THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL--ARTICLE--MAY 1990--ARTRESN.MAY

                        PEGASYS, Once More

                       J.T. TRESNER II, 33
                   Consultant in Communications
             1504 Indian Drive, Enid, Oklahoma  73701


      I was taken by surprise!  I thought that there might be some
interest in the Craft about the possibilities of Community Access
Television, PEGASYS (Public, Educational, Governmental, Access
System).  But I had no idea that the interest would be so strong
in my article "To Ride PEGASYS: The Scottish Rite and Community
Access Television" as published in the December 1989 issue of this
magazine.
     First of all, let me thank those who sent me copies of video
tapes they had make and were kind enough to ask for my comments. 
(I have had to order a larger hat--the head swells just a bit.) 
And let me also thank those of you who have written or called with
questions, descriptions of projects, and requests for more
information.
     On the basis that some other Brethren may have had the same
questions, I'm taking this opportunity to pass along some thoughts. 
BUT PLEASE REMEMBER THIS--I'm an actor, a teacher, and a
communications consultant, NOT a television producer, video expert,
or cameraman.  What you get here is my best opinion, but it is the
opinion of an amateur.
     So, here are the most frequently asked questions, and my best-
guess answers.
     "In my video, we need to have information given.  When we shot
it, we discovered we had a shot of one Brother's talking head on
the screen for more than six minutes.  What can we do about it?"
     You're right.  That is too long for one shot.  There's no
hard-and-fast rule, but I don't like to leave a talking head on
the screen for more than fifteen seconds, without at least changing
the camera angle.  That may be impossible if you are doing a one-
camera shoot.  What you can do is to go to other, related shots,
cutting back to the Brother every now and then.  For example,
suppose he is talking about the scholarship program.  Cut away to
shots of students receiving scholarships, of different schools, of
graduation scenes.  You can use both live action and still shots.
     "When we look at our tapes, they seem stiff and artificial. 
What's wrong?"
     The problem is probably in the script.  Check the writing to
see if it is friendly and informal.  The language should flow as
if you were speaking to a friend.  An example: one of the scripts
a Brother sent me for help contained the following: "This results
in the following questions--what are the tenets of Freemasonry, and
how are they inculcated?"  Fine, formal Lodge language, but not
what we need for television, especially for non-Masonic audiences. 
I'd suggest instead: "You many wonder, just who are the Masons? 
What do they believe?  How do they teach it?"
     "Should we use music with the program?"
     Personal bias here, but I like to use music under much of a
production.  It's a somewhat older style, but I think it's
effective, IF IT'S DONE CAREFULLY.  The music is added at the
editing and production stage.  Don't try to have it playing live
in a room and pick it up on a mic at the same time you record the
voices.  There are a few rules:
     1) Generally, do NOT use music that people recognize, unless
you are using it under the opening credits, the closing, or for
some special purpose.  If the audience can recognize a piece of
music, they are likely to start listening to the music rather than
paying full attention to the program itself.  You may love the
William Tell Overture, and think that it's a fine and exciting
piece of music--which it is.  But if you use it, expect your
audience to think "Aha, the Lone Ranger rides again!"
     2) Let the music reenforce the mood, not fight it.  As a
general rule, do not use bright, happy music while showing a
funeral, nor rock music while showing the inside of a church.
     3) Don't let the music overpower the verbal or visual image.

     "We thought it might be fun deliberately to make some mistakes
to let the audience have a few laughs.  What do you think?"
     It is a very, very, very dangerous.  It can work, but it
seldom does.  Before trying, rent a video of the movie Dracula and
Son; you'll see what I mean.
     "We want to do a program about the history of Masonry.  But
we can't get to Europe or the other places we would like to show. 
What can we do?"
     First of all, remember that with a little creative camera
work, you can use slides and photographs.  Even if you can't "get
there" to take pictures, you may be able to purchase slides of the
area you want.  If your public access station is set up for it, you
can use a chromakey process to put your actors "into" the slide. 
Failing that, you can simply have the image on the screen as you
talk about it.
     "It seemed like our video was going well when we shot it, but
when we looked at it, it seemed to drag."
     Plan on editing.  The problem with video, as on stage, is
usually in the extra fraction of a second between the time one
person stops talking and the next person starts, or that the
speaker takes pauses which are not for effect but which are simply
too long.  Depending on the sophistication of your editing
equipment, you many be able to edit out fractions of a second here
and there.  That can make a very big difference in the pace and
timing of the final product.
     And finally, a few unpopular truths.  These surface from some
of the examples I have seen on community access television.
     1) Cast for talent and stage presence, not office.  If your
highest official is an excellent man, but is simply not comfortable
on camera, and your newest black cap is comfortable on camera, use
the black cap.
     2) Unless you are certain that ONLY Brethren are going to see
the video, avoid Masonic titles.  We know what they mean, of
course, and we honor the titles because of their meaning and their
historical associations.  But to the non-Mason, you might as well
refer to someone as the Just Flat-out Inexpressibly Glorious and
Grand Poo-bah.  Research shows that to the non-Mason our titles
are, at best, rather silly; at worse they are a real turn-off. 
They can learn after they are in the Fraternity.  Before then,
there's no point in getting in the way of our own message.
     3) Watch the background.  More than one video has featured the
bottom half of a Square and Compasses or part of a rather startled-
looking Double Eagle, visible behind the speaker and distracting
from both the image and the message.  It is fine to show the
symbols, but show the symbol in its entirety.  Then get off of it. 
Try to have a solid and non-descript background behind the speaker,
especially if he is going to be on the screen for a while.
     Again, I hope this may help with some of the questions.  These
are only opinions.  You'll find out for yourself what works best
as you experiment with camera and production.  The important thing
is to try!
______________________________________________________________
One word can create a thousand pictures

You may love the William Tell Overture, and think that it's a fine
and exciting piece of music--which it is.  But if you use it,
expect your audience to think "Aha, the Lone Ranger rides again!"

     "We thought it might be fun deliberately to make some mistakes
to let the audience have a few laughs.  What do you think?"
     It is a very, very, very dangerous.  It can work, but it
seldom does.  Before trying, rent a video of the movie Dracula and
Son; you'll see what I mean.

You'll find out for yourself what works best as you experiment with
camera and production.  The important thing is to try!

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