News & Events
A Talk by the Maoist Finance Minister of Nepal
Nepal has seen rapid political changes during the last two decades. On May 28, 2008, lawmakers in Nepal legally abolished the monarchy and declared the country a republic, ending 239 years of royal rule. A Maoist ideologue, and the newly appointed Finance Minister of Nepal, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai visited Boston and held a talk program at Harvard University on 14 October, 2008. In the talk program entitled ‘Penury to Prosperity’ Dr Bhattarai shared his vision and answered questions from the audience.
This program was produced by Eta and Eugene Shrestha.
Scheduled cablecast times on SCAT Channel 3:
Wednesday, November 19 at 11:00pm
Tuesday, November 25 at 6:00pm
SCAT wins awards in the ACM-NE Video contest
Congratulations to the Next Generation Producers for winning a second place award for their public service announcement on peer pressure. The video is a dramatic presentation of how to resist gang involvement. It was produced by teens from the Somerville Boys and Girls Club and Centro Presente in the Spring of 2008. Instructors Dacia Kornechuk and Prince Charles led the group.
Bill Barrell also won an award for his lively coverage of the 2007 Fluff Festival in Union Square. The contest garners entries from access center producers across the Northeast, including New York, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. It is quite competitive, as producers only send in their very best programs. SCAT's two awards are quite an honor. Great work!
Next Generation Producers at Somerville High School
Next Generation Producers are now at Somerville High as an after school club. On Thursday, October 9, students learned about the new club at the Next Generation Producers multimedia table during lunch. That afternoon the Club started up with six excited students who will learn all the steps of video production while producing projects for cable TV and the Web. There is still space in the club so spread the word about this opportunity to learn technology skills, be creative, and explore a new career option.
SCAT wins Massachusetts Cultural Council grant
Many thanks to the Massachusetts Cultural Council for continuing to support SCAT through its three-year Operational Support grant. MCC support is an essential component of SCAT's organizational infrastructure. It helps us carry out our mission to provide an electronic free speech venue to the residents of Somerville, as well as the training and facilities they need to create community-based media. The grant allows SCAT to do more productions, assist non-profit organizations with their outreach efforts, and staff the Next Generation Producers youth programs.
Daniel Marques is SCAT's new staffer!
Daniel Marques is SCAT's new Youth Program and Membership Coordinator. He will lead the Next Generation Producers afterschool club at Somerville High School as well as other teen programs. Daniel is also the go-to person for membership questions.
Daniel has a degree in Communications and Journalism from Universidade Federal do Parana and UniBrasil in Curitiba, Brazil. He got involved at SCAT in 2007 as an intern, then assisted Dacia and Prince with the youth program through the Summer of 2008. As a full time staffer, he will combine his Portuguese and video skills to teach production classes in Portuguese at SCAT.
Portuguese Speakers Welcome
SCAT is offering SCAT members production classes in Portuguese this Fall. The Basic Portable Equipment class, which begins on October 7, covers the use of SCAT's professional camcorders and audio equipment. The Basic Editing class, which begins on November 18, introduces students to Final Cut Express. The fee for each class is $40.
To become a member of SCAT, you must be a resident of Somerville and attend a free, 45-minute Orientation session. Call 617-628-8826 for more information.
Hand-Drawn Animation and Soundtrack Workshop
Award-winning Boston animator Karen Aqua will conduct a five-week hands-on workshop in hand-drawn animation. During the final 2 sessions, renowned composer/musician Ken Field will join the class to help students create a soundtrack for the film. Students will explore movement and transformation using a variety of drawing and under- the-camera techniques, including flipbooks, cut-outs, and object animation. Sound effects and music will be recorded to accompany the visuals. This workshop, to be held at SCAT on Monday evenings beginning on October 20, is open SCAT members and non-members.
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.
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 Berkelee 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.
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.
