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Business & Tech

ONTV Relocates, Starts New Round of Production Classes

Classes are $10 for residents, $25 for nonresidents.

On Monday, Orion Neighborhood Television (ONTV) opened doors at its new location inside the Orion Center, located at 1349 Joslyn Rd.

ONTV was formerly located at 698 N. Lapeer Rd. in Lake Orion, and Joe Johnson, production coordinator for ONTV, is thrilled to be moved into its new location. The rest of the building's tenants are still getting situated, but ONTV is officially open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday.

Along with the move, ONTV sold the majority of their equipment, upgrading to the latest and greatest technologies.

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"I'm excited to have this brand-new facility with state-of-the-art equipment, and I'm excited to get our existing volunteers in here with new bodies and new faces," Johnson said. "My goal is to make this the premier public access center, not just in the state but in the country."

New round of production classes starting

ONTV's five-week production classes, which include staff teaching community members about working with pieces of television production equipment, begin next week. Johnson noted that classes include an overview of equipment that it takes to do a studio production and an overview of all of the crew positions from director to cameraman. Johnson noted they also do mock productions, such as 10 minute interviews where everyone rotates different positions so they get a feel of each production role.

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"We try to give people experience in front of the camera. Some people love being in front of the camera, and some people don't like it, and some people discover gifts they didn't know they had," Johnson said.

Toward the end of the five-week workshop students will produce a project of their choice that will air on ONTV. Johnson said in the past projects have included cooking shows, interviews with athletes, band productions and more.

"We get a program out of it, and they get to actually produce something," Johnson said.

Upon completion of the workshop, students will be able to use the studio. Johnson noted that field production camera workshops and editing classes will most likely follow the five-week workshops, which will allow students to use ONTV cameras and editing equipment as well.

The mandatory orientation for the five-week workshop is April 16. Attendees have a choice between two classes, one starting April 24 and running from 7-9 p.m. every Tuesday and the other starting April 26 from 7-9 p.m. every Thursday. Class occupancy is about 14 per class, and if there is enough demand for the workshops, Johnson said they will create additional workshop series.

Cost to attend is $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. To register for the classes, call ONTV at 248-693-3377.

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