DEERFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — Frontier Community Access Television, FCAT, is opening their doors for the residents of Whately, Deerfield, Sunderland, and Conway to explore their voice through video production.

FCAT, known for recording local government meetings and high school sports, has found success in teaching video production to high school students in a High School Outreach program and is now opening the opportunity to unlock the creative potential of the community. 

From Frontier Community Access Television:

Beginning this April, Frontier Community Access Television (FCAT) will host open hours for free video editing drop in help on Wednesday afternoons from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Residents of the four towns of Whately, Deerfield, Sunderland and Conway are encouraged to drop in with ideas for video projects whether that be the beginning stages of a short movie or already gathered footage, including smart phone footage, to be edited on professional software. Trained professionals are equipped at the station to help.

In a world of a crowded media landscape, FCAT hopes to help local residents have access to the same platforms as well funded media corporations allowing local people to have a voice, no matter their skill level or funds.

FCAT is mainly known for recording local government meetings and high school sports, but they have much more to offer to the community. FCAT seeks to become a partner in local creations and hopes people, of any age or skill, interested in dipping their toes into video production will come by to start working on projects.

Projects can include short films to be submitted to local and international film festivals, cooking shows, how to explanatory videos, travel video blogs, talk shows, documentaries explaining local achievements, short form video content, something just plain silly or anything in between.

Before now, people were able to get help from FCAT on productions by appointment only but with the Wednesday open hours FCAT hopes to expand its reach and accessibility to the community to use their services.

All productions made in the FCAT open hours must be able to be broadcasted on FCAT’s local Comcast channel 12 following copyright restrictions.

Through FCAT’s high school outreach program they have empowered local teens with new skills and equipment to make high end video productions. They now hope to bring these skills to the larger community enabling residents of south county to unlock their creative potential.