September 14, 2008 GETTING TO KNOW THE RULES AND REGULATION IN ORDER TO HAVE YOUR PRODUCTIONS GO SMOOTHLY B/C SHIT HAPPENS Happens:

BCAT has strict rules and regulations. They are READILY AVAILABLE and it behooves the newcomer to be thoroughly familiar with them (see links to all below).

There is an orderly set of steps to producing a show be it at the BCAT studio or at a remote location such as my office. For instance, to become a producer you must first take two courses: the non-linear editing course and the studio course. In each of these courses you are given 25 hours of education for a fee of at present $99/course. You are then given a certificate of completion which permits you to use the BCAT facilities FREE.

To register for a class, you first need to:

• attend an orientation;
• present payment (checks or money orders made payable to BRIC and major credit cards accepted);
• bring a valid government-issued photo ID;
• and bring proof of Brooklyn residency in the form of a current utility bill.

Orientations are held twice monthly (see dates below). You need attend orientation only one time; once you are in our computer system, you can register for a workshop. For more information: 718-935-1122 x211.
The Center for Media Education
BCAT classes & workshops
BCAT Orientation
Basic Television Studio Workshop
Basic Field Production/Non-Linear Editing Workshop
Computer Literacy
Video Blogging 101
Interviewing Tips & Techniques
CME Media Literacy Series

SEE ALSO:

Forms & Downloads

Forms

The following forms are in PDF format, which can be read by Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free program.

BCAT Policies & Procedures Handbook

Current BCAT Program Guide

BCAT's Brooklyn Bulletin Board Announcement Form

BCAT New Time Slot Application

BCAT Renewal Application

BCAT Special Application

BCAT Proof of Residency Form (for those without utilities in their name)

BCAT Training Application

BCAT Change of Information Form

BCAT Cancellation Form

BCAT Promotional Application

Brooklyn Elected Officials (BEO) Application and Production Worksheet

Appearance Release Form Link not functioning on September 17, 2008, BCAT notified

[NOTE] The appearance release form is shown below*

Consequently to use the hardware in the editing suites for practice and then later for real  after shooting film footage to edit your film you will need to apply for this usage day prior to using the equipment. For example, if you want to the 10a, 1pm or 4pm sessions (Mo-Fr.) you MUST call  718 935 1122 (Public Equipment) NOT EARLIER THAN 10 AM THE DAY BEFORE YOU ARE GOING TO DO YOUR PRACTICE/REAL EDITING. Equipment is in much demand so you should attempt to be timely with your requests.

After you are a producer some other important steps include applying in-person, in writing at the "PROGRAMMING DESK" to do a show. Four-seven business days later you will receive a letter such as the one you see above, which gives you an the date when your film will be aired.  Now you can/should immediately fill out an application** at the Public Equipment room just ten feet away from the program desk. You need to specifically enumerate the equipment you will need for your shoot/production.  The entire list of available equipment is noted on the application for equipment form. 

HORRORS WHEN I DISCOVERED from Tyrone at the PE desk that all the cameras available were already applied for. Of course if I wanted/was able to postpone my shoot (scheduled to begin 8am Sunday morning until 10 am I might in theory get a camera  that was scheduled to be returned. So I said wrote to the film director what I had just learned and said "We will have to do without the second camera"  and he said:

Dr.Ted,

I can tell you now that shooting an interview show with one camera will be next to impossible. The two camera shoot is essential for having both the interviewer and interviewee's full question and answer recorded, uninterrupted. With only one camera you would have to ask a question, stop, set up the camera again, record the answer, etc. This ruins the workflow and makes for a stilted interview, as you can never expect the interviewee to get comfortable if they can't talk at their own leisure. It also prevents any back and forth, as a heated discussion would, or one person interrupting the other.

There has to be another way to get a camera, whether it be borrowing, renting, etc.  (GULP)

DENOUMENT:

I called back the PE office and the head of that department, Leslie Hayes, indicated that the equipment I needed was available. I hastened to BCAT and submitted my application. to the PE department.

*