KCTS and You
Recently I received a press release from KCTS saying it is seeking submissions for a new local series that will showcase works by Northwest independent filmmakers. After reading about KCTS's financial woes over the last several years, it does seem that the best way to turn things around at the station is to tap into the local/regional film scene. Intrigued, I set up a meeting with General Manager Randy Brinson and Program Manager Erik Maki. Basically, I wanted to find out what they're looking for, what they've booked already, and what the heck they mean when they say it "must meet KCTS broadcast standards."
I'll tackle that last question first. Though there are some FCC standards that must be met, there is some flexibility when it comes to format. If you have a BetaSP or DigiBeta copy of your piece, odds are you conform to the standards. "Three-chip DV" can work, but the lower you get in the quality of your image acquisition, the lower your odds of a successful submission. You can always ask, if you have questions. I should also mention that there is no cost for submitting, no deadline (KCTS plans on continuing the series after the initial 10 weeks), and no restrictions other than a one-hour time constraint. That means longer pieces need to be cut down to fit, and shorter pieces are difficult because they'll need to be grouped thematically. Oh, and it pays--it's not much by broadcast standards, but, at $1,000 for the hour, it's more than a whisper. If this first series is a success, the station will increase the funding and maybe even commission works. Submissions should be VHS or DVD, and sent to KCTS Television, 401 Mercer Street, Seattle, WA 98109.
What kind of stuff are they looking for? Maki and Brinson say they're looking for local stories that explore "topics and experiences unique to life in our region." For the most part, that means documentaries, though they'd be open to narrative pieces if they "relate directly to KCTS's regional service area." Already they've booked pieces about the economic hardships of apple farmers, cultural diversity in the Pike Place Market, and Japanese internment. With this series, they aren't pushing the boundaries of PBS content; they are trying to bring new viewers in without alienating the older ones. Personally, I'm happy to see the emphasis on local content, but I have to admit that the subjects chosen so far are a little too conservative for my taste. But who knows? They're programming according to what they've received so far, so there's a chance that more adventurous pieces from the Northwest Film Forum's Local Sightings series could get in, or one of those documentaries about the Typing Explosion, which I'd really like to see. And if this series is successful, it may be able to expand into some sort of a Northwest Visions series that might incorporate more of what I'm interested in.
