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Boston Neighborhood Network Television offers you a variety of services and resources to meet your production needs. BNN can: Teach you how to create your own TV program ... Cablecast your existing programming and PSAs on our channels ... Videotape and cablecast your community events ... Help to promote your event by placing it on our Community Message Board or having you appear as a guest on our nightly news program on NNN ... Produce a program or PSA for your organization. And we have the state-of-the-art technology, equipment and facilities to make it happen. What's more, our services and resources are very affordable. Membership and training workshops are inexpensive, and there is no cost to use production equipment.



One of our main services is to teach you how to create your own TV program, from beginning to end — coming up with the concept, camera work and sound, editing, directing, producing, hosting. You use our equipment and in return we cablecast your program on BNN's channels, where 80% of Boston households will be able to enjoy your work! This is an easy, affordable way to learn all the ins and outs of television producing, and could help lead to a career in television. To begin, you will need to follow these six steps:

1. Orientation: The first step towards using BNN's services and equipment is to attend one of our monthly free orientation sessions, where you will learn all about our classes, services and policies. Orientation is mandatory for everyone who wants to use our equipment, take our workshops and classes or utilize our services.
   
   
2. Membership: In order to have a program cablecast on our channels, or to use our equipment or take classes, you must be a BNN member. Different types of membership give you access to different resources. For membership details, please see our Become a MediaMaker page.
   
   
3. Workshops and Classes: Each piece of equipment you use requires a certain level of training, which our classes and workshops provide. If you have previous experience in a particular area, you may take a certification exam in order to place out of a class.
   
   Digital Field Production Workshop: This workshop covers the operation of BNN's field equipment, including cameras, microphones and lighting, as well as digital editing. Field production is used primarily for documentaries, on-location performances and events, drama and video art. This comprehensive workshop leads to a digital field producer certification and access to all of BNN's field and digital editing equipment. This basic-level, hands-on video workshop is designed for the beginning field producer and editor. You will be introduced to basic camera operations, lighting, sound, preproduction planning, scripting, storyboarding and editing on Final Cut Express.
   
   Studio Production Workshop: This workshop is for those who prefer the controlled setting of a TV studio. The studio works especially well for talk shows, music programs and news reports. You will learn how to produce, crew and direct your own TV programs. The class includes instruction on camera use, audio equipment, video switcher, lighting and graphics. This comprehensive, thirteen-week course leads to a studio production certification.
   
   Other classes: Once you have completed one of the two above-mentioned workshops, intermediate-level production classes such as "Documentary Making," "Mobile Production Truck" and "Creating Music for Video" are available. Students must demonstrate proficiency in each area before going on to the next level of class offered.
   
   BNN also provides digital media web training at the Multimedia Lab (link), offering seminars and workshops such as "Nonlinear Editing," "Photoshop," "DVD Authoring" and "Flash MX."
   
   
4. Project Proposal & Production Contract: Once you become qualified to use BNN equipment and facilities, you will fill out the Project Proposal & Production Contract to tell us what BNN program you plan to produce. This is an agreement between you and us that clearly states that all programming you create at BNN will be cablecast on BNN's channels. Download the Project Proposal & Production Contract for more information.
   
   
5. Equipment: The following is a brief outline of the equipment available at our facilities. For a more detailed equipment list, contact us. Please note that you will need to schedule all usage in advance.
   
   Field Production Equipment: Equipment includes basic, intermediate and advanced level camcorders and all the audio and lighting accessories necessary for on-location video production.
   
   Studio Production Equipment: The BNN Access Studio offers a high-quality television production studio and control room. The studio environment offers maximum control of lighting and sound, along with a switcher that selects from a variety of camera shots from three high-end cameras. Many producers prefer to go live, engaging the active participation of viewers in the production process through a live call-in capability. The BNNLive Studio is fully equipped with three studio cameras, a graphics camera and a master control room containing a 16-channel sound mixing board and a switcher.
   
   Editing Facilities: We have both digital and analog editing suites. The digital suites contain Apple G4 and G5 edit systems equipped with the latest hardware and software, including Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Dreamweaver, Flash Professional, and much more. The analog suites are capable of simple, cuts-only analog editing.
   
   Mobile Production Truck: A studio-on-wheels, the production truck delivers the high-end technical quality of studio production to locations throughout the city. With the capacity to record live from any location in the city, it is the ideal production resource for coverage of live community events such as parades, sports and political debates.
   
   Multimedia Lab: The Multimedia Lab provides access to digital communication tools and multimedia training for youth, adults and seniors. Equipment includes 12 Apple G5 computers and three PC's, high-speed Internet access for creating digital imaging, web and digital video/audio projects, scanner, color printers, digital equipment and the latest multimedia software.
   
   
6. Have Your Program Cablecast: When your program is ready to go on television, we will schedule it on one of our channels. You will need to fill out a Cablecast Request Form for each program you are submitting. Channel time is given on a first-come, first-served basis, so we cannot guarantee your program will be scheduled at the exact time you request. Once your videotape or DVD has been submitted to BNN, your Production Contract is considered completed.
   
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Having BNN create a BNNLive program for your nonprofit organization or public agency is an ideal way to communicate your organization's programs, services and information to Boston residents. BNNLive programs are live studio programs cablecast on BNN's News & Information Channel. BNNLive staff handles all aspects of production.

Requirements: BNNLive programs are a service for nonprofit organizations and public agencies that serve Boston only. You must submit an application and program proposal to the BNNLive studio manager for review and approval. Once approved, you must then join BNN as an Organizational Access Member. Your organization may select up to four representatives to become its BNN member representatives/program hosts. The hosts receive host/producer training.

Format: You can choose either a 25- or 55-minute live studio program. The professionally designed set includes a desk and two wings that can accommodate three people in a one-camera fixed shot, and up to eight people for multi-camera productions. The programs have call-in capability, giving viewers direct access to the program hosts, and are taped in SVHS format for encore playback.

Costs: The Organizational Access Membership annual fee is $220. (See Become a MediaMaker for more details.) Membership includes one-time training of four hosts chosen by the organization to represent them. Subsequent training of additional hosts costs $50. Membership also includes access to all of BNN's services for the four representatives. Additional representatives may join for $50 each. Channel use fees start at $40 for a 25-minute program, and $60 for a 55-minute program before 6 pm. All programs cablecast after 6 pm are $50 for a 25-minute program, and $70 for a $55-minute program. Program series are scheduled and billed in advance of a quarter and include a complimentary VHS copy of each program. Costs vary per quarter, depending on the day of the program, the calendar, and the BNN holiday schedule.

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BNN offers an array of full-service production services at a reasonable price. Our team of professional producers, directors, writers and camera crews are available on a per-project basis. Productions are of the highest quality, and are created using the most up-to-date, state-of-the-art equipment. We provide single- and multi-camera production capability, editing and post-production capability, two production studios with lighting grids, Sony/Panasonic camera packages, and a mobile production truck.

Some examples of how BNN's services are used by others are:

• We are frequently hired to cover community and business events. These are special programs produced and crewed by BNN staff, and cablecast on BNN's News & Information Channel.
• We can provide you with digital copies of programs you have produced for use on your website.
• We can create educational and instructional DVDs and videos for you.
• We train other nonprofits how to use media arts technology for their own constituents.

There are many other ways in which BNN can be of service to you. For more information, please contact Jeannine Booton at 617.720.2113 x30.

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