Thursday, December 04, 2008

Open House

Join us for our Open House on Monday, December 8th from 5PM-7PM. Meet staff, tour the facilities, find out how you can get involved with community media and enjoy some great food and drink. Anyone interested in seeing our facility or finding out more about us should come on Monday December 8th from 5PM-7PM. We are located at 375 Jackson Street in Downtown St. Paul.

Thursday, November 06, 2008

All Things Access 310 November 2008

Find out more about the Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities, learn how to make a simple DVD using iDVD, learn what makes Mahi P. tick, and see how Ed Sanders helps It's A Woman's World polish their show.

Law and Video


November 17th at 6:30PM at the SPNN studios. $20 members, $30 non members, $10 student, limited income, and senior members.
Gain some legal insight into Fair Use, Release Forms, Music Clearance, and Copyright Issues.
Please RSVP by calling 651-298-8908.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

SPNN member Andrist wins Award

SPNN member Angela Andrist particpated in the MN History Center's Moving Pictures Film Project. Her project was called "Soap Box Derby Champion: Boy Makes Good". She won an award for Best Emerging Filmmaker. The film tells the story of Joe Garelick, the 1938 St. Paul Soap Box Derby Champion who went on to fight as a gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber during WWII and returned home with five air medals. Following the war, Garelick invented a boat ladder and launched a successful manufacturing company.

You can view the film on SPNN's channel 15 or here View the film.

Find out more about the project and view the entries here http://www.mnhs.org/people/mngg/film/index.htm.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Voice Over Workshop


Our Voiceover Workshop will be Tuesday Oct. 28 at 6:30PM. Cost is $20 for members, $30 for non members and $10 for students, limited income, and senior members.
Learn how to produce voiceovers for your own programs and others. Taught by experienced actor, director, casting agent, and talent instructor, Don Cosgrove of the Talent Center.
Call 651-298-8908 to reserve your spot.

Democracy Now Election Coverage

I'm sure everyone has been inundated with election coverage, but we thougt we'd throw ourselves in the mix. Democracy Now will be carrying live election coverage on November 4th. We hope to carry at least part of the night on Channel 15. More details will follow as we work out the details. Democracy Now will also have a special two hour program November 5th that will air live 7AM-9AM and will rebroadcast from 3PM-5PM.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

ATA October Show

We interviewed Nurse Hatchet from the Wabash Street Caves, worked with BiCities on polishing their show, found out more about Anthony Mason of The Twin Cities Show, and learned what accessories SPNN has to offer.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Oh woeist Mac

We just bought two brand new Apple computers. They came with the new iMovie 8 and iLife 08. Having heard lots of complaints about the new iMovie, we decided to down convert to iMovie 6. Now the fact that Apple expects and has a link for this download should say something. Feeling all secure after I tested the import process and editing, making sure to note that the deck was recognized, I let our members start using it. It became apparent soon after that we had export issues. The program exported to tape, but only audio was recorded over black. I tried some troubleshooting to no avail called a couple of techs and didn't get far. I then walked step by step through the preferences. I found that if one had "play video through camera" selected, it exported audio but no video. If on the other hand you deselected this option, it exported fine. After another call to the Apple tech, I found out that evidently the new iMovie and the new Final Cut Express for that matter have a thing called Muxing. This separates the video and audio tracks. This is the reason the audio would record but no video. Imagine my surprise at his lack of surprise. Evidently when building the new software Apple thought printing to tape was archaic. That is why in the new FCE and iMovie 8 printing to tape isn't an option. If you upgrade your existing software it holds the original codec and will continue to support printing to tape. Lesson learned. Two actually. Mac is NOT as plug and play as they claim and upgrade rather than outright buy the new program. I guess with the popularity of tapeless camcorders and the shift to web based publishing, tape's days are numbered.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Polish My Show

The SPNN Access department is starting a new segment for All Things Access called Polish My Show. This segment will work with a member on their show. We will evaluate the program, sit down with the producer to find out what they want out of the show, and suggest things that will help improve the quality of the program. We then will implament the changes to see the difference. The entire process will be video taped and then broadcast during All Things Access. If a SPNN producer is interested in having their show polished, they should contact the access department at 651-298-8908 or email us at access at spnn.org.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Say Hello to the World

If you are interested in bringing your voice to an even wider and more global audience by broadcasting it over the internet, you need to check out this workshop. Anthony Williams of VM Direct will be joining us in the studio to talk about what is possible these days in terms of getting your show seen through the internet. Anthony has already helped a couple of SPNN members broadcast their show live from SPNN's Studio One. So the technology exists, now come and learn about it.

Tuesday, July 29th at 6:30PM in the SPNN Lounge. Reserve a spot today by calling 651-298-8908. $30 non members, $20 members, $10 limited income, seniors, and students.

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Art(ists) on the Verge

The Jerome Foundation and Northern Lights, with fiscal sponsor Forecast Public Art, announce Art(ists) on the Verge, a new Minnesota grants program that supports emerging artists who create and present new work at the intersection of experimental artistic practice and technology. This program concentrates on art practices that are social, collaborative and/or participatory. See the attached press release and call for artists for more details.Northern Lights, a new Twin Cities-based arts agency under the leadership of Steve Dietz, with the support of the Jerome Foundation, will implement a two-track fellowship and mentoring program for Minnesota-based, emerging artists working experimentally at the intersection of art, media, technology, and social practice. Informational sessions for interested artists will be July 21, 2008 at 6:00 pm at Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis and August 15, at 12:00 pm at the Jerome Foundation, 400 Sibley Street, Suite 125, St. Paul. Applications are due Monday, September 8, 2008.For more information, please contact Eleanor Savage, Program Officer, Jerome Foundation 651.224.9431 esavage@jeromefdn.org or Steve Dietz, Director, Northern Lights 952.994.4118 AOV@northern.lights.mn.

Monday, June 30, 2008

U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled.

This morning the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit turned down a petition by the Alliance for Community Media, Alliance for Communications Democracy, NATOA, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and by other PEG organizations, local governments and cable operators seeking to overturn regulations adopted by the FCC in March 2007 designed to ease the ability of telephone companies to get cable franchise.

The decision represents a loss for the public interest served by PEG and local franchising. While the decision affirms the FCC’s finding that capital costs required by a franchise to be paid for PEG access facilities are exempted from the definition of franchise fees (as to which a maximum 5% of gross revenues can permissibly be charged), the court makes clear that such capital costs are not limited to the construction of facilities but may also include equipment. The court’s decision also makes clear that nothing in the FCC’s order prevents local franchise authorities from increasing PEG obligations upon renewal of incumbent franchises.

Here is a link to the court’s decision: http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/08a0230p-06.pdf.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Minnesota Minute

My Minnesota Minute
Online Video Contest

Minnesota Minute
The State of Minnesota’s 150th birthday celebration gets star treatment with "The Minnesota Minute," a series of 60-second TV spots commemorating Minnesota’s natural history. The 13-part series, written, directed and produced for the state's sesquicentennial by the University of Minnesota's Bell Museum of Natural History Emmy-award TV winning TV production unit, Bell Museum Productions, is scheduled to air in prime time slots on Minnesota television stations and
Twin Cities Public Television beginning May 11 through the sesquicentennial's finale August 30.

The series hosts a companion web site with video blog for amateur and professional filmmakers throughout the state to share their own environmental-related videos and stories.

Hey, Minnesotans, are you feeling inspired by the environment that surrounds you? Have
you created your Minnesota Minute yet? Be sure to upload your video soon! The random
drawing for prizes start in early May.

Join us as we celebrate 150 years of Minnesota history by taking a look at Minnesota’s natural places and asking how we can protect and restore these special places for the next 150 years. This contest accompanies The Bell Museum of Natural History’s Minnesota Minute television campaign which can be seen on TV beginning in May or at the Minnesota Minute website. These one minute videos tell the story of Minnesotans helping to preserve and restore Minnesota’s natural places.

Now it’s your turn!

Perhaps you know of a special place that needs help? Maybe you have a solution to share? Is there something you do as an individual or a community that makes a difference for the future of
Minnesota’s natural places and resources? Tell us what changes you think the next 150 years will bring to Minnesota’s environment. Grab a camera and start shooting!

HOW?
1) Go to www.minnesotaminute.org to see examples of Minnesota Minutes and to learn more about Minnesota’s environment.
2) Pick up a digital camera.
3) Create your own Minnesota Minute video.
4) Keep it short! (under five minutes)
5) Upload your finished video to YouTube.
6) Add the tag: MyMinnesotaMinute

LINKS
The Official Websitewww.minnesotaminute.orgThe Bell Museum of Natural Historywww.bellmuseum.orgThe Bell Museum’s YouTube profilewww.youtube.com/user/BellMuseumMinnesota Sesquicentennialwww.mn150years.org/

The contest is open to everyone. All who submit will be entered in a drawing to win a Sanyo Xacti digital video camera and other prizes. Submit videos any time now throughout the Summer (2008).

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

SPNN Closing @ 8PM July 11th

SPNN will be closing early on Friday July 11th. We will be closing at 8PM. Please plan accordingly.

SPNN closed 4th of July

SPNN will be closed for Independence Day on July 4th. We will re-open on Saturday July 5th at 9:30 AM.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Pre-production Planning

Learn more about pre-production planning, everything from scouting a location to money and food.

Interview with Habitat for Humanity

Stuart Sawyer interviewed Sharon Rolenc of the Twin Cities Habiat for Humanity.

June Member of the Month

Find out more about Eric Angell, the producer of Our World in Depth.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Mikenastics makes the Rake

There is an article on the front page of the magazine the Rake. He has been submitting his show to SPNN. Read more about him at http://www.rakemag.com/reporting/rakish-angle/mikenastics-50-years-and-tumbling

The Unconvention

The Twin Cities will get its fair share of media attention this September as the RNC rolls into downtown St. Paul and people across the globe are fascinated with the outcome of this year’s election, but what do you have to say?

Folks from the UpTake.org, a citizen journalist led initiative, will teach you the basics of interviewing getting great results as you ask the tough political questions. Then team up with the experts at SPNN to create your own message that expresses your feelings about the wonderful world of democracy. Upload it to Youtube just in time for the convention. Selected videos will be screened at the Walker as part of the Unconvention project http://www.theunconvention.com/

This workshop will be held in two parts. Saturday, June 14th will be led by the UpTake and will focus on interviewing styles and techniques as well as creating a production plan for your project. Part 2 on June 21st will be taught by SPNN’s own Ed Sanders. He will make sure you are camera and i-movie proficient and ready to check out SPNN’s cameras and use their editing suites.

The Walker Art Center is providing a free SPNN membership for those who choose to make an I Approve This Message video, but participants must pay for the workshops. You will be eligible to check out SPNN cameras and editing suites only for the production of an I Approve this Message video and only until September 4th.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Screening

A showing for the stonecutter documentary will be held on Friday, June13th at 7:30 p.m. Twin Cities Public TV has accepted the programand it will probably be broadcast on Labor Day. Here's a chance to seeit in advance. There will be an open-ended discussion after the screening, not only about the documentary, but about the subjects ittouches on: Italy, past and present immigration, personal identity,sculpture, unions, etc. The screening will be at the Mounds Theatre, 1029 Hudson Road, a streetfronting on I-94 on the East Side of St. Paul,1/2 block west of Earl St. It's about 1/2 mile north of Indian MoundsPark, in the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood just east of downtown.

Maps and directions from five different highways and locations can befound at ww.moundstheatre.org Click on Maps.

Driving from the west on eastbound I-94: 1. Take the Mounds Blvd./Metro State University Exit (Exit 243). NOTE: This is a left side exit. 2. Go straight ahead one block on 6th St. 3. Turn right onto Maria Ave. 4. Follow Maria Ave. It will curve and turn into Hudson Road. 5. The Mounds Theater is on the left at 1029 Hudson Road (between Cypress St. and Earl St.)

There is ample free street parking along Hudson Road.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

SPNN Annual Meeting/ Board elections

SPNN will be holding it's annual meeting on Tuesday May 13 from 6-8. There will be food, a short program, elections, and awards. Everyone is welcome.

Brown College Sportscaster Workshop

Workshop is Five consecutive Tuesdays, May 20, 27 and June 3, 10, 17. It is from 6PM-9PM and cost is $250. Watch the following video for more information.

http://proclaim.netbriefings.com/flv/trial/aptuz/trialaptuz100018/

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

My Minnesota Minute Video Contest

** Announcing the My Minnesota Minute Video Contest! **

To celebrate Minnesota’s 150th Birthday the Bell Museum is sponsoring a video contest open to everyone.

Tell us how the natural world around you is changing. Share your ideas for protecting our environment and preserving our natural world. Or just tell us why a natural area means so much to you. Keep your Minnesota Minute video short (30 seconds is great, under 5 minutes required) and upload it to YouTube now. Tag it with “MyMinnesotaMinute”.

Beginning on Earth Day (April 22, 2008) weekly prizes will be awarded through the end of May.

Short "how to" video:

http://bellmuseum.org/blog/?p=10

To see samples of other My Minnesota Minutes, visit:

http://www.minnesotaminute.org

The My Minnesota Minute Video Contest is open to anyone. For further guidelines visit the contest website:

http://bellmuseum.org/blog/?p=6

For questions e-mail: MinnesotaMinute@bellmuseum.org

This contest is part of a Web and TV event which celebrates Minnesotans who are working today to protect our natural world for tomorrow.

The project is hosted by the Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota. It is sponsored by Blandin Foundation with outreach support from E-Democracy.Org.

Friday, April 18, 2008

"Mr. Positive"

See MR. POSITIVE, a poetic video portrait of a good citizen with a magical bicycle.

Winner of Honorable Mention at the Fargo Film Festival, it is playing here:

The Minneapolis International Film Festival at St. Anthony Main Theater on Sunday April 20, 2008 at 7:45pm.

Central Park/R. H. Stafford Library in Woodbury on Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 1:30pm.

To see a neat trailer, click
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A3vjscC-Fk

For details, visit
http://www.thecie.org

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

ATA 102

SPNN's Access Department's program All Things Access.   This episode includes a recap of the Final Cut Express Audio workshop, the Model Ship builders Assoc. MOTM Gloria Walton, and a preview of a blog class.

ATA 206

SPNN's Access Department's program All Things Access.   This episode includes highlights of past members.  Reggie Moore, James Adiamak, A-yia Thoj, and Gordon Leverett.

ATA 201

SPNN's Access Department program All Things Access.  this episode includes The Vantage Point, an interviw on the Wabasha Caves, MOTM Carlos Garcia Valescar, and a tech tip on white balancing studio cameras.

ATA 203

SPNN's Access Department program All Things Access.  This episode includes an interview with the Salvation Army, MOTM Kang Yee Vang, and shooting tips.

ATA 204

SPNN's Access Department program All Things Access.  this episode includes an interview with State Rep. Sheldon Johnson, MOTM Helen Broderick, a tutorial on You Tube, and New Year's resolutions.

ATA 205

SPNN's Access Department's program All Things Access.  this episode includes a guest from ArtStart, MOTM Robin Wilcox, a tech tip on light meters, and Winter Pet Safety.

ATA 209

SPNN's Access Department's program All Things Access.   This episode includes an interview about the Magory McNeely Conservatory at Como Park, a tech tip on using graphics in Fincal Cut Express, MOTM Paul Romero, and a piece on the Central Touring Theater.

ATA 211- Aug. 07

SPNN's Access Department's program All Things Access.  This episode includes technical tips on the audio compressor, dub rack, light meter and the waveform/ vectorscope.

ATA 215 - Dec. 07

SPNN's Access Department's program All Things Access.   this episode includes an interview with Julio Ojeda Zapada, a tech tip on the Chimera Hood, MOTM Ernest Moore, and a collaboration between WSCO and Multi-Cultural Indgenous Academy.

Monday, April 07, 2008

Annual Meeting

Save the date: SPNN's Annual Meeting is set for Tuesday May 13 from 6-
9pm. It's our chance to thank the community for their involvement with
SPNN, and to celebrate all the good work that goes on here.
Join us!



SPNN Members will be electing a member of the SPNN Board of Directors at our Annual Meeting on Tuesday May 13. The Board of Directors oversees policy and direction of our non-profit, and is responsible for its proper governance. Members of the Board volunteer their time to help govern SPNN, and devote 3-5 hours a month. If you're interested in running
for election to the Board, please contact Mike Wassenaar at 651-298-8900 or e-mail wassenaar@spnn.org for an application. The deadline for entry in the election is Tuesday May 6 @ 5pm.

All Things Access

Check out our current and past episodes of SPNN's Access Department's program All Things Access. Click on the forward or reverse buttons to see other episodes.

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

July ATA 210

St. Paul Neighborhood Network program All Things Access, produced by the Access Department. Contains a tech tip, Member of the month and an interview with a local non-profit, and a feature.

ATA 207 May

St. Paul Neighborhood Network program All Things Access, produced by the Access Department. Contains a tech tip, Member of the month and an interview with a local non-profit, and a feature.

ATA June 208

St. Paul Neighborhood Network program All Things Access, produced by the Access Department. Contains a tech tip, Member of the month and an interview with a local non-profit, and a feature.

ATA Oct. 213

St. Paul Neighborhood Network program All Things Access, produced by the Access Department. Contains a tech tip, Member of the month and an interview with a local non-profit, and a feature.

ATA 214 November

St. Paul Neighborhood Network program All Things Access, produced by the Access Department. Contains a tech tip, Member of the month and an interview with a local non-profit, and a feature.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

ATA 302: March 2008

On this edition of All Things Access, we interviewed Robert Byrd of the Jerome Foundation, Janine Hanson of the Science Museum of MN, provided a tech tip on using graphics, and profiled member and volutneer Emmanuel Nelson.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Call for Entries

CALL FOR ENTRIES
The Black Dog Cafe, 308 Prince St. in Saint Paul, is a cafe and wine bar dedicated to the promotion of artists and of community. Located in the heart of the Lowertown artists quarter, we continually strive to find new ways to get people together, share ideas, and enjoy life. Currently, we are looking for local film makers and video artists that would be interested in showing their work.
This is a weekly event, each Sunday starting at 7:00, which premiered Sunday March 2nd. Since variety is the spice of life, we will accept for approval: narratives, documentaries, and experimental works; as well they may be feature length pieces or shorts. However, works over 90 minutes will probably be less accepted. Likewise, works under 20 minutes will be subject to being shown only in pairings, and thus harder to show unless others of that length are submitted. As well this is a family environment, though a fairly liberal one, so we will be less approving of showing anything of a questionable nature.
The Deadline as of now is April 5th for works to be considered in time to show for the next Sunday, but works will still be accepted after that for the weeks following. If you are interested, please respond as soon as possible. Thanks and I hope to hear from you.

at:
howyoureachme@hotmail.com
or call:
651-228-9274 and ask for Chad or leave a message
Thank you much for your interest and I hope to hear from you soon!

Science Museum of Minnesota

All Things Access host, Stuart Sawyer, interviewed Communications Director Janine Hanson of the Science Museum of MN.

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Jerome Foundation

SPNN ATA hose China Terrell interviews Robert Byrd of the Jerome Foundation. Learn more about how Jerome Foundation helps emerging artists.

Friday, March 07, 2008

ORGANIC MEDIA

Come see a free evening of short films by Deb Wallwork and Media Mike Hazard at The Black Dog Café at 7pm, on Sunday March 9, 2008. Wallwork and Hazard are home town indie filmmakers who make organic documentaries with genuine people. The show will feature the late Carol Bly, Elsie’s Farm, C. Beck, Mr. Positive, George Stoney and other home-grown surprises.The Black Dog is at 308 Prince Street, St. Paul, right by the Farmers Market. Call 651-228-9274 or visit <http://www.thecie.org>.

Monday, March 03, 2008

Wired

We have a new program "Wired" that will start airing regulalry on Tuesday nights at 8:30. This program will feature music and bands.

Member Appreciation Night

The SPNN Access department will be hosting a Member Appreciation Night on March 14th. This member event starts at 7PM. The first 15 members to arrive will receive a free mini DV tape courtesy of Comcast. Blink Bonnie will be providing the food. We will also be playing games and giving out prizes.

Access will be closing at 6:30 on March 14th for this event.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

The Music of Spirit and Legend

THE MUSIC OF SPIRIT & LEGEND

Friday, January 25, 8pm

Saturday, January 26, 5:30pm



Mario Venzago, Conductor

Emanuele Arciuli, Piano

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra



The late “Stands with Eagles” Louis Ballard made it his life’s

mission to illuminate the unique motivations behind Native

American music. The ISO pays homage to Ballard with both

Incident at Wounded Knee and the World Premiere of Indiana

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, completed posthumously

by his protégé Brent Michael Davids. The mythical tales of

Sibelius’s Four Legends complete the program.



Stay after the concert to hear Mario Venzago (above), Davids

and Louis Ballard, Jr. discuss the life and music of Ballard.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Funding your project




Offered by Springboard for the Arts: This session’s topic is generating income. We’ll discuss the value of multiple income streams. We’ll cover research and application preparation techniques for grants, fellowships, scholarships, and residency programs available to individual artists, We’ll also talk about finding and maintaining partners in the community as a strategy for expanding your audience and appeal to potential funders.