Want to create your own TV show? Here’s your chance to learn how

Helping folks communicate with the tools of new media is one of the missions of Southwest Community Television (SWTV). The joint, public access television service of Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Hopkins, Richfield and Edina is staging on Thursday, Jan. 27 a free, hour-long primer on two of new media’s most popular tools – smart phones and tablets.

The hour-long class is being taught by SWTV administrator Dan Carpenter at the Edina Senior Center, 5280 Grandview Square. There will be two parts to Carpenter’s primer.

Part one will quickly detail the free resources provided by Southwest Television for residents of its five cities. They are substantial: a fully equipped TV production studio and workshops in Bloomington, broadcast times on Channel 15, and streaming opportunities.

Part two covers the craft of producing high quality videos at home or on-the-go, beyond single-take selfies or those lovely vids of the family cat. Carpenter, a veteran TV professional, will keep it simple as he demonstrates the basics of recording and editing interviews with phones and tablets.

These days, video editing apps like Adobe’s “Premier Rush” make it easy to add music, dissolves, titles and special effects to videos on mobile devices. Dan Carpenter will walk attendees through the process.

Carpenter recommends that attendees bring their own smart phones and tablets. iPads will likely be covered in future classes. These learning sessions, says Carpenter, also become networking sessions. Like-minded, emerging producers and directors like sharing their enthusiasm and showing their videos.

Should in-person meeting restrictions be reinstated, the Jan. 27 class at the Edina Senior Center will be offered virtually via WebEx. Pre-registered attendees will receive a link by email.

The other SWTV classes will be held at Hennepin County Library branches: Augsburg Park Library in Richfield on March 22, Eden Prairie Library on Tuesday, May 24 and Ridgedale Library in Minnetonka on September 20.

Space is limited for these workshops. For more information and to register go to the SWTV website.
Or, call 952-826-0344 or send an email to the SWTV Administrator at dcarpenter@edinamn.gov.

Editors note: Writer Jeff Strate serves on EPLN’s Board of Directors and produces access television. programming through SWTV, a nonprofit service of the Southwest Suburban Cable Commission.

Story update: The Jan. 27 class will be held virtually because of the pandemic.