For & Against: Can a gig on community television lead to bigger and better things?
FOR: Jess Harris, co-creator, writer and star of ABC2’s comedy series Twentysomething
Josh Schmidt (Twentysomething co-creator) and I wanted to get into the industry but we didn’t really know the gap between having an idea and making it a job. We knew about community station Channel 31 because our friend, Ryan Shelton, had done a show on 31 called Radio Karate. We decided to make a series about being in your twenties, struggling and not really knowing what you’re doing with your life.
It took us about two years to finish the six episodes and we didn’t get in contact with Channel 31 until the very end. We called them up and said, “we’ve got six episodes here of a show we would love to air on your channel”. We had to pay an airing fee so we got RMITV, RMIT University’s media production group, to help us out by sponsoring the show.
Hear, hear for Community TV!
As our media landscape converges into a market where content will become key, I think we are going to see a lot more of the Yianni’s and Jess’s, whether it be online, Free to Air or STV.
I (naturally) am for Community TV. These channels provide many talented Australians, whether it be crew, publicity, marketing, writers, producers and programmers; their first step onto the highly competitive media ladder.
Aurora prides itself on being a launch pad for independent producers, with 6-10 hours of premiere Australian made content screening every week. We are proud of all our independent producers who make quality television year in year out and admire how a lot of the programs we screen are the result of one person’s vision to make a TV show, not for the accolades, but purely for the love of the craft.
Corrie McDougall
Programming & Production Manager
Aurora Community Channel
Hi All,
Happy Friday!!!
I agree with Corrie. If it wasn’t for community TV and the opportunity Aurora has given us we wouldn’t have ever been able to launch our talk show dedicated to unearthing Australian talent.
We would be interested in getting Jess Harris on our show to be interviewed. Feel free to pass on my details – spary@planetunearth.com.au or contact me direct on 0425 754 088
Best regards
Sean Pary
Executive Producer / Host
Personally I can’t wait until the old way of doing things comes tumbling down. I give free to air another 3-5 years at best. A slow revolution is coming and its going to be driven by people with talent and ideas. There’s a new way of doing things IPTV and when the infrastructure is in place all the old barriers will fall away. Narrow minded producers will have to lift their game and realise that their is a huge audience out there wanting variety. Finally people with ideas and talent will get a break and the closed doors of industry will look like a sad joke. Community TV will just be one of thousands of options. it’s an exciting time to be living if you have some creative spark.
For those in the community TV know: Do you always have to pay an airing fee to get your show on the air? Seems like it would discourage many creators who could just as easily use youtube for free…
Why does our country have no good pipelines to an industry job like the UK and USA?
Well, I produced what was (as far as I’m aware) the first ever drama serial for Melbourne’s Channel 31 in 1998/9 and subsequently a more professional pilot film based on it and have since turned it into a web series which had had over 250,000 hits on YouTube. And it’s gotten me absolutely nowhere.
So I agree with the person who says they hope the old way of things tumbles. But I also think the new ways of doing stuff needs some help to really become a viable alternative. I’m a YouTube Partner but haven’t made a red cent. And I think until I have some kind of support from initiatives like Film Victoria to develop and promote what I’m doing, the situation wont improve much.
I do see stuff like online video as similar to the early days of live TV, it’s ropey and rough. But it also has the potential to earn advertising dollars and grow as TV did. The problem is, not much of the money is shared with the content makers, who continue to produce content on a budget of zero.
Things can change but the indie video makers need support!
In reply to Yianni Zinonos comments – If a young 26 year old boy from Brunswick can get his talk show on national pay then anyone can. It’s about how badly you want to make it happen. Enough with the excuses and just do it.