing approximate time spent on each guest and/or topic and the duration of the show. One hour shows are 58 minutes long and half-hour shows are 28 minutes long. Slightly shorter shows are OK, but shows that run 32 minutes or 1 hour and 4 minutes, for example, are strongly discouraged as they create difficulties in the program scheduling.
• Select music for intro, titles and closing credits.
• Make decisions about the artistic look for your show...set design, CG elements such as fonts, titles, colors etc, music and other details all are your responsibility.
• Fill out form listing guests and crew for entering in the character generator (Check for correct name spelling) This should be completed at least 1/2 hour before show time for entry into the CG. **
• Sign required cablecasting form. You are responsible for the content, legality and copyright issues of your show.**
• Provide snacks and appreciation for your crew
• Stay after the show is over for post production meeting and to make sure set elements are put away and equipment properly stored back in place. Ask for assistance and you will be helped.
• Do your best to provide the highest quality show you possibly can, while keeping in mind that we all are volunteers learning on the job.
• Remember, the reasons any of us do this is to help our community, and to learn, and to have fun.