Monday, May 20, 2013

The Robert Kopper Show


Kopper grew up in Washington, DC as the youngest of four children in a family that regularly discussed politics at the table. In 1985 he moved to Pembroke, Massachusetts where he now lives with his wife and children.  "People love to express their opinions," Kopper says, "and I am here to give them that opportunity. To give them a voice."

"I grew up listening to WBZ talk shows on my crystal radio," Kopper continued.  "There was Jerry Williams and Gene Burns on RKO.

"My brother had an alternative rock show during the 60s and 70s on WBCN 104.1 in the morning."

When asked  why he prefers the talk show genre, Kopper answered, "I like it because there's a lot to talk about, and I know that people are more interested in politics than they realize.  It affects their lives more than entertainment or sports ever could or will."

Published April 25, 2013 - Part I The Robert Kopper Show with Fighter Pilot Robert Roy III Torpedo bomber fighter pilot Mr Robert Roy, III invites us into his Pembroke home to see memorabilia and hear about war-time experiences.

Listen as he describes learning how to fly the torpedo bombers with 2,000 lb torpedoes into Tokyo in 1945.

Roy left Harvard University freshman year to join the service, having been impressed by an active-duty pilot in full uniform visiting area high schools.
"Only an 18-yr-old would think it fun to go to war," said Roy. "It was pretty shrewd of them to send a guy in uniform around to impress us kids."

Roy's mother Lydia in Wollaston signed the enlistment papers in 1942, and off he went to Florida for flight training which began with Piper Cubs and progressed to torpedo bombers..

Meet the Selectman Candidates

Robert Kopper introduces and interviews 3 selectman candidates vying for one, 3-year seat in the Saturday, April 27th election.

Taped by Pembroke Community Media as a vehicle for introducing hopefuls Michelle Burt, Dan Taylor, and John Mattinson to local residents.

This is your chance to meet them and garner their views.

Sponsored by McCue Well Drilling; NSK Inc., Information Technology Specialists; and Bittersweet Design in Pembroke.

Voting starts at 9 am in all 5 precincts.

The premier episode of "The Robert Kopper Show," filmed January 21st at Pembroke Community Media Center, features guest Howard Scott who is best known for his expertise as bee keeper and author.

Host Robert Kopper grew up in Washington, DC as the youngest of four children, in a family that regularly discussed politics at the table. In 1985 Kopper moved to Pembroke, Massachusetts where he now lives with his wife and children.

"People love to express their opinions," Kopper says, " and I am here to give them that opportunity. 'To give them a voice."




Saturday, May 18, 2013

Create Your Own "Indie" Short

We at Pembroke Community Media will help you make an “Indie.” CLICK HERE or phone us at 781-910-8899.  There are no hidden fees.

The idea that an average person can engage in the act of movie making and journalism is nothing new, and in fact has a long history in the United States.  With today’s  technology, this movement has found new life.  More and more people are capturing news and creating custom videos distributed via mass media anywhere and everywhere.

Go now to Pembroke Community Media to see what Pembroke residents just like you have made.  Our current active volunteers come from all walks of life, and are aged from two to 91 years.  It's true.

In Wikipedia an independent film is described as “a professional film production resulting in a feature film  produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. An independent film production can rival a mainstream film production if it has the necessary funding and distribution”.
Pembroke Community Media makes independent creation tools available to our fellow Pembroke resident(s), so that independent producer can be you!

Here are some more facts to consider.  The increasing popularity and feasibility of low-budget productions over the last 15 years has spurred an increase in the number of aspiring artists writing speculation or “spec” scripts then trying their hand at movie making.


Today,  the large volume of inexpensive, high end digital equipment available at the consumer level, allows independent movie makers freedom from major studios which previously cornered the market on required equipment and supplies.  Production tools can be found in most towns' public access media locations.

Thanks to decreasing technology costs, thousands of small production companies can obtain the resources they need to produce entertaining shows at a fraction of the cost of the big Hollywood studios.  Post production also has been simplified by software that can be used on home computers.

The indie scene's development in the 1990s and 2000s was stimulated by both development of affordable digital cameras rivaling 35 mm film quality, and easy-to-use computer editing software, the same that's available at Pembroke Community Media.

Editing software available at Pembroke Community Media is Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro. These new technologies help create videos comparable to those with high budgets.

So,  try your hand at creating an Indie. Give us a call and we'll help.  781-910-8899

Have an idea for a show or want to cover a local event? Join the fun by contacting us today to start your project tomorrow. 
Contact Us
Pembroke Community Media Center, Inc., right here in Pembroke, is an IRS 501(c) (3) tax-exempt, Commonwealth of Massachusetts non-profit company created by residents, and is run by volunteers with support from local businesses and people like you.

 
Support Us




Friday, May 17, 2013

John Henry O'Keefe Gets "Best Show" Award




High School freshman John Henry O'Keefe received Pembroke Community Media's "Best Show of the Month" award for his video, "Pie Night with the Scouts," during an April 17, 2013 ceremony officiated by Ann Ryerson who has been involved in Pembroke media endeavors for over 28 years.

A video of the ceremony is playing HERE in the “Awards” category.

Ryerson presented the document, asked John how he became interested in video production, and said she is looking forward to seeing his future productions.
John answered that his mom showed him how he could get involved. After his first video, "Scouting for Food," was well received, John decided "to get into it," and make "Pie Night with the Scouts.”

He shot all his footage at St.Theclas Church with a professional Panasonic camera, and edited with Final Cut Pro software.  When asked how he chose the silent picture-style accompanying music, John answered that  “It just seemed to fit.”

Volunteer Janet Callaghan assisted with camera and tripod equipment at the church.

With close to 600 views, the comedic short is the most watched show from November 2012.

“Congratulations, John Henry, on this wonderful award,” his proud mom, Kim O'Keefe said after the presentation.  “You did a great job. Thank you.”
Cookies were served as John Henry discussed plans for his next production to be filmed at the Herring Run with his uncle Bobby. “Bobby's knowledgeable about the Herring Run,” Kim offered, “and he can be interviewed.”

“Pie Night with the Scouts” was shown at two separate go-and-see-it Tiger Cub Scouting events held at Pembroke Community Media Center this past year.  Thanks to this budding filmmaker, laughing Tigers munched on popcorn, drank water,  and were able to watch whipped cream pies plastered on adults' faces, and green-colored applesauce goop poured over the adults' heads.
 
John Henry hosted one of those movie-night events by serving snacks and cleaning up afterwards. Pembroke Community Middle School volunteer, Billy Bracken hosted the other.

You can watch “Pie Night with the Scouts” in the “More Fun Videos” section of www.pembrokecommunitymedia.com.

Media production runs in John Henry's family.

Uncle Kevin O'Keefe, producer of “The Home Show” that ran on Pembroke Public Access from 1988 to 1990,  jokingly said “I taught that little kid everything he knows. No, just kidding.  Really, I think he picked it up from watching me.  Mostly he learned how to aggravate his father from listening to me.

“Johnny's a natural,” Kevin continued.  “I don't know how he does it, but he just picks things up. He's a smart kid.  When he likes things he just grabs it and runs with it.”

Kevin graduated in 1981 from North East Broadcasting School at 282 Marlboro Street,  Boston, Massachusetts, with a degree in radio and television communications.  He  interned at a now-closed Boston Radio station before serving two terms on Pembroke's Cable Access Committee.

Pembroke Community Media is a Commonwealth of Massachusetts non-profit, IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that was formed by Pembroke residents in June 2012.  It is run by volunteers with help from local businesses and viewers like you.  There is no affiliation with Comcast or pactv.  Pembroke Community Media is in Pembroke.






Thursday, May 16, 2013

Pembroke Community Media Celebrates it's One Year Anniversary


English writer Charles C. Colton's notable 19th Century phrase, “Imitation is the sincerest of flattery” applies most heartily to the feeling here at pembrokecommunitymedia.com, since other media entities are copying us, and copying us now more than ever.

It's been one year since a group of volunteer Pembroke moms, dads, children, and other residents banded together to keep local access and programming alive in our community by forming Pembroke Community Media.

Over
120 new shows have been filmed, edited, released, and viewed over 13,000 times.

Live-to-tape sports events and competitions including: coverage of girls' and boys' hockey, girls' field hockey, swimming, football, and basketball; religious presentations, historic genre, analysis, discussion, political forums, public service announcements, scouting events, original works of non-fiction, documentaries, art shows, award presentations, and more are completed and ready for viewing at pembrokecommunitymedia.com.

Halifax Cable Advisory Committee member Elaine W., referred to Pembroke Community Media's prolific offerings as “a magic act,” and we agree.  The magic lies in the vast number of Pembroke volunteers working together to make it all happen.

So, to those who continue monitoring our workings and copy what we do, we say, “Thanks for the compliment.”

We are not pactv.


Friday, May 10, 2013

Happy Mother's Day from Pembroke Community Media


Happy Mothers Day!Mother's Day is just two days away, and pembrokecommunitymedia.com is celebrating with this photo gallery, and by continuing to bring you videos made by and including Pembroke's children, moms, and dads.
Happy Mothers Day!



 

Community service hours required for high school graduation are offered FREE.
Editing instruction and production guidance are FREE.
Summer project interpretation is FREE.
Video creation help is FREE.

 
Happy Mothers Day
You get the idea. We never charge for what has always been volunteers working with other volunteers to bring this town the programming we've all come to love and expect.
Happy Mothers Day
Happy Mothers Day!


Funding comes from local businesses and private contributions which are always 100% tax-deductible under IRS 501(c)(3) regulations and Commonwealth of Massachusetts non-profit statutes.
 
Happy Mothers Day!
DVDs are free with a $20 donation to support Pembroke Community Media Center.  Call 781-910-8899, or CLICK HERE.

ALL SUPPORT IS FULLY TAX-DEDUCTIBLE

Have an idea for a show or want to cover a local event? Join the fun by contacting us today to start your project tomorrow. 


Contact Us

Pembroke Community Media Center, Inc., right here in Pembroke, is an IRS 501(c) (3) tax-exempt, Commonwealth of Massachusetts non-profit company created by residents, and is run by volunteers with support from local businesses and people like you.

 
Support Us

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Meet Pembroke's World War II Fighter Pilot, Robert Roy III


by: Margaret Jones

  
World War II torpedo bomber fighter pilot, Mr Robert Roy III, invited Pembroke Community Media's Robert Kopper Show cast and crew into his Pembroke home on April 9th to make a video about war-time experiences and memorabilia. Both the show and 1½ minute promotional short now are playing at www.pembrokecommunitymedia.com.

Roy left Harvard University freshman year to join the service, having been impressed by an active-duty pilot in full uniform visiting area high schools.

 "Only an 18-yr-old would think it fun to go to war," said Roy. "It was pretty shrewd of them to send a guy in uniform around to impress us kids."

Roy's mother Lydia in Wollaston signed the enlistment papers in 1942, and off he went to Florida for flight training which began with Piper Cubs and progressed to torpedo bombers. 

"We changed the city's name to Fort Liquordade," joked Roy.  "We could do what we wanted there."

Roy flew night missions and had to be familiar with his plane's "dashboard" in the dark.  Blindfold exercises confirmed expertise.

On one particular mission, Roy's instructions were to fly out 300 miles, spend 3 hours bombing the target, then find and return to a darkened ship that had moved 100 miles from it’s original position.

After the war, Roy returned to Harvard to earn a Bachelor of Science degree.

He joined the reserves, and later served another 2 years state-side at Quonset Point, Rhode Island during the Korean War.

This historic presentation is a "must-see" for anyone who enjoys World War Two shows.
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Pembroke Community Media has no affiliation with Comcast or pactv. It is run by volunteer moms, dads, and children who live in Pembroke, with funding from local businesses and viewers like you.  It is a Commonwealth of Massachusetts non-profit, IRS tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization. All support is 100% tax-deductible.   


Friday, May 3, 2013

3 Ideas for A Video

Become a Volunteer!  What are you waiting for? Go out there; shoot some movies with borrowed cameras from Pembroke Community Media Center.... It is FREE!

Here are some ideas:



1. How about a Time Lapse Video – 

These are very easy to make videos – you borrow a camera from Pembroke Community Media, along with the camera stand.  We show you how to use the camera and stand.  You then set up your camera and mount it on the stand, in one place (at the skate board park or in a bird sanctuary) and start recording. After a certain amount of time, stop recording. 

When you position the camera at eye-level, you capture images from the same perspective as we see them in real life, the lens of the camera becomes an extension of the person watching.  It’s as if they were there watching whatever you are recording.

Bring the camera and the stand back to Pembroke Community Media and you can go into the editing room and edit the footage yourself, or have a volunteer from Pembroke Community Media do it for you.  You can add your own music, and taa daa you have a video.  You can get DVDs or your work when it is done.

2. Your Could Do an Interview with Someone Else or with a Bunch of People.

Prepare 10 questions to interview someone. You can make the questions such that the respondent can answer with just a “Yes” or “No”. Or ask a question to many people, for example, ‘If you could get ANY band to play at Pembroke High School, which one would you choose?’ – ask people the question, and then record their answers.  

Never underestimate the power of images to support your storytelling process.  Film a good range of different images and activities within the place that you are asking the questions that will best light up the area you are shooting and who your participants may be.  

Capture as as you can, including series of shots that will serve to portray through strong images the feeling of the interview, and will also help smooth the editing process by allowing breaks in action or in answers to be ‘covered’ by other relevant shots that do not feel out-of-place.  

Bring the recording back to Pembroke Community Media  and you can edit the footage yourself, or have a volunteer from Pembroke Community Media  do it for you.

3. Record your, brother, sister, son, daughter, or friend’s sporting event.    
Pembroke Community Media will show you how to zoom, focus, set the background, and span for a sporting event.  Borrow the camera, and go to the event.  Record the entire event or just parts of it.  Remember that the closer you are, the more audio and visual information you will be able to capture on camera.  It is good to have both wide shots at a distance from the event, as well as shots from within it.  A close shot, has more emotional strength, as the audience will be confronted more powerfully with the expressions of the participants.  Capture the audiences’ reactions too.

A wide shot, gives more of a relative sense of the event – how many people are attending the event, where is the event taking place, and so on.   
Bring the camera back to the Media Center, you can go in the editing room with our software and learn how to edit the entire piece, or someone can do it for you.  You can add music to it, or just leave the sound as is.  Then get a DVD, to show everyone, of your recording.