Monday, 6/2/97 Gaining Access UCLA Students produce programs to
be aired on public television
By Kathy Young Daily Bruin Contributor You don’t need to be a
member of Hollywood’s elite to be on television. These days,
ordinary citizens have the opportunity to produce a variety of
programs that range from live psychic readings to a Barbie Doll
soap opera. Such programs and more can be seen on public-access
channels. These channels are available for individuals and
organizations to exhibit non-commercial information or viewpoints
to the public, without editorial control. The free airwaves that
public-access channels provide have motivated all types of
organizations, including UCLA groups, to produce programming for an
audience. Currently airing on Century’s public- access channel is
UCLA Bruin Talk. Within a half-hour time slot, fourth-year student
host Michele Donahue and UCLA Graduate Greg Wolf highlight the
various accomplishments of UCLA’s athletes and coaches. The Bruin
Talk student team also consists of Producer Erin Deis, Jenna
Maloney and Jill Stewart. Along with Executive Producer Michael
Sondheimer, this small group of students hopes to showcase
athletics and utilize Bruin Talk as an outlet that is appreciated
by UCLA fans. On the first Wednesday of each month, the show tapes
in Century Cable’s studio. Each segment features an athlete of the
week, a sports hotline, schedule of upcoming events as well as
interviews with athletes or coaches. "(Bruin Talk) is a really
intimate way to get to know an athlete," says Deis. "On large cable
networks, you just get soundbites." The diversity of people
involved have proven that public access has become a forum for
various groups to not only share information with a television
audience but to obtain a rewarding experience as well. While
enthusiastically displaying their school spirit through Bruin Talk,
public access also provides Deis and others the chance to explore
future career options in media. Some hope to follow in the
footsteps of Bruin Talk alumna and former UCLA gymnast Maura
Driscol, who currently works for ESPN. Wolf has also done work for
Fox Sports West as well as an ABC affiliate in Fresno. Due to her
experiences at Bruin Talk, Deis herself knows that she somehow
wants to be involved with media. First-year undeclared student
Desiree Aspiras has also learned the benefits of the public access
channel. An aspiring dancer, she found herself participating in the
taping of an audition dance reel. This program provided her with
the chance to display her talent on television for the first time.
She is hoping that the reel will obtain positive response from its
viewers. The Office of Residential Life plans to utilize
public-access channels in the future. They are currently discussing
the creation of a channel purely aimed at UCLA students. This
channel will aid students in enhancing educational knowledge in
issues dealing with health, personal growth and community
developments. "We would like to focus on certain time slots
attainable to students," says Program Supports Coordinator Steve
Greim. "This channel will give information about campus resources
as well as resources about groups on campus." If everything goes
well, this channel should be operational by next fall. Century’s
Public Access is the second-most popular-public access station in
the United States. The station airs public service announcements in
hopes of benefiting the community. For a fee of $35 per half-hour
show, these programs are taped in Century Cable’s studio. The
airtime the public-access channel provides is free. A dedicated
following of access shows such as UCLA Bruin Talk, Mr. Traffic, and
Colin’s Sleazy Friends has developed. With the existence of
public-access channels, anybody can be a television star. People
can use these channels as a means to be discovered, send a
meaningful message to the audience or simply to have some fun.
Glenn Darby, director production supervisor of Century Cable is no
stranger to the variety of people that enter the studio daily.
"Public access is like a magnet that draws unusual people," Darby
says. As long as the access producer adheres to the guidelines
mandated by the local company and fills out the proper application
form, anybody can donate a tape of their work. However there have
been times where it has been difficult to determine where to draw
the line in terms of content. "As a new father," says Darby, I
don’t believe that certain things should air during the daytime,
where children can view them." This belief has been followed as
later time slots have been reserved for shows inappropriate for
children. While the aspiring producers strongly dictate the format
of their own shows, Darby is available to offer technical
assistance, advice and a bit of encouragement. "Interns are
learning, producers are having fun," Darby says. "Everyone is
winning!" PATRICK LAM/Daily Bruin UCLA student Erin Deis is the
producer of Bruin Talk, a sports show which airs on public-access
television. JAMIE SCANLON-JACOBS Jenna Maloney, a third year
communications student, is part of the team that produces Bruin
Talk every month.