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Get Paid to Shoot TV Shows!

Local businesses want to underwrite local producers: "Cash for Content"

In a new twist to finding local programming for public access TV stations, local businesses have stepped forward, offering money to underwrite new shows for MCTV.

Mik Muller, a local business owner who is spearheading the effort, said "I've been a board member of MCTV for fourteen years, and thought 'why don't I put a call-out directly to the local viewers and area youth, saying my company, Montague WebWorks, will pay them $25 to shoot a new show and hand it in to MCTV', and then call it underwriting?"

Mik is hoping other businesses will join in the effort by calling MCTV and making the same offer: "Cash for Content."

How It Works

Local residents interested in creating their own TV show should call MCTV at 413-863-9200 and tell Station Manager Dean Garvin they are interested in taking advantage of the $25 Cash for Content offer.

The use of MCTV's cameras or editing equipment is not required, but residents do have to shoot something new and hand in a completed project on DVD to the station. In order to get funded, producers must:

  • Come up with a concept for a show
  • Get the equipment
  • Shoot the show, making sure the final product is at least 30 minutes long
  • Edit it if necessary
  • Add underwriting credit to the funding company (ie; Montague WebWorks)
  • Burn it to DVD
  • Hand it in to MCTV

Once the DVD is handed in to MCTV, Dean will check to make sure the show is about a half-hour or longer, and that the credits are on the DVD. Payment to the producer will soon follow.

Topics for TV Shows

Public Access TV shows can be about anything:

  • Local events and festivals
  • Music events
  • Friends' band practice or music videos
  • Scenic shots with music playing behind it
  • Interviews with people on the street
  • School plays
  • School sporting events
  • Little league
  • Bring a camera to work and shoot what people do there
  • Bring a camera on a trip and show what it's like there
  • Talk show about what's going on in town, or about any topic at all
  • Walks in the woods and chatting about whatever (take a camera hunting!)

The Fine Print

There are, of course, some stipulations and requirements:

  • This is open only to new TV shows.
  • You must become a member of MCTV, which is free.
  • The show must conform to community standards.
  • You must get in touch with the station in advance to let them know the show idea and get approval for funding, as well as more info about the deal.
  • The primary concept is for individuals to learn how to operate a camera and do the full production. If assistance is required, up to two people will get funded per show ($25/each).
  • If there are more people involved who want to get paid, they will have to share the two-person total.
  • New producers will always get priority, though existing producers may also receive underwriting if they want to have a weekly or monthly show.
  • The underwriting credit must appear at the beginning and end of the show and stay on the screen at least 15 seconds each time. The underwriting company will provide a graphic to use, with a logo. This is what they are paying for... advertising.

And that's it!

So, start thinking about TV show ideas, grab a camera, shoot some stuff, and hand it in. It can be that simple. Call the TV station for more details. 413-320-5336

You can watch a 30-minute video on Vimeo about how easy creating a TV show can be, here: http://vimeo.com/109258865

Attached File:

Posted: to General News on Fri, Oct 17, 2014
Updated: Tue, Nov 4, 2014