PORT ALLEGANY – Glass manufacturing, arts, the famous architect,
churches, schools, professional athletes, key buildings, local
government, commerce, the library, the mighty Allegheny and its
valley, parks …

Those elements of the greater Port Allegany community and more
were listed at a meeting Wednesday night about the coming
production of “Our Town: Port Allegany” by WPSU and local
volunteers.

Co-chairs Sue Carlson and Howie Gustafson had called the
meeting, which filled the borough building meeting room with
volunteers. Gregory Petersen, director of programming services, and
Charlie Gudeman, senior producer/director, were on hand from
WPSU.

The core planning committee had a tentative list of topics
thought worthy of inclusion in the quasi-documentary. Other topics
were added by Petersen as participants suggested them.

When there were half a dozen easel sheets full of topics,
Petersen called for raised hands in support of each, with each
attender limited to 15 votes. The topics were ranked accordingly,
and assigned to various volunteers for videotaping.

People who want to capture video of additional topics are free
to do so, Petersen said, and to offer their media to the team. The
volunteers will fan out to do the taping on Sept. 23.

Most of the information concerning the various scenes or persons
or activities taped by volunteers will be supplied by means of
interviews or narration done separately, after the “shooting” is
done and the media submitted.

Each of the local videotapers can shoot up to an hour’s worth of
material for submission, but WPSU professionals will edit all the
material into a one-hour show, similar in concept to the 37 others
WPSU has done.

The University Park-based PBS affiliate pioneered the Our Town
concept, Petersen said, but since the first one in the series aired
in 1996, “it has been emulated by some 20 others (public television
stations).”

After production work has resulted in a proposed finished show,
there will be a local preview screening for participants. If there
are any errors, those can still be corrected.

When the program is aired, some of the local team “will come
down to the studios to answer the phones,” Petersen said. “We’ll
put you up in a hotel.”

Those manning the phones will be taking orders for personal
copies of the show.

Gudeman gave the tapers pointers about capturing material for
this kind of use, something he said must be done differently from
the usual “family” videotaping.

Turning off the date-and-time function of the videocam is
essential, Gudeman stressed. Those date-time imprints cannot be
removed after the fact. Using a tripod or steadying arrangement is
recommended.

Allow lots of time for a shot, not just a few seconds, Gudeman
urged.

Excess time can be removed in editing; more time can’t be added
to a skimpy shot. Static shots are fine, while constant motion
should be avoided.

Avoid or keep to a minimum such techniques as zooming and
panning, Gudeman counseled. Seek quiet locations. Don’t depend on
the camera’s built-in microphone or a consumer-quality one for
on-the-spot narration, when that information can be done later in
an interview setting, he added.

Tape volunteers may do some taping before the main Our Town
effort on Sept. 23, the WPSU team said, and volunteers will be
given new blank replacement media. Volunteers who show up that
Saturday morning, prior to taping, will be furnished a high quality
tape in the format used by their camcorders. DVD media is
acceptable too, Gudeman said, but must be “finalized” in the camera
before being submitted.

In some settings, permission should be sought ahead of time for
taping to be done, Gudeman cautioned.

“Your energy and creativity will create a testimony not only of
your town, but also of yourselves,” the team declared, wishing the
volunteers good luck.