On Ramp: Broadcast Television

Let me relate to you the story of a fellow videomaker who "made good." John started like most of us, goofing around with his parents' film equipment. Though just a child, the creative art of cinematography really clicked for him. He created one film after another to the delight of his family and friends.

Though the passion for this "art" festered inside John, he became frustrated with the what seemed like a wasting of his time. The whole purpose of producing a movie was for an audience's enjoyment. After five years of basement screenings, family and friends hardly qualified as a legitimate audience anymore. John knew there just had to be a better way, but didn't latch onto it quite yet. Much later, in college, John enrolled in the school's teleproduction class. He knew a little bit about TV production, but was still mainly a "film" guy. It was here that he discovered what would later "rule" his world--videotape.

Even with excellent marks, John still yearned for that elusive "audience". Luckily, he was outspoken about this need, and a professor took notice. The professor, as it happens, was on the board of the local public television station. He was primarily responsible for development of new. local programming. Thinking of John's desires, and some of the super productions the students were showing, the teacher came up with a "Young Filmmaker's" showcase program. The show would give aspiring film and videomakers (now John's medium of choice due to cost and time considerations) a place to present their programming to a potentially large viewership. Happy ending: John got his audience, the station got quality programming, and viewers got some alternative shows …