Behind the camera at Shaw Cable

1 USED TO sit at home and
watch television. 1 was becoming a
couch potato. | always. wondered
what was going on behind the
scenes in television production,
but it always seemed too far away
from my own world.

The chance of finding out more
about television, and actually
becoming involved, was like a
dream that would never turn into
reality. Little did I know.

Until a few months ago, there
were many things that | could just
dream, and, wonder. about.. Now
they are understandable and an
everyday thing.

Last September, | becatne in-
volved in Sutheriand’s career
preparation-video - production
course offered at the Leo Marshall

_ Curriculum. . Centre,’ which gave
me the. opportunity to do work
experience in a local video pro-
duction house. ‘I chose. Shaw
Cable for my on-the-job training,
and it was definitely worth it.

:. This ‘growing community televi-
sion service has a talented and
dedicated staff as‘well as a group
of very energetic volunteers.

J.R: Shaw, company president;
Martyn Stubbs, program manager;
Furio Sorrentino; Bob Therriault;

Leslie Payne; Sergio Contreraf; ’

‘and the rest of the staff provide a
great atmosphere for volunteers.

Shaw Cable was established on
the North Shore in 1972. Other
services grew all over British Col-
umbia: Port Alberni, Nanimo,
Sooke, Kelowna, 100 Mile House,
Prince George, and other joca-
tions. Shaw Cable also has cor-
porate offices all over Canacla.

As a part of a growing com-
munications company, this televi-
sion service holds interests in a
number of community newspapers
and Alberta radio stations,

Show Cable currently has ap-
proximately 60,000 subscribers on
the North Shore.

Although it is a very large
company, much of the work at
Shaw Cable is done by volunteers,
The opportunity to volunteer af-
fords a great and very useful ex-
perience which can help individu-
als not only in choosing a career
but in meeting a lot of intelligent,
talented, and interesting people.

Wher I first arrived at the stu-
dio, | was very nervous. But after
hearing Therriault, the co-or-
dinator of the volunteer
workshop, talk about other volun-
teers and how many there actually
are, I didn’t feel so unexperienced
and new anymore. |

1 knew that this workshop was

there for me and all the others to

learn and not to show off what we
already knew.

On the first day, we all got very
detailed explanations of what ac-
tually goes on in a television stu-
dio, as well as an introduction to
all the staff and equipment. It was
so interesting to see how com-
plicated everything can seem when
you don’t know anything about ‘it
and how easy and understandable
it can be after you have learned a
few skills.

It all takes just a little common
sense and someone to show you
that nothing is really as com-
plicated as it seems.

Shaw Cable answered a lot of
questions that J’ve wondered
about for a long time..More im-
portantly, 1 felt part of their

NATE, SURELY YOUR WRIST

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| NOL! DON'T KNOW WHAT
A RHETORICAL QUESTION

WELL, NQ....
IT WASN'T
MY WRIST.

I CONT

Some people believe

non-white

people

should have fewer or no rights. Racist and
anti-racist: people have clashed this past
week because of opposing views. Do you or
any of your friends believe that whites are

‘superior? If not,
people who do?

stint there and learned a lot in the process.

team.

The first time I read my name
on the credits I was really excited.
This time it wasn’t just. a project
for school, it wasn’t just a mark I
was getting. It was something even
more important.

The volunteer program at Shaw
Cable is open to almost anyone. If
someone is responsible enough to
show up at the time they have
chosen to be there, they are wel-
come into the volunteer
workshop. : :

Therriault pointed’ out, ‘We
like people to be old enough to
have a driver’s licence so that they
have no problems getting here. If
they live close. by, that’s not a
problem.”

You.can learn about the Shaw
Cable volunteer workshop by

“watching the Shaw Cable telepages

on. Channel 4, or you can learn
about it from friends who have

You bIBN"

LINGERING
EMOTIONAL

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THAT, DID -
you?

YEAR... IT
WAS WORTH

already volunteered. And the pro-
gram is highly recommended by
schools like BCIT.

“+ Shaw Cable takes about eight to

10 volunteers every month so that
they all have a chance to get into

“the program. Every volunteer has

different interests.

“Because people are volun-

teering their time, we try to put
them into areas that they are more
interested in,’’ Therriault said.

During my work experience |
gained an insight into a Jot of dif-
ferent areas of television produc-
tion, from floor directing and
camera work. to editing. 1 have
learned how every little job con-
tributes to the quality of the final
project.

Thanks to this program I have

- learned not only a lot about the

community we live in, but also a
lot about the importance of re-
sponsibility in the work place.

Last week we asked if. you
would choose to live on your
own if you could.

I would definitely not choose
to live alone. F like my parents
being here — I get my, mesls
and when I get im late they ask
me where I’ve been. I feel lov-
ed and needed. Teens who five
alone have probably mnde the
right choice for them; it’s up to
‘everyone to make the choice.

Yes. 1 definitely would
because life with parents is not
that great.

“ Tewould never want to’ live
alone because | need the love
and support of my family and

my sisters and my friends~ I -

think everyone does;‘ no one
should be able to live on the
Streets or alorie.

I live alone. I have an
apartment and I hayg a job at
McDonald’s. I'm. not | into
drinking or drugs or anything;
I'ma preity responsible Buy.

I do have the option of liv-

what do you think of

Photo Kris Tuygsuzisn
-TEENS CAN learn about what goes on behind the scenes in a television studio through ‘the volun-
feer program at Shaw Cable. Sutherland secondary student Monika Janousek recently completed a

Having had the opportunity to
work in the real world,
learned to take things
seriously,

Since |
have noticed a. difference in. the
way I think about myself. I have a

more

‘lot more confidence now. 1 know

that I was: doing something good
for my future and at the same
time something that 1 was very in-
terested in and had fun doing.

If there’ is something that you
want to do in life, then. you
should just go for it no matter
how faraway. the goal seems.
Every day you will get a litde
closer if you really want it to
happen.’

Monika Janousek is a Sutherland

secondary school student who is

involved -in- the: school’s video
production . career preparation
course.

ing alone and I'd rather live at
home because I get everything 1
need at home including love, -
Even though Ff can’t go out at...
night or on weekends, I need
my sleep and if I'm out party-
ing all night. (lM be wasted the
next day. To live without par-
tics and make something of
your life is better thai. getting

‘smashed and ending up with a

kid or something you don’t
Want,

T wouldn't want to because it

* wouldn’t be as fun.

No.

I: have .

started this. course I

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