THE STORYBOARD

Obama Invites Southworth

2009-01-17T11:51:00.001-08:00

Jim Southworth, Executive Producer of Virginia Democratic Party Media Programing for cable TV and the Internet received two invitations to the inauguration of the president and vice president of the United States. Jim elected to send Mark Levine host of Inside Scoop and crew member Ronald England.

Cable TV - It's A Farce - 1957 Archives

2008-12-18T10:03:00.000-08:00

Cable TV – It’s A Farce
Leo Gerard
Dateline: 1957
New York

Wallstreet is at it again. This time the money barons have hatched a scheme to steal more than our money. Wait until you hear this one. They want us to pay to watch TV. Yes, you heard me right. The boys on Wallstreet have come up with the notion that they should be paid by you - so that they can sell you stuff. Here is the plot that we unearthed so far. Contribute to (pay) Congressman and Senators to corrupt the FCC into declaring that the public airwaves are not public. (Or swap the meaning of public and private.) Step two, get some judge to declare that this bunch of hooligans have the right to dig up your street to string a cable to your TV set. An unlicensed law school graduate that I consulted said that he thought a First Amendment ploy would be tried. Step three; wage a propaganda war on Americans claiming that in exchange for “Pay TV” we will not have to suffer with commercials. No one that I spoke within the industry believes that the “no commercial” part of the deal would ever happen. Not because it cannot be made to work but rather because there is no reason to stick to such an agreement. How can we ever be sure that after taking our money the cable company still would not take money from people that want to put commercials in our home? Sure we could refuse to buy their stuff but the fact is that boycotts almost never work. What if commercials weren’t just for the usual junk that is easy to ignore such as reupholstering a chair? Would the Wallstreet TV gang ever turn down money from big name companies that are cornerstones of America such as General Motors or Ford? I don’t know if Wallstreet is going to win this one but at least TV is only on eight hours a day and commercials are only 30 seconds long.

Digital Juice

2008-12-03T08:45:00.000-08:00

Digital Juice the publisher of the Jumpback series is running sales that are not bad at all. Some are closeouts and the prices are down to the under $10 range. That's down from $50 to $100. You have to order on line and they only ship via FedX but you can bundle orders.

Blender 3D Modeling Software

2008-11-29T20:08:00.000-08:00

3D Modeling Software
reviewed by THE STORYBOARD

is used to construct sophisticated models appropreiate for the virtual Live Set presently in use in the FCAC Public Access facility Studio C. In our opinion the single most important thing to understand about two of the most popular 3D programs is that one, LightWave from NewTek cost $795 while Blender is free . Blender is reported to be every bit as stable and well supported by the open source community. It is something you can learn in a weekend? No. To get something to work? Yes. If you are looking for sophisticated professional output, think in terms of a year. Yes. A year. Consider also that the best 3D modelers like directors of photography have one more thing that most people lack. Talent. IMHO we should consider a class in art appreciation while we are teaching ourselves to push buttons, drag and drop. Be that as it may, ...
Blender is a free 3D graphics application. It can be used for modeling, UV unwrapping, texturing, rigging, water simulations, skinning, animating, rendering, particle and other simulations, non-linear editing, compositing, and creating interactive 3D applications. Blender is available for several operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, IRIX, Solaris, NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenBSD with unofficial ports for BeOS, SkyOS, AmigaOS, MorphOS and Pocket PC. Blender has a robust feature set similar in scope and depth to other high-end 3D software such as SoftimageXSI, Cinema 4D, 3ds Max, Lightwave and Maya. These features include advanced simulation tools such as rigid body, fluid, cloth and softbody dynamics, modifier based modeling tools, powerful character animation tools, a node based material and compositing system and Python for embedded scripting.
LightWave 3D is a high end computer graphics program developed by NewTek. The latest release of LightWave runs on Windows and Mac OS X, and has been optimized for usage on Intel Macs. LightWave's network rendering system, ScreamerNet, has also been ported to Linux platforms. LightWave was one of the first 3D packages to feature a built-in radiosity render engine, with a complex light calculation model for support of caustics. Most functions within LightWave are multi-threaded, which means that those components can simultaneously use multiple processors in the same machine when performing complex calculations. Programmers can expand LightWave's capabilities using an included SDK as well as a special scripting language called LScript, which is based on the C language. The subdivision modeling is also very similar to the 3D package Modo, thus the 2 packages have been bundled together in some purchase options

Useful Blender Links: Dont forget to use the back button to return to this page.

Blender Home
A collection of wiki books on Blender
Blender 3D Tutorials
Blender 3D Design Course

Free Video Editing Software Reviewed

2008-11-28T15:38:00.000-08:00

MS MOVIE MAKER
Already installed on newer computers that are running Windows XP, Movie Maker has drag and drop features to make creating and editing your movie easier. Microsoft has many add-ons for this software, and upgrades are available through the website. This is one of the best free video editing software programs available. Mr. Gates has done it again. It is a program that does what it it says it does. It's free. I don't care for it one bit! It doesn't play nice with anyone else in the editing community. It produces a file that cannot be played nor even read by any other editor.

APPLE iMOVIE
Apple iMovie is comparable to Windows Movie Maker, but Apple iMovie is used on the MAC operating system. Apple iMovie has many advanced features and add-ons. Unfortunately, the software is only free if you buy a new MAC system. If you want the software without buying the system, it is available for purchase. One of the best free video editing programs available for MAC users. I'm not a Mac Head so I can't speak from experience but those Mac heads and even those that have suffered some sort of conversion tell me that like evrything else Mac - it works, and it is especially easy to use.

AVID FREEDV
Avid FreeDV is available for both Windows and MAC operating systems, and includes basic video and audio editing capabilities, as well as up to two streams of real-time effects. On the whole, a solid video editing program that is slightly hard to use, but very powerful once you learn its ins and outs.
NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM AVID YET STILL SUPPORTED

WAX
Wax is a high performance and flexible free video editing software program. It started out as a college project, and has since grown. Wax is good for both home users and professionals. It can be used as a stand-alone application, or as a plug-in to other video editors. The software also features unlimited video and audio tracks with top-down compositing.

ZWEI-STEIN
Zwei-Stein is great free video editing software, but the user interface is very technical. It is full featured, offering many different effects. It can edit up to 256 video, audio, and still image clips. There are up to 64 effects, which can be chained serially. An interesting program that's worth looking at. Very popular but a bit too convoluted for my taste.

Ahead Fiddles While NERO Doesn't Burn

2008-11-07T10:14:00.000-08:00

We've been using Nero, the combination NLE and burning software package since version 6. It was always a bit clunky and never in a class with the expensive professional NLE products. It was however street priced under $100 and it did do most things well enough. I always found the ability to produce a DVD with and without chapters and export in MPEG especially useful. Now comes Nero 9 and in my opinion the death of Nero. Of all the imperfections listed by users the most frightening and the deal breaker for me is, "It removes the XP Reset Points".
Here are comments posted by Dan C. "Hot Rod Programmer" (Dallas, Texas) - "I'm the biggest idiot in the world for buying this burning software that's trying to be everything that's media. I purchased Nero 7 some time ago and used it on 32-bit Windows XP for years and aside from a crash now and again I was very satisfied. Now I've updated to 64-bit Vista and I wanted a fresh new version of Nero for my new computer. Stupid me didn't take the 5 minutes it takes to find some reviews before I bought it online. What a mistake. Short list of problems: * Over an hour to install on a dual core processor machine? You've got to be kidding me! * Application locks to the first machine you install on. * You have to buy eleven applications so that you can burn a DVD. * StartSmart has dropped 50 IQ points as compared to Nero 7. * "Patent Activation" * Core CD/DVD burning applications seem untouched from Nero 7, which is all I care about. * Takes up 1 GB of disk space. * Even after an hour installing you still have to go to the web-site to download docs. * Already frustrating, you have to download each doc one at a time? * Update does not seem to do anything except send you to the web-site. * Online support is a joke. The "TOP 5 FAQ" - IS the entire FAQ. I write software for a living and I would be ashamed if I was in any way associated with a bloated piece of garbage like this. The company is based Germany, but I can guarantee the software is not written and tested by German engineers. I've worked with them before and they write awesome software. I am almost certain Nero has outsourced their development to some other country and now we all suffer. I'm done with Nero forever. "
The Storyboard is looking at DVDFlick and ImgBurn - both have free versions.

2008-10-05T14:56:00.000-07:00

To: Ayme Pointer - FCAC Board
CC: Chuck Pena - FCAC GM
Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2008
Subject: FCAC Strategic Plan

Ayme,

Thank you for expressing an interest in my remarks.
As to matter of accuracy, my statement regarding the strategic plan is based on a conversation with Chuck Pena. After reviewing what minutes that were available, I asked Chuck if the board had a strategic plan in place. His response was, "No. Not right now but they have been working on it for some time and I believe that it will be presented to the board before the membership meeting on the 28th". I may paraphrase a bit but I can assure you that I did not misinterpret the substance.

V/R
Leo Torrezao

Commit A Subversive Act Today

2008-10-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

October is banned books month.
Commit a subversive act.
Read a book.

CAMBIO DE RUTA

2008-09-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

DATELINE September 28, 2008
VIVO de WOODBRIDGE, VA

David Alberto, Productor "de Cambio de Ruta" con éxito el primer programa de lengua español Religioso remoto vivo del FPA de emisión de Woodbridge, Virginia atrás al Canal del cable de Timonel 10 en Fairfax y alrededor del mundo 7 segundos más tarde.
Jim Southworth lo ha hecho otra vez. Él ha puesto en práctica una tecnología de consumidor simple descubierta por Leo Torrezao y amplió su uso intencionado. El "HAVA", los mercados de vendedor que el aparato llamó una caja de cabestrillo, un dispositivo que permitirá que nosotros miremos nuestra TV de casa en cualquier computadora relacionada con el Internet. Torrezao preguntó si el dispositivo no podía ser usado como una cámara al interfaz de registrador que así elimina el enredo de cables que ensucian todas las producciones de TV. Southworth leapfrogged aquella sugerencia como de costumbre. Él comenzó a probar usando una de las cámaras de campaña de Torrezao en vez de una TV como el vídeo de la fuente. Dentro de 24 horas ellos habían subido con lo que es conocido en la industria de TV como “un eslabón de transmisor de estudio”.
En Southworth corto y Torrezao han sustituido un camión de satélite costoso por la electrónica de consumidor que es prácticamente indistinguible. El Southworth refinó el sistema usando su propia licencia “Dentro de la Pala” programas como una cama de prueba antes de recomendar que ello ser liberado a otros productores. ¿Qué harán ellos para un bis?
Si usted se preocupa por nuestra comunidad,
Si usted se preocupa por el cuidado de nuestra voz viva entonces
VOTO para Jim y Leo el 28 de septiembre.

FCAC Election 2008

2008-09-28T03:08:00.000-07:00

My concern about the corporation this year begins with the realization that the legal reason for our existence—a franchise with the county ends in less than 5 years.
The political wind tells us that the Federal government (FCC) will declare that since the county now has more than one cable provider a franchise is not necessary.
As soon as that matter is settled in law we see no reason for the cable company to continue funding us.
Who are we?
Do you believe that public access is about the public access to the cable system and free speech or is it about producing amateur vanity TV?
I believe that we are the soapbox in the town square.
Please remember that the county has not helped the concept of free speech since Audrey Moore was on the board of supervisors in 1988.
Do you have friends in the county? Or do you have people who are masters at making you believe that they are your friends?
That is why today, I’m asking for your vote.
Vote for Jim Southworth and me.
Jim is acknowledged as one of the 21 architects responsible for building Internet II.
FCAC can not only survive as a corporation, we can go on to build a nation wide Public Access Network.
If you care about our community,
If you care about keeping your voice alive,
If you care about what kind of a country we leave for the next generation then vote for Leo Torrezao and Jim Southworth.
Former FCC Commissioner Gloria T told me, “Even when you think that you have friends in office, don’t stop fighting, your enemy’s never do”.
Thank you for listening.

Sony NLE Software

2008-09-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

We continue our search for good inexpensive editing software more appropriate for Public Access TV editors than either Apple FCP or Adobe Premiere.

Vegas Movie Studio 9

Most helpful positive consumer review posted on Amazon on September 4, 2008 said:
“Great Amateur/Prosumer Editing Suite, September 4, 2008 by CFE Chillnhill
The "Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Pro Pack" is another fantastic entry into the outstanding Vegas family of editing software. We make instructional DVDs and have used Sony Vegas since version 4. While most of our videos are made using the higher end version Vegas Pro 8 I use the "Studio" version for home videos and quick edits. What's included (all on one disc): * Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Edition (editing software) * DVD Architect Studio 4.5 (DVD authoring) * Sound Forge Audio Studio (audio editing) * Cinescore w/themes (sound track creation) * 1001 Sound Effects * NewBlue 3D Transitions & Effects ("Cartoonr" is an interesting effect) Here are my observations: * Very intuitive and easy to use interface * Huge selection of effects and transitions * Support for HD video * Burns Blu-Ray from the timeline and from DVD Architect * "Show Me How" interactive tutorials are very helpful * Direct YouTube upload support * Excellent Chromakey (green screen) capabilities * Great sound editing tools * Easy DVD menu creation

Most helpful negative consumer review posted anomalously on Amazon said:
“Buyer beware - Even though the product is "Vista" compatible, there is a fine print - it is not supported under 64-bit version. The solution from support was to install 32-bit vista instead. If only they would print this requirement on the box, it can save some headache!!”

ACCESS AMERICA

2008-07-20T18:21:00.000-07:00

Congressman Gerry Connolley, left, and JIm Southworth

DATELINE July 20th, 2008
WASHINGTON DC
Access America.
Does anyone remember that brand from the summer of 1994? It was the hallmark signature of Leo Torrezao when he chaired the Fairffax Cable Access Corp. (FCAC) board almost 14 years ago. Many of their own members did not believe that a public access television station could achieve national prominence, even with the help of some new thing called the internet or “America on Line”. In fact, at the launching of Access America at a public meeting one FCAC member responded, “Now let me tell you why it will never work”.
Fast forward to 2008.
We’re at the Alliance for Community Media conference being held at the Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC. Hundreds of attendees from the nation’s public access stations are in town to see the latest in technology and share happenings in the world of the first amendment. Together with FCAC resident bleeding edge technology expert Jim Southworth, Torrezao is hawing FCAC’s ability to produce productions remotely world wide. At first the conference attendees were skeptical. The level of sophistication and expense of the equipment needed were surely beyond the budget of any Public Access TV station. “Let me tell you why it will never work”. Some things have not changed.
Southworth spoke at every technical ACM session. HAVA Box, WiFi, WiMAX streaming standards and more concepts that made the eyes of some glaze over and the ears of non-geeks bleed.
By the convention’s close Southworth had been invited to do training and presentations to many of the larger access stations and participate in the ACM Server Standards working group. New Jersey’s Access coalition asked to send their technician to Virginia to better understand the implementation of a Newtek Tricaster virtualstudio.
With carriage by Verizon FiOS and our traditional partners FCAC now is available in Arlington, Falls Church, Loudon, Leesburg, Prince William, Stafford and Fredericksburg as well as our home in Fairfax County where we are carried on the Cox system – that’s well over one million subscribers.
Meanwhile at the other end of the hall Torrezao was getting advice from former FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani. The gist of her advice? Lobby the commissioners directly. Go see them. Tell them about the community you serve. Even if you think you have a political team in place that will be friendly to your cause – don’t let up. The opposition never does.

THE STORYBOARD

2007-01-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

A Storyboard is a set of drawings that tell a story in a clear and organized manner. It’s a visual interpretation of a story or script that depicts every scene, action and camera movement. Action notes are often included. Labeling, sequencing and scene quotes must be accurate.

THE STORYBOARD is an independent magazine format multimedia program designed to encourage conversation among people who are passionate about using modern technology in defense of the American First Amendment. With the convergence of television with the Internet come new challenges. Here we can talk to each other about the technology as well as how well our representatives are protecting us. “The Storyboard” program is produced at Fairfax Cable Access Corp.

ACLU Letter Fairfax Public Access Cable

2001-01-22T15:00:00.000-08:00

American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia Northern Virginia Chapter
January 22, 2001
Hon. Katherine K. Hanley, Chair, and the Members of the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County Government Center 12000 Government Center Parkway Fairfax, VA 22035

Re: Public Access Cable

Dear Chairwoman Hanley and Members of the Board:

I write on behalf of the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia. Hundreds of our members live in Fairfax County and help support its outstanding public services.

Not long ago our chapter was invited to consider creating some original programming for cablecast over Channel 10 in Fairfax County, and as we explored that idea a number of our chapter board visited Channel 10's facilities late last year. I can tell you from one visit to the studios just how vibrant and altogether remarkable it is. Channel 10 has made a hundred flowers bloom on the County's cable system. This is local life as it should be, and the public access the County grants here gives all of us much to be proud of, and helps make this the outstanding place it is to live.

Our chapter is still thinking seriously of putting a program together for Channel 10, featuring interviews as thoughtful as we can make them on civil liberties issues of the day, but we have just learned that the County may be on the verge of rewriting its ordinances and the franchise agreement with the local monopoly cable provider so as to eliminate the public access vehicle from the County's cable service entirely.

Many others, I am sure, will comment to you about the devastating blow their organizations and messages would suffer as a result of such a move. Our all-volunteer chapter, certainly, would find an essentially public cablecast the only way to put a program before a local TV audience.

You are no doubt aware that under the first amendment to the federal Constitution the freedom to eliminate Channel 10 may not be unlimited. For one thing, it is not out of the question that a court might rule that after a generation in existence Channel 10 has become the equivalent of a "traditional public forum" that cannot be eliminated unless on a showing of some compelling governmental interest, and a further showing that there are no steps less destructive of the forum that the government could take consistent with that interest. Another consideration is that viewpoint discrimination is prohibited, either by the government or by its agents, as to the material cablecast over the public access vehicle. These constitutional considerations exist for the County regardless of whatever profit concerns the franchisee may be urging before you.

Finally, it is possible that the franchisee's ultimate interests, like those of cable franchisees everywhere, go beyond the elimination of public access to the elimination of all franchise fees and other payments to the County as a condition of their monopoly. It would be a terrible shame if the County were to let Channel 10 disappear as an appeasement of the franchisee, and were then to find, after suffering that irrevocable loss, that the franchisee had returned to demand once again, like the monster plant in Little Shop of Horrors, "Feed Me!"

I am sure the County has no wish to entangle itself in legal or other difficulties that it may not yet have fully explored. We believe further study is imperative before the County seriously contemplates the elimination of Channel 10 as a franchisee-funded public access vehicle.
And we believe it would be tragic for the County, by action or by inaction, to silence so completely the voices of its citizens in the lively cultural conversation that is Channel 10, after such a long tradition of letting those voices be heard and celebrated.

At bottom this is a quality of life question, like so many that you on the Board face. Please do not make a real and permanent sacrifice of the richness of Fairfax County's community life in the interest of an illusory and temporary saving of funds.

Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Stephen B. Pershing, President Northern Virginia Chapter ACLU of Virginia
*****
Voting Section, Civil Rights Division U.S. Department of Justice

ATTEMPTED RAPE

1999-03-15T01:00:00.000-08:00

DATELINE: March 1999
Washington, DC

In March of 1999 the Alliance for Community Media (ACM) uncovered an orchestrated plot by WETA. The new Forum Network tried to public access channel capacity in the District of Columbia and Fairfax County as well as other surrounding areas. The “Forum Network” was a joint project of the $900-million Gannett funded Freedom Forum and public television station WETA.
“It’s appalling,” said Bunnie Riedel, executive director of the Alliance, “The Freedom Forum is supposed to promote free speech, not try to bury it by grabbing the people’s media.”
Calls to the ACM office by concerned access providers pointed to a large scale scheme to secure one access channel from each of the metro areas in order to meet a June ’99 deadline for launching the Forum Network. “They were turned down by the cable operators and instead of re-thinking their plan, they’re going after access channels,” said Riedel. “I understand their desperation, they have millions of dollars invested in this venture, but they need to understand that access channel capacity is for community use--its electronic greenspace by, for and of the people.”
A programming plan of the Forum Network reveals a few hours of original programming per day with the rest of the programming day filled with re-runs from WETA or programming not aired by WETA because of its commitment to children’s programming. One proposal cited lagging viewership and the fact that “Analysis of WETA’s 1997 results shows that the number of people tuning into existing news and public affairs programming is very small” as partial justification for the need for the Forum Network. Peppered through the programming plan are standards such as Charlie Rose, Bill Moyers Reports, Frontline, Newshour, Nightly Business Report and nightly news from BBC.
“We met with Ed Turner (Freedom Forum) and Lin Lloyd (WETA), and it was clear to us that they did not understand the importance of community television. The access community has fought long and hard to carve out a media space reserved for people in communities to be able to communicate with each other. This is the one place in media where governmental and educational institutions can serve the community. And, it’s the one place where non-profits, community groups and individuals can become active participants in media, rather than just passive recipients of media. Access channel capacity cannot be handed over to elitist ‘talking-heads’ or more of the same from the BBC.”
In a letter to Lin Lloyd and Ed Turner, the Alliance emphasized its willingness to work with the Freedom Forum by assisting with program placement on access channels around the country, but made clear its position against access channels being used for non-access entities.
The Volunteer Voice – the newsletter of the Fairfax Cable Access Corporation’s Television Guild called for an immediate citizen viewer campaign to our local political representatives. “Call the Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Kate Hanley and let her know that you oppose allowing WETA to use any PEG channel”.
In the District of Columbia you should call the Office of The Mayor the Voice advised.
The Volunteer Voice also said that it would be organizing one of its “Yellow Post Card” campaigns to inundate WETA with “expressions of concern” from the citizens of Fairfax County. Each postcard will have a check box indicating that the sender will no longer consider contributing to WETA during their relentless fund raising drives.

Ian N. Wheeler Resigns as FCAC Executive Director

1995-12-21T15:05:00.000-08:00

Washington Post Staff Writer Eric Lipton reported on December 21, 1995 that the executive director of Fairfax County's public access television station is resigning after board member Steve Allen learned that in his previous job Wheeler` was convicted of misusing money he managed for a group of Florida television investors. Ian N. Wheeler has been executive director of Fairfax Cable Access Corp. since April 1993. When hired, he did not tell Fairfax Cable board members that less than two years earlier he had been found guilty in Tampa of grand theft for stealing money that investors gave him to buy and sell television stations nationwide, officials said.
Wheeler is serving 15 years of probation and is under court order to repay the investors $4.7 million in increments of at least $200 a month.
Fairfax Cable staff members are checking the nonprofit organization's records, but so far there is no indication that any money was mishandled at the stations during Wheeler's tenure, board Chairman Carla Yates-Bremer said.
More details are available at the Washington Post and Tampa Times archives.

Producer Of Program For Gays Is Leaving

1994-12-15T16:25:00.000-08:00

Even with big-name guests such as actress Lily Tomlin and film director Jonathan Demme, the show wasn't a ratings hit. But a program running on local cable outlets, "One in 10 People," built a loyal audience by dealing with issues specially tailored for the area's gay community Now the series is winding down after two years of monthly shows focusing on gay people and their lifestyles and concerns. The final show -- a retrospective -- airs this month on local public access stations.
The show, produced by volunteers in the studios of Channel 10, Fairfax County's public access station, won numerous awards and became the nation's most widely distributed gay cable series, with a network of 33 cities. Locally, it runs on public access channels in Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax, the District and Montgomery County.
The series is ending so that its creator can pursue a film career. "I didn't want to burn out," said Pearson Brown, 31, of Springfield, who from the start served as the producer, director, scriptwriter and jack-of-all-trades. "I wanted to get out while everything was still exciting. I didn't want it to fizzle out. I wanted to go out with a bang. "My goal was to put out a high-quality show which would represent the gay community accurately and show them as accomplished and productive members of society.. It was like 'Entertainment Tonight' with a gay slant," she said. "One in 10 People" consistently won awards in local and national cable competitions and was a finalist last year in the American Film Institute's nationwide competition promoting excellence in local television. Although gay issues at times have provoked strong debate in Fairfax County, the series generated little controversy, according to officials with Fairfax Cable Access Corp. They said they recalled no complaints about the show, one of about 100 programs regularly featured on the station. Kelly Mullins, a spokeswoman for the Traditional Values Coalition, an anti-homosexual group, said she too knew of no protests.
"If it's objectionable to adults, they can change the channel. And it's up to parents to monitor what their children watch," Mullins said. "One in 10 People" usually had an easy, breezy format, often focusing on celebrities such as Tomlin, Demme, folk singer Janis Ian and actress Sandra Bernhard, all of whom were interviewed during visits to the Washington area. Most of all, the program was designed to heighten awareness of the diversity of the area's gay community. It showcased local people, programs and businesses, and dealt with AIDS and other issues.
One show chronicled the activities of D.C. Pets, a volunteer program that provides pets to AIDS patients. Other shows dealt with relationships, parenting, politics, books, plays and music.
The final show features old clips and pays tribute to those who staged the Stonewall Rebellion -- the riots 25 years ago outside the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village that many say started the gay liberation movement. "Every end is a new beginning," says co-host Joe Liberatore in the final show. "Although our show is coming to a close, the movement that began 25 years ago at the Stonewall Inn is just gaining momentum." Liberatore, 28, said he hopes that the 250 volunteers who helped Brown put on the show will remain together to produce other programs. "I'd like to do a gay news program, like GNN -- the Gay News Network," Liberatore said. "I'd also like to do a gay shop-at-home show." Other gay-oriented shows remain on local cable TV, including "Gay Spectrum," and "Inside/Outside the Beltway," both produced in Fairfax County.
Brown, who is assistant public relations director for the American Physical Therapy Association, said she couldn't even operate her own videocassette recorder when she began volunteering on public access shows in 1989. She soon became proficient in all facets of production.
The expertise came after lots of practice. Brown spent up to 80 hours a month getting each 30-minute production ready for broadcast. Durubg the last two years, she also spent about $15,000 of her own money to keep the show going, buying tapes and props and marketing the program nationwide. Fans and activists said Brown's commitment could be seen each month.
"The show had exceptional quality," said Stephanie Burns, president of the Fairfax Lesbian and Gay Citizens Association. "It was always very interesting and well done, and it built a following.

FCAC Board Election - 1994

1994-10-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

The Washington Times pointed out that the race for the US Senate was not the most hotly contested political race in Northern Virginia. It was not even the dust up between Ollie North and John Warner. It was the annual election of board members to the local public access stations board of directors.
On October 12, 1994, the Washington Times reported in an article that lead - Sour Grapes Serano – The Times wrote - Contrary to remarks made in a recent “That’s Politics”; conservatives want you to know that they do hold seats on the board of directors at Fairfax Cable Access Corporation. A few weeks back, this column decried the dearth of conservatives on the board, which oversees Channel 10, the county’s public access station. That lamentation occurred after a bitter four-way race for two board seats turned into a phenomenal get-out-the-vote movement.

Wilder Walks Out On Tape

1994-09-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

One sure bet in the unpredictable race for the U.S. Senate in Virginia: Former governor L. Douglas Wilder will never again offer to appear on the weekly talk show that runs on a Fairfax public access station The Democrat-turned-independent candidate walked out of the television studio after the host of the "Know it All" show on Channel 10 refused to revise his introduction, which described Wilder as "the most dedicated feudist in American politics." Problem is, the 15-minute dispute Wilder had with talk show host Greg P. Ammons took place on tape, and Ammons decided to air that conversation and a short debate among the show's crew that occurred after Wilder left. It makes for fascinating viewing. Wilder's press secretary, Dan Conley, was surprised to learn from a reporter last week that the Aug. 25 conversation with Wilder already had aired twice on Media General Cable of Fairfax's Channel 10 and would be running a third time last Saturday. "No comment," he said curtly.

Public Access to Festival of Dionysus

1994-09-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

Public Access like our notion of democracy antedates the American Constitution with its First Amendment by some 2500 years. Acting as we know it came into being at the three annual festivals of Dionysus in Athens, the birthplace of democracy. The production costs were paid for a group of wealthy citizens who vied for the privilege of government appointment to do this as a liturgy or public service. Attendance was a civic if not religious obligation and admission to the theatre was free. When it eventually became necessary to charge for tickets, the state provided funds for all citizens who could not afford the price. The society that invented political freedom also held the view that society should pay a fee so that all people could hear and be heard! Consider how important the Greeks must have held this view.
Public access is not about theatre, it is about democracy.

2500 Years Later, on April 15, 1912 Captain Edward Smith ordered his radio operator to send the following: "We are the Titanic. We are sinking. Come at once." No one came! No one was listening! Public Access has its roots in the legislative requirement that all ships at sea have continues mandatory radio watch. By this act, Congress acknowledged the fact that the wireless service has an obligation to serve the public good. Thus it is ethically indisputable and acknowledged in law that Public Access exists as a right, not as a favor granted. Some may claim that the citizens who demand unfettered access to the communications media are somehow demanding the right to trespass. It is just the other way round. Those who deny a citizen the means to speak, trespass on the First Amendment. Without the means to speak, the right to speak becomes mere. A technicality. The apt analogy is the danger posed to our ship of freedom and the obligation of the telecommunications industry to provide a watch for her safety. With right comes responsibility. Public Access has at least two obligations. One, to provide a platform from which the community may speak and be heard. This obligation is obvious on the face of it, for it is the voice of all citizens that we must assure. A second obligation of Public Access stems from our pragmatic understanding of the dangers of a hair trigger democracy. Like a good draft-horse, free and open discussion often can prevent the social wagon from careening uncontrolled downhill.
Public access is not about television, it is about democracy!