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"Manuscript Studios" is the logo under which I produce my documentaries. I've been a film buff for as long as I can remember. In 1970, when I was 10 years old, my family took a vacation trip to California, with the obligatory trip to Disneyland. While we were there, we went to the "Main Street" exhibit (I think that's what it's called) where a theatre had been established for showing silent movies. Since I was becoming a horror film fan, I expressed interest in seeing Lon Chaney in the Phantom of the Opera. Someone explained that this was a silent movie. Either this person said or I replied that it was a silent movie "like those they show at the Museum (of Science & Industry in my hometown of Chicago)." I may not have understood exactly what silent movies were all about, but, by the age of 10 years old, I was already familiar with the concept of "silent movies." My dad is an avid history buff. He passed his love of history along to me. I love history, I love reading about all kinds of history, I love studying history. About two years ago, more or less, with my new computer system, I obtained video editing software. I began teaching myself how the software worked and to start editing video files. There is, in both the history of radio and the history of television, a large segment known optimistically as "community access" or "public access." The FCC regulations require all cable companies to maintain a local channel on the cable system set aside for the public to be able to produce television shows of their own creation. I'm not going to sit here debating the pros and cons of public access television, although I think it's a great idea on a general level. Here in Owensboro, our public access channels are co-ordinated by the local community college. I need to give the former Adelphia credit for one thing: they maintained a large number of public access stations. The public school systems each have one, there are two at the community college, one general channel for Adelphia (or, now, Time-Warner), one for local government. Slightly over two years ago, I approached Owensboro Public Access about the possibility of doing some films that could be broadcasted over OPA. My thanks to Lora Waters and the staff of OCC-TV/OPA for their support over the last couple of years. With OPA's broadcasting of my films, I was able to combine to of my passions, that of a passion for films and a passion for history. Through the agency of the dreaded Myspace, I met the fine people of OpenDoorTV and Big Block Network. OpenDoor TV/Big Block Network is a community access production and networking office that produces shows for and co-ordinates the shows of a network of about 20 stations in the Northeast. I approached them about broadcasting my tiny little films. They agreed to look at my films and then to broadcast my films. I am grateful for the kindness, friendship and encouragement I have received from Rick and OpenDoorTV since then. Through agencies like Myspace, TagWorld, Orkut (sorry folks, membership to Orkut is by invitation only.), I have connected with some very wonderful, supportive friends who have encouraged me in my pursuits. There are several problems with sites like Myspace. Anyone wishing to join should look into them, I encourage you to look at the social sites, but anyone should approach the idea of joining caution. It isn't just the predators, folks, although they do exist. Make certain your system is well protected before joining any of these sites. I will say, however, the good points of places like Myspace still far out weigh the bad points. Recently, I began organizing a shop on Caf‚ Press to sell some merchandise and copies of my films. You can also find downloadable copies of my films through Google video. I'm doing this in the hopes of earning a little extra money that can be put toward producing future films. I'm not expecting to earn enough to support myself through this endeavor - although, that would be nice - but any amount will help, right? I might then actually have a budget to produce the next film...
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