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Videomaker Forums » Forum: Programmer's Forum - Recent Posts http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Videomaker Forums » Forum: Programmer's Forum - Recent Posts en Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:30:38 +0000 brooklynartscouncil on "Call for Entries - Scene: Brooklyn Film Series" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/call-for-entries-scene-brooklyn-film-series#post-51571 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:05:48 +0000 brooklynartscouncil 51571@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ CALL FOR ENTRIES: Calling all Brooklyn filmmakers! Â Scene: Brooklyn seeks short and feature narrative films, short and feature length documentaries, animations, and video art from Brooklyn based filmmakers and artists. Scene: Brooklyn is an ideal way to have your work seen in front of a local Brooklyn audience at great screening venues including Galapagos Art Space and Brooklyn Academyof Music. Scene:Brooklyn presents prizes for the winning film as well as panels and parties. Early bird discounts available until November 13th so don't wait to submit! Submit your film through our Withoutabox site here - <a href="https://www.withoutabox.com/login/1015" rel="nofollow">https://www.withoutabox.com/login/1015</a> For more info go to - <a href="http://www.brooklynartscouncil.org" rel="nofollow">http://www.brooklynartscouncil.org</a> ABOUT: Scene: Brooklyn is Brooklyn Arts Council's annual film and media arts program, presenting quarterly film screenings, with a multi-day centerpiece event each spring. The flagship spring program features screenings of short films, documentaries, animation, and experimental works by Brooklyn based artists and filmmakers. Screenings are held at venues around downtown Brooklyn including Galapagos Art Space. Additionally, the series includes a filmmaking panel, reception and awards ceremony. Seasonal screenings and filmmaker talks take place throughout the year in BACs screening room in DUMBO, Brooklyn in conjunction with Dumbo First Thursday Gallery Walks, as well as other sites around Brooklyn. Scene: Brooklyn serves Brooklyn and the wider New York community by providing quality film and media arts programming that reflects Brooklyn's ethnic and cultural diversity. It also gives audiences an opportunity to get acquainted with the artists who live in their borough, and a chance to see non-commercial films locally. RULES: Films to be screened in the flagship spring series are to be submitted no later than January 11, 2010. Films submitted prior to that date will be considered for the spring program, as well as for the seasonal screenings at BAC Gallery and elsewhere. Submissions received after the deadline will be considered for the seasonal screenings only. Â ELIGIBILITY: Please read carefully. Brooklyn Arts Council will only consider films that meet the following qualifications: Â Films by film and media artists (director, producer, or screenwriter), who are based in Brooklyn are eligible (all subject areas). Films shot in or about Brooklyn by non-Brooklyn residents will also be accepted (all subject areas). To reiterate Only films by Brooklyn based filmmakers (director, producer or screenwriter) or films shot in Brooklyn or about the borough will be considered. Films shot elsewhere by non-Brooklyn residents will not be considered and no refunds will be given. FOR ALL APPLICANTS Entries must be complete works no longer than 120 minutes in length. They must have been completed on or after June 1, 2008. Industrial or instructional works and those previously submitted to the Film Festival are not eligible. All films and videos in a language other than English must be subtitled in English for Festival presentation. All entrants must complete the online application form and mail or hand-deliver a DVD for jury screening. Â There is no limit to the number of entries each applicant may submit. Please submit a separate entry form and a separate DVD for each entry. Do not include multiple films on one DVD. LABELING All tapes must be labeled with the following information: 1. Film Title, total running time, and category (narrative; experimental; documentary; animation.) 2. Shippers name and telephone number. 3. Withoutbox tracking number. Entries may be disqualified if they are not properly labeled. PACKAGING Films and videotapes must be shipped in a padded envelope. RETURN OF ENTRIES Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you would like us to return your DVD. Be sure to indicate that you would like your preview screener returned; we will not do so unless you indicate for us to do so on your application form. JUDGING AND NOTIFICATION Judging will take place January - March 2010 by a jury of film industry professionals working in the New York metropolitan area. Notification will happen no later than March 30th 2010. cfulton on "Videomaker Short Video Contest 2009 ???" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/videomaker-short-video-contest-2009#post-51220 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:54:11 +0000 cfulton 51220@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Sadly, the annual video contest has concluded for the time being. Ken on "Videomaker Short Video Contest 2009 ???" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/videomaker-short-video-contest-2009#post-51213 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:09:11 +0000 Ken 51213@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ I saw a Videomaker Short Video Contest Call For Entries on this website, but on closer inspection, I noticed it was for 2008. I tried searching for a 2009 Videomaker Contest but couldn't find anything. Is Videomaker no longer doing a Short Video Contest? Ken OSD on "Video" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/video-1#post-50531 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:09:09 +0000 OSD 50531@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Great video and the animation was a great lead-in to the action video! Thanks for sharing!! AltschulerFilms on "Video" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/video-1#post-50519 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:41:08 +0000 AltschulerFilms 50519@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Check out my animation please its really cool and took me a lot of timehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_KVXMlwrWs BIFF on "Late Deadline Sept 1- Boulder International Film Festival" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/late-deadline-sept-1-boulder-international-film-festival#post-50347 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:04:19 +0000 BIFF 50347@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Late Deadline, September 1, 2009 BOULDER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - Voted one of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals by MovieMaker Magazine (Summer 2009). Boulder, Colorado, the Smartest City in America (Forbes Magazine 2008), produces sold-out shows and huge film-savvy audiences for its four-day Boulder International Film Festival. Thousands of enthusiastic, highly-educated festival-goers have helped make BIFF one of the most influential young film festivals in the U.S., with an extraordinary number of new films that have gone from early screenings at BIFF to significant box-office success and multiple Oscar nominations. Chris Gore, author of The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide and the founder of Film Threat, says "The staff's dedication to championing true Indies and amazing hospitality, along with a classic theater make this a festival that should be on the top of every filmmaker's list." BIFF is Feb 11-14, 2010. We strongly encourage you to accompany your film to our festival. Upon acceptance, we assign a filmmaker liaison to each filmmaker in the festival and house you at a 5-star hotel, just a few blocks from our main venue - the historic 850-seat Boulder Theater in downtown Boulder. There's great free food, great hospitality, a filmmaker bar, skiing 45 minutes from Boulder, and fantastic parties every night. All events, parties, films, and workshops are located within a 4-block radius of your hotel accommodations on the legendary Pearl Street Mall. Boulder is beautiful, fun and easy-to-get-to; and you'll have a great time at our forums and parties where you'll get a chance to rub egos with accomplished filmmakers, critics, and industry from throughout the world. Submit today, you’ll love it here…www.biff1.com fcpu_thomas8 on "Final Cut Pro 7 live webinar August 13!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/final-cut-pro-7-live-webinar-august-13#post-49967 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:42:51 +0000 fcpu_thomas8 49967@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ A great free live event to answer questions and lend support to Final Cut Pro 7. Register online here: <a href="http://www.promax.com/FinalCutPro7">http://www.proMax.com/FinalCutPro7</a><o:p></o:p> zoobie on "Boulder International Film Fest deadline Aug 1st" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/boulder-international-film-fest-deadline-aug-1st#post-49571 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:11:26 +0000 zoobie 49571@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ aww...someone cleaned it up...it was much funnier before the deadline is sept 1st but I'll still pass BIFF on "Boulder International Film Fest deadline Aug 1st" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/boulder-international-film-fest-deadline-aug-1st#post-49549 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:17:10 +0000 BIFF 49549@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ BOULDER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - Voted one of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals by MovieMaker Magazine (Summer 2009). Our big idea? Provide filmmakers with huge, film-savvy audiences along with generous filmmaker hospitality, and open the festival to gifted film artists worldwide. This has made BIFF into one of the most influential and popular young festivals in the US. Chris Gore, the author of The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide and Film Threat, says "The staff's dedication to championing true Indies, the amazing hospitality along with a classic theater (with a full bar), make this a festival that should be on the top of every filmmaker's list. Submit today, you'll love it here. Deadline August 1st. Visit <a href="http://www.biff1.com/">http://www.biff1.com</a> for more information. ABOUT BOULDER Located at the foot of the stunning Rocky Mountains, easy-going Boulder Colorado is a traditional magnet for the tech-savvy, music & arts-loving outdoors-person who also likes to party. Along with a major University film school, we have hundreds of miles of running, skiing and hiking trails, world-class restaurants, hotels, galleries, shops and bars, all surrounded by a scenic 46,000-acre moat of Boulder Open Space. Boulder is just 45 minutes from the Denver International Airport. Michael Horton on "Announcing 2nd Annual FCPUG SuperMeet, Sept 13 at IBC2009" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/announcing-2nd-annual-fcpug-supermeet-sept-13-at-ibc2009#post-49220 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:16:04 +0000 Michael Horton 49220@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Announcing 2nd Annual FCPUG SuperMeet, Sept 13 at IBC2009 The Second Annual Amsterdam SuperMeet will be held on Sunday, September 13 at the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky in Amsterdam, Netherlands alongside the IBC2009 tradeshow. We are currently raising funds for this event and have no fear that despite the present economy and the "doom and gloom" that permeates throughout current discussion, the Amsterdam SuperMeet will draw record attendance and continue to inspire. The Hotel Krasnapolsky is located in the heart of Amsterdam just a short tram ride away from the REI center that will host IBC2009. The hotel's not only easy to get to, but it's a beautiful venue to visit and network in. Tickets for the Amsterdam SuperMeet will go sale online only, July 20, 2009. It is expected that the Second Annual Amsterdam SuperMeet will sell out as historically every SuperMeet sells out. For complete details on the Amsterdam SuperMeet including agenda, current list of raffle items and a link to where to buy tickets visit the Second Annual Amsterdam SuperMeet web pages at: <a href="http://www.lafcpug.org/Amsterdam_2009.html"> <a href="http://www.lafcpug.org/Amsterdam_2009.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.lafcpug.org/Amsterdam_2009.html</a></a> or <a href="http://fcpugnetwork.org">http://fcpugnetwork.org</a> jimcvideo on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47789 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:39:10 +0000 jimcvideo 47789@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Shhh! How'd you know that my show is about Ginsu knive weilding girls gone wild?! So much for those non-disclosure agreements! :-D But seriously, I expect that the promotion of the show is going to cost far more than the space for the show itself, no matter which way I go. Either way, before I can go sign one contract with show sponsors, I ned to know how much it's going to cost, since I want to actully make money doing this thing. composite1 on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47786 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:39:35 +0000 composite1 47786@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ "I'm still waiting to hear what 30 second commercial spots will run me, since I'm going to need to promote the show." Jim, That's where the bulk of your cash is going to go. I've put together packages for clients wanting to advertise on cable and the way you get your message out there using that medium is to have enough slots in the time periods most favorable to catch the eyes of your target audience. And you can't just do it for a few weeks, it will take months for your ads to truly sink into the consciousness of your potential audience. Since you most likely will not have 'name talent' on your program initially, you'll need time to build your show into a 'brand name'. To do that, you'll need some slots in the prime-time frame when most people are watching TV and those slots are pricey. However, depending on what niche you're trying to fill late-night slots which are much cheaper may work for you (GINSU Knives and GIRLS GONE WILD are prime examples of late-night ads that absolutely worked.) Budget accordingly my friend and you just might pull this off in high fashion. Good that you've found a backup plan with the 'Charter' setup if the Leased Access angle goes down in flames. jimcvideo on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47782 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:04:22 +0000 jimcvideo 47782@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Yeah, things are slow-going. The gal who sent me the Charter main street info told me that I could run a show on that channel and sell commercial sponsorship for it, so I asker her to send me that rate card, so I had something to look at while I wait for more word on getting leased access. It's actually faily reasonable, or at least it looks that way. Under $200 per show for a 50,000 home market. Since I'm only planning to do a weekly program, this might be an option if all else fails. However, I'm holding back from saying anything more to her until I hear back from Charter on their leased access rates for the area. Plus, I'm still waiting to hear what 30 second commercial spots will run me, since I'm going to need to promote the show. The saga continues... birdcat on "Call for entries Coney Island Film Festival" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/call-for-entries-coney-island-film-festival#post-47729 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:43:27 +0000 birdcat 47729@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ I grew up in Coney Island (Nathans, Astroland, Abe Stark Ice Skating Rink, etc...) - I lived on West 5th Street & Neptune Avenue (on the border of Coney Island and Brighton Beach). This kinda makes me wish I were still there. Maybe I should take my old super 8's and convert them to digital.... coneyislandfilmfestival on "Call for entries Coney Island Film Festival" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/call-for-entries-coney-island-film-festival#post-47723 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:41:15 +0000 coneyislandfilmfestival 47723@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ indiefilmpage.com and Coney Island USA present the 9th annual Coney Island Film Festival October 2- 4, 2009 at Sideshows by the Seashore and The Coney Island Museum in the historic Brooklyn neighborhood Coney Island, New York! Late Deadline - July 3, 2009 (postmarked by) Extended Late Deadline - July 10, 2009 (postmarked by) Entry categories: Feature, Short, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Experimental, Silent Film, Animation, Music Video. The Coney Island Film Festival is open to filmmakers working in ALL GENRES, SUBJECTS AND FORMATS. Web <a href="http://www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com/">http://www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com</a> Withoutabox <a href="http://www.withoutabox.com/login/3441">http://www.withoutabox.com/login/3441</a> Paper Entry Form <a href="http://www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com/entryform2.html">http://www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com/entryform2.html</a> Quotes from Filmmakers about our Festival <a href="http://www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com/feedback.html">http://www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com/feedback.html</a> 2008 Photo Gallery <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/coneyislandfilmfestival/2008ConeyIslandFilmFestival">http://picasaweb.google.com/coneyislandfilmfestival/2008ConeyIslandFilmFestival</a> composite1 on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47697 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:57:21 +0000 composite1 47697@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ "I got an email from someone in the local Charter office today. Now they're trying to sell me infomercial space on their "Charter Main Street" channel. I explained again that I'm looking for leased access, and sent links to the FCC pages listed above." Jim, It's obvious the people you contacted have no idea what you're talking about. Even if they do, odds are they're going 'pinch up' at the prospect of giving up space required by a law that is as vague as their own lack of knowledge about it. Stay on them and get as much infor as you can wring out of the FCC. It may come to pass that you'll be the one giving them 'the straight answer.' jimcvideo on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47694 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:40:55 +0000 jimcvideo 47694@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Another update: I got an email from someone in the local Charter office today. Now they're trying to sell me infomercial space on their "Charter Main Street" channel. I explained again that I'm looking for leased access, and sent links to the FCC pages listed above. Maybe someday I'll get a straight answer. Maybe... composite1 on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47569 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:57:37 +0000 composite1 47569@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ "Cable sites can't make you commit to a one year minimum in fact most wont give you an agreement for more than a year." Stog, Not that I don't believe you, but I need to see it in writing. It would be far preferable to be able to buy in blocks of a few hours for 'X' number of months at a time. But with the rules so sketchy and most cable companies being far more interested in their own profits/control, having that clearly stated in the rules would make a producer's life that much easier. "I'd like to share that this is an inexpensive way for those that might only want to do a few shows a week on local cable." I agree this is a potentially viable way to get programming into the mainstream via cable. However, 'inexpensive' is a seriously relative term without hard and fast rules to guide pricing. Since this is a commercial avenue for producing content, there are far more factors involved than for your standard 'cable access' show. Much more care, planning and resources must be applied to this type of venture even if you're shooting on the way cheap. For a much more established indy producer with a good track record looking to break into the mainstream this would easily be the next stage to move to. Anyone at a stage less than that had better take a hard long look at what would be needed to get the thing off the ground and keep it going long enough to attract regular paying advertisers. Audiences are mad fickle and the intrepid producer rolling the dice in this game is going to hork up some cash before fielding a winning show. Said producer better have all their 'corners squared' and be prepared to lose money before making it. Despite all of that, I still say this is potentially an excellent way outside of the web to go. In fact, it wouldn't hurt to have a web component as backup (i.e. hulu owned by NBC) for those potential viewers who can't access your programming on cable. Leased Commercial Access is a damn good idea, but the rules need to be far more plain and any producer interested in going this route had better be serious. stogtv on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47552 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:04:02 +0000 stogtv 47552@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Composite, I realize I need to put a lot more info on our association site. Cable sites can't make you commit to a one year minimum in fact most wont give you an agreement for more than a year. Actually my firm insists on executing agreements good for a year, similar to securing an annual bulk mail permit, and then we only order sometimes one month at a time to prevent them from forcing us to put up a deposit. I suspect the bulk of video producers than can profit from leased access or those that see having one or more local shows as a means of not only making a modest profit from ads but as a means of promoting their entire video offerings: weddings, events, corporate, etc. This is also a good way for local businesses to have self-hosted shows. Take a look at <a href="http://www.blabtv.com/">http://www.blabtv.com</a>, where for 25 years they've had a very successful operation with their clients nearly always hosting their own shows. My firm has a part time programmer that tapes local wrestling then airs it once a week and has been doing so for over five years. While it is true some local cable sites do not cooperate I find that usually when some user is being mistreated and asks me to intervene we can soon get the site doing right. I simply know the rules very well. The comments in this thread have me realize I need to do a FAQ in addition to trying to better explain the rules so any person new to this can have an easier time getting what is rightfully theirs. We always explain to cable we want to exercise our right to leased access as provided by the law and cite the law. Before I close I'd like to share that this is an inexpensive way for those that might only want to do a few shows a week on local cable. I'll gladly keep trying to answer questions or clear up where there may be some misinformation being spread by cable so any readers please feel free to ask. EarlC on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47538 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:02:43 +0000 EarlC 47538@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ You know what, I'm not even going to go there - though the thought of producing a series is interesting. There are simply too many video business and production alternatives that are simpler and easier, less expensive, more enjoyable and profitable to go there. composite1 on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47533 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:01:08 +0000 composite1 47533@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Stog, You brought some relevent data to this question. It also brings to light how the FCC's idea of 'inexpensive' puts so many potential users of the service out of the picture. Cable co's should you 'beat them down' enough to submit to the law and provide the service will want a commitment of 1 year minimum. Let's just say that a producer negotiated the 20k subscriber package and leases a time slot for $2k per month with an annual commitment of $24,000.00! That alone would have kept most producers out of the game before the economy went 'butt up'. Basing your potential profits on advertisers is risky at best. Getting independent programing a strong enough following to attract advertisers takes time and money for promotional material to bring in viewers. Including your production costs, this will take intense planning and financial backing. This is a valid avenue but you'd better have the resources and drive to push forward. As you implied, the FCC rules aren't much help in their clairity. The Cable co's aren't going to make things easy either so anyone seriously looking at Leased Access had better have a solid plan for moving forward with the resources to back it up. Despite all of the potential hazards, Leased Access is a viable avenue for the more established indy producer to get her/his content into a mainstream avenue. stogtv on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47505 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:33:32 +0000 stogtv 47505@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Okay, you've made me realize the error of my ways. What happens in a lot of cases is persons looking for info often contact me and I share on the phone. I need to put better detailed material on our association site. Not only does FCC not spell out how to actually use this program, the evidence is overwhelming the career-level staff resolves disputes over usage in favor of cable and never, never, to my knowledge has offered any suggestion to an alternative solution. For example FCC ruled a year ago that cable can place leased access on the digital tiers while keeping their own competing, local origination, channels on basic. It was some C-Span, the cable industry's PR channel, that convinced court to stay the new rules since if they were moved to the digital tiers to make room for leased access on basic it would cause them enough loss in potential viewers to put them out of business. Wait, wasn't it FCC that ruled cable could put leased access on the digital tier although the rule explicitly says leased access shall be on a channel on a tier used by MOST subscribers. You're correct about being well informed and willing to fight. We don't hesitate to fight both cable and FCC. You write: "On the bright side, if the info I've already found is true, leased access can't be all that expensive in our area," you're probably right. According to the FCC, the cable co can not charge more than 10 cents per subscriber to their services per month they allow me access into the program. This would have been true had the new rules not been stayed. Presently the rate is close to 45 cents, per sub, per month, full time but this can vary considerably according to the time of day you want to use. For example at a site with approximately 100,000 subs, the rate is about $30 per hour, early AM; $60, 7am-7pm and $130 7pm-12am. So I went to the FCC's site to check out the Annual Report for my area, and an annual report hasn't been filed in ages. Further investigation seems to indicate that if a cable provider doesn't have 20,000 subscribers, they don't have to file a report. So in other words, the maximum they can quote me would be under $2000/month for this. I think I could definitely find that level of sponsorship for this program and then some. So we'll see what comes of this. While part time rates based on 20,000 subs should be such you can air profitable shows, full time on such a system would cost about $9,000 a month. Anyway, as soon as I hear from Charter again, I'll let y'all know. According to the FCC docs composite1 pointed towards, they should have a response to my inquiry within 3 business days of the request, which is either today or tomorrow based on which request they go by. (It would have been yesterday if they counted the request I made through their website!) This would have been true under the new rules that have been stayed now for over a year. The current rule is Charter must provide the information with 15 days of your formal request. Enough interest from users of this forum, I'll gladly try to quickly compile some facts and add them at <a href="http://www.leasedaccess.org" rel="nofollow">http://www.leasedaccess.org</a> jimcvideo on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47491 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:29:58 +0000 jimcvideo 47491@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ A nice, concise guide to a producer's rights and responsibilities would be a fantastic thing. I've been looking through the same searches and links as you, and the problem I see is that the people who already do leased access don't do a good job explaining how they got into it (believe me, I've surfed the LAPA forums for a pretty good bit. Okay, 30 minutes, but still...). Further, the FCC doesn't really spell out how to actually use this great program, and the Cable companies will do everything in their power to prevent you from using this. Unless you're well-informed and willing to enter a fight where virtually everyone is against you, it's a tough battle. On the bright side, if the info I've already found is true, leased access can't be all that expensive in our area, though I'm not positive, since I have yet to hear back from Charter. According to the FCC, the cable co can not charge more than 10 cents per subscriber to their services per month they allow me access into the program. So I went to the FCC's site to check out the Annual Report for my area, and an annual report hasn't been filed in ages. Further investigation seems to indicate that if a cable provider doesn't have 20,000 subscribers, they don't have to file a report. So in other words, the maximum they can quote me would be under $2000/month for this. I think I could definitely find that level of sponsorship for this program and then some. So we'll see what comes of this. Anyway, as soon as I hear from Charter again, I'll let y'all know. According to the FCC docs composite1 pointed towards, they should have a response to my inquiry within 3 business days of the request, which is either today or tomorrow based on which request they go by. (It would have been yesterday if they counted the request I made through their website!) EarlC on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47484 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 07:48:24 +0000 EarlC 47484@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Doing a Google search for "leased access video information" (using the quotes) got me this single hit: a report that started out as a WordPerfect file and was converted to ASCII text. It is full of crappy formatting jumble, but might be worth a scan to peruse some of the information contained. Go to <a href="http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/Reports/fcc96496.txt">FCC dot GOV</a> to see it. Doing a Google search for leased access video information without quotes really opened up the field: 1,460,000 hits, and I scanned through the first 35 or so. Among these, the most interesting one is a web site by the <a href="http://www.leasedaccessproducersassociation.com/?m=200812">Leased Access Producers Association</a> (I did NOT delve into it thoroughly yet, but I am most certainly going to, probably will join as well); followed by our own Videomaker magazine - see <a href="http://www.videomaker.com/article/3652">Videomaker.com</a> and while I have not yet determined if ANY of this information the "go to" definitive resource for GETTING the information out of cable companies, it can be a GREAT start. Other links that caught my eye in the first 35 included: <a href="http://www.leasedaccess.org">Leased Acces dot org</a>, <a href="http://www.studio1productions.com/dvd-21.htm">Studio1Productions</a>, <a href="http://www.gci.com/forbusiness/Cable/leased_access.htm">GCI</a>, the <a href="http://www.thedvshow.com/learn/135/Leased_Access:_Making_a_Profit_from_Cable_TV.html">DV Show</a> and <a href="http://www.jmsvideos.com/leased.html">JMSVideos</a>. A couple of these, Studio 1 and The DV Show were noted to have "older, but still valid (content) videos" regarding the subject. If that's not enough, after I preview a few more of the 1.46 million hits off Google, I will probably try to come up with a useful compilation of information on <a href="http://www.eccomeecgo.blogspot.com">E.C. Come, E.C. Go</a> no, it's not researched, written or posted yet, but soon - I will let you know. stogtv on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47478 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:00:30 +0000 stogtv 47478@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ If you will put 'leased access' in Google you'll find help. The Leased Access Programmers Assn will help. My firm, StogTv, is probably the largest user of leased access in the country and i'll gladly help anyone gain use of the cable site they desire. If you will email me at <a href="mailto:charlie@stogtv.com">charlie@stogtv.com</a>, I can get the info from Charter from you in days...or sooner. The reason there are so few users is FCC's own career-level staff seems to work hard to help cable sites ward off LAPers (leased access programmers) but we prevail. We're trying to get a leased access group going on Linkedin and we hope the new FCC chairman and commission will pick up the fight to get the new rules adopted in Nov., 07 in effect. Cable so far has had a court 'stay' the new rules. So, come on in, the waters fine. Not as warm as we'd like but you can operate at a profit if you want. composite1 on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47469 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:22:26 +0000 composite1 47469@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Jim, That's good news. Absolutely read the latest ruling on Leased Commercial Access (the 2nd pdf link /DOC-278453A4.) It tells you exactly the max they can charge you per month. Your 'scenarios' are not what the ruling says you can do. Read the ruling and come up with a payment plan that won't put you in the poorhouse. Do not leave it up to the cable company to decide. Good luck. jimcvideo on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47460 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:59:40 +0000 jimcvideo 47460@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ UPDATE: To my utter shock, Bill from my local Chrater office sent me an email letting me know that he would have to get details from me, and then he would send it along to get info. The emails that were attached to his message were almost amusing. Apparently even the Charter bigwigs had issues figuring out what to do with me. They made it very clear that no rate card exists or can be delivered, and they said that they can only give rates after I tell them what I was looking for. In response, I shot Bill about 8 different scenarios, rangin from buying a 30 minute slot on the weekends, to a 60 minute slot during primetime. I even mentioned I'd have interest in knowing what rates would be for a 24/7 dedicated channel. We'll see what sort of rates I get back from them. At this point, I'm just suprised they got back to me. If it can be done, this could be a great way to get a little extra income. We'll see how this goes. composite1 on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47453 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:51:03 +0000 composite1 47453@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Jim, Here's the complete decision made by the FCC Chairman back in 2007 on what the rules are and the maximum rate a cable co. can charge per month. From what I read, there should be no reason why a producer could not negotiate a price that is economical yet profitable for both sides. <a href="http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-278453A4.pdf">http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-278453A4.pdf</a> There is a catch though. The price is based upon the number of subscribers. I could find no specifics as to whether the 'number of subscribers' pertained to only those who subscribed to the leased channel or the overall number of subscribers in the cable company's area of coverage. If you are in a very large market, even with a low-ball rate that could get expensive. The main obstacle as usual would be the cable co. as they would naturally want to have as much control as possible despite what the rules stipulate. composite1 on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47451 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:25:06 +0000 composite1 47451@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Jim, Here's a recent decision to update the Leased Commercial Access reg's. Apparently, the Chairman heard about how much difficulty independent producers are having getting the access at reasonable fees required by law. <a href="http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-278453A2.pdf">http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-278453A2.pdf</a> composite1 on "Gotta love Leased Access-If you can get it!" http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/gotta-love-leased-access-if-you-can-get-it#post-47450 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:13:07 +0000 composite1 47450@http://videomaker.com/community/forums/ Jim, Thanks for bringing this up. This is exactly what indy producers need in this harsh economic environment. A cheap way to get their productions into the mainstream pipleline in a commercially profit potential manner. Of course the cable co's will fight anything that they think will cut into their hegemony and totally miss the fact that this is a money making opportunity for them as well. My firm is currently developing a web-based channel, but having a parallel Leased Access channel would give coverage to non-web viewing customers. Not to mention an additional revenue stream for local advertising business. I'll look into this further as well. When I come up with something, I'll pass it along.