News & Events
Somerville Creative Arts Festival
In these times of media consolidation, alienation, and isolation, it is nice to know there is a TV station where everyone knows your street. Somerville Community Access Television has been Somerville’s local media “Cheers” for twenty-five years, and to celebrate that anniversary, as well as the presence of many great artists and musicians in Somerville, we will be producing the Somerville Creative Arts Festival. During the week beginning September 15, 2008 there will be special events and activities that celebrate our community’s diversity and talents. The events are as follows:
Monday, September 15: Haitian Arts Pot Pourri. 7:00-9:00pm
This two-hour live program, produced by Nesley Lambert, Raymond Archer and Ecclesiaste Pompilus, presents Haitian music and drama. The music is both pre-recorded on location and live in the studio. Band leaders will be interviewed live in front of a studio audience. The music is by gospel bands, Voix des Archanges de Boston and Les Mesianiques de 2000., and Hip Hop/Carribean music by Zangy, and Neg Nwa. In addition, portions of a new film produced by Archer called “La Fugue Creole” in Haitian Creole will be premiered and actors interviewed.
Tuesday, September 16: SCAT Open House 4:00-7:00pm
Somerville residents and organizations are invited to tour SCAT’s facilities and learn about the benefits of a SCAT membership. Free refreshments.
Wednesday, September 17: Villeside Talent Showcase 7:00-8:00pm
Teen Empowerment brings to SCAT a sampling of Somerville’s talented teens who perform hip- hop, poetry, and more in front of a live studio audience.
Thursday, September 18: Creative Arts Festival 7:00-10:00pm
The program begins with a half-hour set by renowned fiddler and Somerville resident, Matt Glaser and friends. Mr. Glaser serves as Chair of the Strings Department of Berkeley College of Music. He has performed at Carnegie Hall with Stephane Grappelli and Yo-Yo Ma, and at the Boston Globe Jazz Festival with Gunther Schuller. He was featured on the Grammy Award–winning soundtrack of the Ken Burns film The Civil War and the soundtrack for King of the Gypsies. His has also performed with the New York All-Stars, Bob Dylan, Lee Konitz, David Grisman, and the International String Quartet Congress. Locally, Matt Glaser performs at the Cantab Lounge with his jazz/bluegrass group, the Wayfaring Strangers.
Other performers include singer/songwriter Steve Brodsky; poets Doug Holder, Gloria Mindock, and Afaa Michael Weaver; Peruvian musician Alfredo Velasquez; and belly dancer Nadira Jamal. Lively program hosts, Janet Cormier and Adam Azia, open the show and interview the performers between acts.
An audience is welcome for the studio programs. No tickets are needed but seating is limited and it will be first come first served.
The Somerville Creative Arts Festival is SCAT’s “Thank You” to the many Somerville residents who have participated and supported public access television.
For more information, please call Bill Barrell at 617-628-8826 or studio@access-scat.org.
Job Posting
Youth Media & Membership Coordinator
SCAT is saying a fond farewell to Dacia Kornechuk who has served as SCAT's Membership and Youth Programs Coordinator for the last two years. We wish her all the best in her new position with the Cambridge Public Schools. The position of Youth Media and Membership Coordinator is now open. SCAT is seeking a talented media educator, producer, and administrator to join the SCAT team. The job posting is attached below.
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Member Picnic August 19
All SCAT members and their families are invited to the SCAT Member Picnic on August 19 from 5:30 to 8:00pm at the Growing Center, 22 Vinal Avenue in Somerville. It will be a fun time with for all with volleyball, frisbee, and great food including barbeque from Redbones. Please bring a salad or dessert to share. There is no charge, but reservations are required for planning purposes. Call 617-628-8826 by August 15.
SCAT website gets an exciting new look.
Somerville Community Access Television launched its new website on June 24, 2008. The site was designed by Somerville artist/designer V Van Sant and implemented by web designer Peter Bull. It uses an open source content management system called Drupal, which is becoming very popular in the web world. Drupal is a free software package that allows an individual or a community of users to easily publish, manage and organize a wide variety of content on a website. The SCAT site has many new features such as an events calendar, links to community and media organizations, and many opportunities to sample on-demand TV programs produced at SCAT. SCAT members may request a log-in to access a crew call blog where they can post notices about their productions.
New Digital Studio Cameras Installed
The SCAT studio puts out incredibly clear video now that the new JVC GY-HD250U cameras have been installed. These cameras can be used in either high definition or standard definition modes, but either way they are a big improvement over the old analog cameras. Included in the package are new flat-screen camera monitors, built-in intercom's, and new camera control units for the control room.
Studio producers do not need to be intimidated by the new gear because the production process remains the same. If you are not yet studio certified you can take the next four-session Basic Studio Production class which will begin on July 30.
Member Focus Group on the Future of SCAT
Somerville Community Access Television will be relocating in the next few years as a result of the anticipated redevelopment of Union Square. To plan for a future facility, SCAT has undertaken a process to determine the community's current and future technology needs and interests for cable access TV. We are reaching out to community leaders, organizations, and SCAT members by holding a series of community focus groups led by a professional facilitator.
The SCAT member focus group will be held in the SCAT studio on Wednesday, July 9 from 7:00 to 8:30pm. If you have ideas for how SCAT could better serve the community over the next ten years through new programs, technology, and/or outreach, please attend this important meeting.
Somerville Cares About Prevention: Community Addictions Speakout
Annual Meeting and Award Ceremony, Thursday, January 31
Documentary: "Mel King" by Andrew McLeod
Hot Set Show: "Fruit or Breast: The Game Show" by Adam Azia
Talk Show: "ERA" by Joe Constantine
Music/Variety/Entertainment: "This Whats Up TV" by Stacey Cohen adn Alex Joshua
Youth Oriented: "Hands Together" by Hans Elmidor and youmi Odivin
Religious: "100 Women of Spirit" by Wallace Amarante
Drama: "Ithaca" by Michael Van Devere
