Welcome to Falls Area Community Television—where your big ideas, quirky concepts, and “this might be kinda cool” thoughts can become actual shows on actual screens. This class is your official orientation to everything FACT TV has to offer—and your gateway to becoming a community producer who knows what they’re doing (or at least looks like it).
In this fun and informative crash course, you’ll learn:
- What kinds of shows you can create (spoiler: almost anything… except a live bear-wrangling segment—insurance won’t cover that)
- How to take your idea and turn it into something people actually want to watch
- The tools, resources, and support you get access to as part of the FACT TV family
- The difference between shooting in our studio, going “live to tape,” or producing out in the wild
- How to plan, schedule, and actually finish a show without complete chaos
- Ways to convince (trick) your friends to help (pizza still works)
- How to get your show seen by the community (and possibly become a local legend)
- And most importantly, how FACT TV works and how you fit into it
Whether you’re aiming for small-town fame or just want to have fun and make cool stuff, this orientation-slash-class is the first step. Come with an idea. Leave with a plan. And maybe a sticker.
Bellows Falls:
- 2nd Saturday of the month 3pm-5:30pm
- 1st Thursday of the month from 6:30pm-7:30p
Keene Station:
- 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 4:30pm – 5:30pm
If you want to take gear out of FACT TV, this class is mandatory. If you enjoy chaos, broken gear, and angry emails, feel free to skip it (but don’t say we didn’t warn you).
What you will learn:
- Which button turns the camera on (yes, it matters).
- How to open a tripod without losing a finger or your dignity.
- That audio exists, and you should probably care about it.
- How to frame a shot that doesn’t make people seasick.
- The fine art of not dropping, drowning, or disassembling expensive things.
- How to use our super advanced, totally user-friendly reservation system (spoiler: it involves a calendar).
- And finally, our sacred scroll of equipment policies—because “I didn’t know” won’t save you when things go sideways.
Bellows Falls:
- 1st Saturday of the month 2:30-3:30pm
- 2nd Thursday of the month from 6:30pm-7:30p
Keene Station:
- 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month from 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Welcome to the class where we begrudgingly hand over the shiny, expensive gear—but only if you promise not to break it or call it “that thingy.” This is your chance to get up close and personal with the good stuff: cinema cameras, lenses that cost more than your car, audio mics that can hear ants breathing, mixers with more buttons than a spaceship, and live production gear that will definitely confuse you at first (and possibly forever).
You’ll learn how to:
- Actually focus a lens without “just winging it”
- Use microphones that don’t double as paperweights
- Operate cinema cameras like you’ve seen in behind-the-scenes documentaries
- Touch a mixer without accidentally muting the entire world
- Look extremely cool and competent while doing all the above (optional, but encouraged)
- Pick what you want to learn—just remember: with great gear comes great responsibility. Or at least a mild sense of panic.
Bellows Falls:
- 1st Saturday of the month 4:30-5:30pm
- 4th Thursday of the month from 6:30pm-7:30p
Keene Station:
- 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month from 4:30pm – 5:30pm
So you want to be a freelancer with FACT TV? Fantastic. But before we let you wander off with a camera and start cashing checks, you’ll need to take this required orientation class. Think of it as your official initiation into the wild world of public access TV—where creative freedom meets just enough paperwork to keep things interesting.
This class is your roadmap to doing real freelance work with FACT TV, using our gear, and actually getting paid (without sending us seven follow-up emails asking, “Did you get my invoice?”).
What You Can Expect:
- An overview of our freelancer policy –The who, what, when, where, and “please don’t do that” of working with us.
- Intro to FACT TV and public access television –Learn how we operate, why we exist, and what makes this community-driven TV station so unique.
- What equipment, resources, and support are available to you –You’ll get access to our cameras, audio equipment, studio spaces, and editing suites—once you know how to use them, of course.
- Identifying the skills you have—and what you might want to sharpen – Everyone brings something to the table. We’ll help you figure out what you already rock at and what you could level up.
- How to use the Freelance Resources web page – Find current job opportunities, fill out payment forms, and manage your freelance life like a professional (or at least pretend to).
- Understanding our pay scale – Learn how our rates work depending on your experience and the gig, so you know what to expect.
- Filling out your W9 – It’s not fun, but it’s necessary. This is the form that officially makes you someone we can pay.
- Scheduling for training and future gigs – We’ll walk you through the next steps, including any technical training you might need before your first freelance assignment.
Bottom Line:
This class will get you up to speed, signed up, and ready to work. It’s the first step toward turning your media skills into real opportunities with Falls Area Community Television.
Bellows Falls:
- 1st Monday of the month 5:30-6:30pm
- 3rd Thursday of the month from 6:00pm-7:30p
Keene Station:
- 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 4:30pm – 5:30pm