Access Sacramento is excited to kick off PCS 2012, our thirteenth year, on this Thursday February 2nd at the wonderful Crocker Art Museum. If you would like an opportunity to see all 10 films on the big screen in the museum's theatre, now's your chance. It's a one night only event and rare chance to see all the films from 2011 together again. We hope to see you there!     The Crocker Art is pleased to present an encore screening of the 2011 "Place Called Sacramento" film festival. Friends of Access Sacramento, PCS filmmakers and fans are invited to celebrate, again, the 10 short films first premiered last October at the Crest Theatre.   Crocker Art Museum 216 O Street Thursday Fe

As our City leaders continue to debate how to finance an NBA-size arena in the downtown, climaxing with a final City Council vote in the next few weeks, here are ten reasons why I believe financing a new area with a 50-year "parking lot fee" agreement is not good for the financial and emotional well-being of our great City of Sacramento. (1) Fifty-year agreements encourage abuse and escalation of fees. If the capitalist system depends upon free enterprise and competition, 50-year agreements are an invitation for corruption and exploitation. Immediately or gradually, we will all curse the day this deal was done, every time we park downtown. (2) If you can afford $200-$500 for a family to

Show the NBA you don't need their back-to-back B-ball to enjoy the holiday spirit. During those lulls in family "How have you been?" catching up, endless high calorie snacking, and playing (breaking?) the kid's brand new toys, enjoy local holiday programming made by your neighbors right here in Sacramento County. Here's the schedule of special events - a "snapshot" of our Christmas weekend programming on Channel 17 and streamed on our web site at www.AccessSacramento.org - ENJOY - Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Saturday, December 24, 2011 “Celebration Of Lights” – 9:00am “Kid’s Corp Christmas Special” – 11:30am “Giving – Winter Wonderland & Raley Field” – 12:00Noon “Terry Moore

In case you missed it, or want to see it again, tune into Access Sacramento's Channel 17 - (Comcast and Surewest Cable) this Sunday, Dec 18th from 5:00-7:00pm and see the Sacramento Press Club's "Dancing with the Capitol Stars"!  Hear our MC, Dennis Mangers open with an amazing rendition of "Let's Face the Music and Dance" and enjoy his quips through the show.  Ooh and aah at our dancing stars who tango'd, foxtroted and waltzed their way across the stage in their battle for the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy. (Starring: Edie Lambert, Lloyd Levine, Roger Niello, Alyson Huber, Fiona Ma, Ed Fletcher, Brian Joseph, Juliet Williams, Judy Lin, Kevin Riggs, Karen Skelton & Christina Anderson) Deli

The "Sister Swing" trio and their seven piece band starts the holiday season off right this Sunday at the Coloma Center Auditorium. Singing holiday classics from the Andrews Sisters to Frank Sinatra, the event will be family friendly and feature lively dancing in addition to tunes popular to young and old. Tickets are available at the door or online. Join in the fun at 4623 T Streets Sunday at 3 PM. Proceeds benefit community media that "makes a difference, one voice at a time".

"A Place Called Sacramento" premieres ten new local short movies on the big screen at the Crest tomorrow at 1:00 PM. But be sure to arrive early (1) to avoid the long line that forms every year from folks arrivng at the last minute overwhelming the single box office and (2) "Cheap Therapy" with Charlie Holliday will perform a special improv comedy skit at 12:45 for those early arrivals. After the premiere, stay because the party is just getting started. The Crest Lobby will "jump n' jive" to the harmonizing of "Sister Swing" as the cast and crew from ten wonderful movies mingle and buzz with excitement and camraderie. This is the 12th year for this unique Sacramento based event. In 12 ye

For the twelfth year, Access Sacramento is planning the world premiere of “A Place Called Sacramento” (PCS), a scriptwriting and short film production project for local writers and producers. PCS challenges local scriptwriters to write ten-minute scripts about the people, places, and events that make our community such a unique place to live (submission guidelines on-line at www.AccessSacramento.org). Neighbors and friends will gather at the 2011 World Premiere at the CREST Theatre on Sunday October 2, 2011 at 1:00 PM. $10 (general seating) is a fundraiser for community media. Advanced ticket purchase is recommended at Tickets.com, the Crest Box Office, or the offices of Access Sacramento

Each day Access Sacramento's studio and office are filled with activity but this week has been particularly busy. Yes, T.D. Trice and Shane Carpenter continued to schedule television and radio programming 24/7. Yes, volunteers came and went with new programming and were busy with their focused production efforts. The phones continued to ring as Amy Lawrence signed up new members. Whew! Here's a snap-shot of a very busy day in the life of Access Sacramento - let the "name dropping" commence. Studio production was busy with Richard Langley renovating the small room and working with community producer Bob Crimmins on using the "green studio" for a new program in partnership with Senior Magaz

Celebrating our 25th year of incorporation, the nonprofit community media center Access Sacramento hosts the annual membership meeting Thursday June 16 7-8 PM . You are invited to attend the event in the television studio at the Coloma Community Center or just watch the event on cable TV channel 17 or streamed on the web site www.AccessSacramento.org to any computer in the world. The 15 member Board of Directors will offer highlights of the year past and look forward to another year of Hometown-TV events, Game of Week football and basketball, "Listen Up, Sacramento" local music, and arts and entertainment reporting weekly on "Livewire". Ten new films are in production in the 12th Annual "

“Cast & Crew Call” from ACCESS SACRAMENTO 2011 “A Place Called Sacramento” Film Project Wednesday May 18 from 6 – 9 PM “Make a Movie This Summer” -- All Are Invited For the Twelfth year, Access Sacramento launches “A Place Called Sacramento” (PCS), a scriptwriting and short film production project for local writers and producers. PCS challenges local scriptwriters to write ten-minute scripts about the people, places, and events that make our community such a unique place to live (details and past films on-line at www.AccessSacramento.org). Script evaluation and judging have been completed. Dozens of scripts have been reviewed by local professionals and ten have been selected for producti

The Humor Times (20 Years) and Access Sacramento (25 Years) Celebrate Anniversaries Together with a Comedy and Variety Show Featuring Comedian Will Durst and many other performers including the 40’s vocal harmonies of “Sister Swing”, a Marilyn Monroe impersonator, a magician and local improvisational comedy troupe The Anti-Cooperation League. Joint Anniversary Celebrations -- As print publications nationwide continue to fall by the wayside, the Humor Times is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary. And as corporate media continues to consolidate, Access Sacramento celebrates its 25th anniversary as the area’s local, community-operated TV, radio, and Internet production resource. The publi

Sign-up today for three, 4-hour workshop classes on writing “short form” film scripts. Polish your “Place Called Sacramento” entry or further your film script writing skills and practical knowledge. Limited enrollment - $50 Fee per session. Register in advance at Access Sacramento by calling (916) 456-8600 “0” with a credit card. Need not be an Access Sacramento member or Sacramento County resident to sign-up for this class. Sign-up early – class will fill fast. DEADLINE FOR PCS FILM SCRIPTS IS TUESDAY APRIL 12 AT 5:00 PM IN ACCESS SACRAMENTO OFFICE. For submission guidelines, go to: www.AccessSacramento.org Session #1 – Saturdays – February 19, 26, & March 510 AM-2:30 PM (30 minute lunc

  I hope each of you had a moment over the weekend to stop eating or lighting fireworks and appreciate what a great country we are. Not because we are perfect, or "The Best", or the richest, or the most powerful. No, we are none of these as our troubled world struggles to adjust to forces seemingly out of our control. We are a nation of women and men, girls and boys, who are all too human -- filled with fears and desires, vulnerabilities and strengths, clarity and confusion, responsibility and regret. But there are also individuals among us who sense this potential for chaos and anarchy, who stand up for what's right, who defend the underdog, who speak out when others remain silent, and

ACCESS SACRAMENTO presents New Scriptwriting Class - PCS 2010 By popular demand, we now offer special a scriptwriting class (three Saturdays, 10am - 2pm) on writing "short form" film scripts. Polish your PCS entry or take the short course to further your film writing skills. Limited enrollment - $50 fee per session. Register in advance at Access Sacramento by calling (916) 456-8600 "0" with a credit card. Need not be an Access Sacramento member or Sacramento County resident to sign-up for this class. Sign-up early - class will fill fast. Matt is in great demand as a script writing teacher.  The “Place Called Sacramento” script entry deadline is Monday, April 19th, at noon.   Saturdays -

Access Sacramento is hosting a 3 hour telethon on Friday February 26 in our TV Studio. We will be putting together crews to tape record three, one-hour programs that will then playback from 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM that same night. Produced in partnership with the "Buck-up or Shut Up!" event organized by the Sacramento Music Alliance, our combined efforts will ask local viewers to remember Haiti and ocntinue to donate. The devastating earthquake that killed so many and left so many more families homeless, will take many years to rebuild. Let's not forget them - Haitians of all ages still need our help. Sacramento musicians are joining together with Access Sacramento to bring this appeal to lo

Celebrating our tenth PCS year, Access Sacramento invites friends and supporters of local filmmaking to attend “A Place Called Sacramento” 2009. The world premiere of 12 short, local films will be Sunday October 4, 2009 at 1:00 PM at the Crest Theater big screen (1013 K Street) in downtown Sacramento. All seats are $10 and can be purchased at the Crest Theater box office, in the Access Sacramento offices or on-line at www.tickets.com. PCS is a unique in the nation. Originating in the year 2000, PCS challenges local filmmakers to write ten-minute scripts about the people, places, and events that define our community. Local actors, film production crews, and interested volunteers combine th

Each year the Alliance for Community Media, Western States Regions hosts the Western Access Video Excellence Awards (WAVE). Over 330 entries from six states (CA, HI,NV,AZ,NM,CO) entered in 30 categories including volunteer community producers and professionals. The WAVE Awards Ceremony will be held in Reno, Nevada on Saturday October 17 at 5:00 PM. For information on the ACM Conference and the WAVE Awards ceremony, go to:  www.ACMWEst.org Access Sacramento congratulations to the following local program producers for being named a finalist (top 3) in their respective categories. "Half a Man" by Joaquin Murrieta Informational Lifestyle - Community Producer "2008 International Va'a Federat

Dear Mayor:  Thanks again for calling the Film Community meeting at City Hall Thursday July 30, 2009. As I surveyed the room, I realized the 50 attendees represented many independent films and small festivals who came to life in the past 2-10 years..... each created independent of the others, designed to reach out to specific audiences and needs, each operating beneath the radar in our larger community. The many festivals (Place Called Sacramento, Music and Film, French, Jewish, Gay & Lesbian, Black, and International) have attempted cooperative meetings in the past. These meetings were successful in coordinating schedules and taking the edge off of "competing interests" but gathered litt

In this article analyzing the evolving world of new Internet based technologies and the growing “generation gap” between “The Greatest Generation” (1900-45) and “Net Natives” (1981-today), we explore the vast changes in technology and the pace of change itself. Yes, communications technology has been present and pervasive since the dawn of radio in the 1920’s and the birth of the Federal Communications Commission in 1934. However, with instantaneous access to the Internet and the latest innovations in wireless access, pervasive, interactive “appliances” (phones, I-Pod’s, Blackberries, etc.), are widespread and growing at a remarkable clip. Here’s some current statistics. Broadband Techno

At the Access Sacramento Annual Membership meeting, the Board welcomed more than 50 attendees and a “live” audience watching channel 17 at home and on the Internet. Carl Burton, Board Chair, introduced the Board members present and highlighted events of the past year. More than 150 series programmers, radio and television, received certificates and sincere thanks from the organization. Burton and Executive Director Ron Cooper, then presented special honors to 12 member volunteers for their extraordinary programming efforts over the past year. Here’s a list of the volunteers receiving special awards. Best Series Program Provider Channel 18 Beyond Today provided by Beverly Butler Best