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| Member Profile: Sheila Blake Written by Lisa Smith Photo Right: Sheila Blake (left)
teams up with Sue Hargis-Spigel |
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Here at SCAT, the staff person who is
attending the on call desk often receives calls from people in
the community asking SCAT to send a camera crew to cover a story
or event. We then explain to them the concept of community
access: we are not like a “regular “ television station
that hires people to cover the news, rather SCAT is a community
resource where members receive training on how to use the
equipment and they produce their own stories. We inform these
callers that we can post a notice about their event on the
Members’ Board, but there is no guarantee it will be
covered. We also let them know that they too can become a
community producer and cablecast their shows on SCAT.
Sheila Blake called me one day last year while I was working and
asked me if SCAT could make a documentary about the the
Brickbottom. The Brickbottom is an old A&P warehouse,
cannery, bakery and foundry that, in the past twenty years, was
transformed into an artist community with loft-style apartments
and an art gallery. She passionately explained to me about how
fascinating the history of the Brickbottom is and how SCAT could
interview the people who once worked at the old A&P about
their personal experiences. I told her we couldn’t send
someone to the Brickbottom to make a documentary, but we could
train her on the equipment and she could produce a show. She said
thanks anyway, but didn’t think she could do it herself.
This past spring, after thinking about her documentary idea for a
while, Sheila came to an orientation at SCAT and now, after
taking basic portable and studio production classes, feels
confident in producing her documentary. She is in the process of
writing grants to help offset the costs of producing her program.
“The great thing about doing it myself is that I am learning
new skills and am now looking at television differently,”
Sheila said. She further explains, “I was watching The
X-Files and noticed the dramatic effects and realized it was
achieved by lighting. I hope to learn more about lighting so I
can use it in my work.”
Watching The Gleaners, a low budget documentary about people who
take the leftover produce from the fields after the harvest, has
spurred Sheila on in her endeavor. She said, “I liked the
uniqueness of her idea and how she produced it. It looked good
and it was all shot with a hand-held camcorder. It received
critical praise and would make a good model for my movie.”
When asked if SCAT was what she expected she said, “I heard
good things about SCAT.” But Sheila didn’t realize at
first that she was going to encounter such a diverse group of
people that make up the SCAT membership. “I value getting to
know all the other people here. It was a delightful surprise!
It’s striking that I met so many people that I normally
would not come across in my daily routine. I now feel more
connected to the community. I might bump into them on the
street.”
SCAT truly is one of the few organizations in the city that
bridges across age, gender, race, income levels, religious
beliefs, and ethnic backgrounds. It is a place where anyone is
welcomed to share with the community. Whether for a specific
section of the public or for the residents in general; SCAT
allows each person a means to find their voice and let it be
heard.
Somerville Community
Access Television
90 Union Square,
Somerville, MA 02143
Phone: 617-628-8826 | Fax: 617-628-1811
Email: info@access-scat.org
(Need Directions?Ý Click HERE.)