Da Scoops

Did you know that you can write, direct, shoot, edit, and even star in your very own television show?

`Olelo Community Television makes that possible, and even provides you with the training and tools to take you from total newbie to a full-fledged producer. Granted, don’t expect to turn into Steven Spielberg overnight, but you can realistically air your own show within a couple of months of taking your first training class. By the end of the week-long Producer Class, you’ll know how to submit a project proposal, storyboard your show, know the legal do’s and don’ts of filming, check out equipment, use the camera and peripherals, and capture ane edit your masterpiece using Final Cut Pro. During the course of the week, you will have actual hands-on with the camera and the computer — and within a month, you will be required to turn in a minimum 3-minute piece to earn the title of “certified producer.” An excerpt of your piece will be shown on `Olelo’s “First Works” television show, which airs every Friday at 7:00 p.m. HST on FOCUS Channel 49. The `Olelo website also features a live stream of all of their channels online, so if you’re not on `Oahu, you can always tune in on the web.

Needless to say, it’s definitely a crash course and you may find yourself suffering from information overload by Friday. But, take heart; not only do you leave with a folder chock full of helpful printed information, but the Media Center experts are at your disposal for questions — whether on the phone or in person. Media centers are conveniently located in Mapunapuna, Kahuku Intermediate and High School, Leeward Community College (Pearl City), Jarrett Middle School (Palolo/Kalihi), Waianae High School, and Windward Community College.

Once you are certified, you are authorized to check-out `Olelo’s equipment. Cameras, tripods, different types of microphones, even platforms and light kits are available for your use. When you’re done shooting, reserve some time in the edit bay, where Mac workstations are set up for clients to capture and edit their shows. Got a question? Can’t remember how to add a transition into your timeline? Don’t worry; the Media Center staff is knowledgable and can assist even the most technically-challenged newbie.

If you don’t want to mess with the technical nitty-gritty, but you want to get your message out, you can opt to use `Olelo’s Mini Studio. Reserve a two-hour block of time, prepare your spiel, and `Olelo does the rest. The studio is equipped with backdrops, silk plants, and furniture — everything you need to host your own show with a couple of in-studio guests, or you can just keep the limelight all to yourself. You can also bring in PowerPoint presentations and video clips to supplement your talk. One word of caution, however, is that there are no re-takes and no editing. Once the tape starts rolling, the show must go on, because whatever is captured gets aired. On the flip side, the nice thing about the Mini Studio is that you can walk in, do your show, and walk out with the finished product in a matter of an hour or two. No technical expertise necessary. All you need is you, and your message.

I must stress that you don’t have to be part of an organization, company, or otherwise to produce a show for `Olelo. The beauty of community television is exactly that: it’s made by the community, for the community. Would you like to bring awareness to women’s issues? How about the rising number of pedestrian accidents on Hawaii’s streets? Perhaps you have a creative idea for a television series, get your friends together and film it. Is your karate dojo sponsoring a tournament? Why not put it on TV? Maybe you just want to demonstrate your mad skillz in the kitchen, you can do that, too.

Most people are not aware of what `Olelo Community Television offers, so I wanted to get the word out and encourage you to take advantage of this valuable resource.