September 2009 ff amera The NationalC Academy of Television Arts and Sciences www.emmysf.tv San Francisco/Northern California Chapter “SKYPE” Night at Beyond Pix NATAS Night at “KING TUT” Thu. Sept. 24 You won’t want to miss this edgy event! Join us Tue. Sept. 22 on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at Beyond Pix Studios live in San Francisco or online via Skype for Activities/Program Chair, Cynthia Zeiden says an evening of networking, technology and innova- “Don’t miss this opportunity to see Tutankhamun tion. and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. This special At 7 p.m., the evening will start with a network- event is open to NATAS members, their friends and ing reception of food and drinks. At 8 p.m., there family on Thursday, September 22nd at the will be a tour of Beyond Pix’s Broadcast Center and de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park in San then we will watch the presentations and demon- Francisco. We will meet in the de Young Café for a strations of how Skype can be used in newscasts reception at 6:30 p.m., and then at 7:30 p.m., and in other applications in place of traditional walk through the Tut exhibit as a group.” satellite technology, at a much lower cost. continued on page 2 continued on page 2 McGowan to Emcee Gold & Silver Circle A member of the NATAS Silver Circle McGowan came to San Francisco in Class of 2006, long-time Bay Area TV 1978 and for 14 years was the popular interviewer Ross McGowan, will serve as co-host of People Are Talking on KPIX Master of Ceremonies for the 2009 with Ann Fraser. Annual NATAS Gold & Silver Circle Ross has received many television Induction Luncheon on Saturday, industry awards in his distinguished October 24th, at the San Francisco career, including the New York Film Festi- Hilton - Financial District (near val Gold Award, the Cable Car Award for Chinatown). Outstanding Broadcast Journalism, the Ross is the host of KTVU Fox 2 Morn- Communication Excellence to Black ings on Two, airing from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Audiences (CEBA) award and was in- weekdays. ducted into the S.F. NorCal NATAS Silver He began his broadcasting career Circle in 2006. while still studying for his college degree A long time activist and volunteer in at San Jose State. He worked summers for KBMX in charitable organizations, McGowan has served as Coalinga, and later worked as an announcer for KSJO co-host of the Bay Area March of Dimes Telethon and KLIV Radio in San Jose, KYOS Radio in Merced, and the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon. and KIRO Radio in Seattle before joining KING-TV, Ross will introduce seven distinguished NATAS where he hosted Seattle Tonight, a live, nightly talk Northern California Chapter broadcasters and their show. continued on page 3 Off Camera, September 2009, page 1 “KING TUT” Tuesday Sept. 22 continued from page 1 More than 3,000 years after his reign, and 30 years after the original exhibition opened in San “Is paid programming good for TV?” Francisco, Tutankhamun, ancient Egypt’s celebrated Cold hard facts are a necessity in traditional “boy king,” returns to the de Young Museum. articles. But the opinions in Trade Talk can give us a Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, fresh perspective on controversial topics. NATAS is a glorious exhibition of over 130 outstanding works puts a finger on the pulse of the chapter each from the tomb of Tutankhamun, as well as those of month by asking one contentious question. This his royal predecessors, his family, and court officials. month industry professionals answered the question Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pha- “Is paid programming good for TV?” raohs includes many new and exciting elements not “The pervasiveness of paid programming is a by- seen in previous versions of the exhibition, including product of the current economic challenge facing a revised version of the catalogue, a new audio tour, most television stations. Most stations now air and additional artifacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb. some paid programs and in time periods that in the Tickets are $20 and must be purchased by past would not have been offered. To achieve September 15 on the Academy website: revenue goals, it’s difficult to turn away paid pro- www.emmysf.tv. Contact the Academy for addi- gramming when you can make more than by selling tional information at [email protected] or call spots. Until unit rates and spot sales improve, (650) 341-7786. there’s little chance paid programming is going The de Young is located at 50 Hagiwara Tea away.” - Pat Patton, KRON 4 Station Manager Garden Drive, in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. “Paid programming I feel is good for TV. It brings in Cross streets are John F. Kennedy Drive and Martin new revenue for TV stations. Perhaps contributes Luther King, Jr. Drive. money for better reporting/journalism.” - Mike Garza, Photojournalist, KXTV News 10 Thursday “At this point in the economy I think any money a TV station can bring in is worth it. I would rather Sept. 24 keep my job and have to watch an infomercial about the “Magic Bullet” than lose jobs in the newsroom or anywhere else at the station.” - Noah Chipley, Producer, KRCR News, Chico/Redding “Long format advertisements masquerading as programming are disingenuous and can thus deceive the public. As long as they are identified as paid ads, they can bring much needed revenue to sta- tions who are limping along with our weakened economy. If running an infomercial late at night Sean Karlin Don Sharp Julian Spittka means keeping our colleagues on the job, I’m all for continued from page 1 them. But I still won’t watch them.” - Alison Presenters Don Sharp, News Operations Man- Gibson, Producer, Media Cool ager, KPIX; Julian Spittka, Engineer, Skype and “Some of the best programming on TV today is Sean Karlin, Director of Photography, Beyond Pix paid, so it seems to be generating quality produc- will show different examples of how Skype is being tion.” - David Hakim, Bay Area Film Alliance used in different applications. There will also be a “It has been seen as the cocaine for TV but now three-way quality comparison between regular it’s like a strong pain reliever in this down economy. consumer Skype, a satellite image and Skype using It employs TV professionals and it obviously works high end cameras and large amounts of bandwidth. for the advertisers.” - Javier Valencia, NATAS Admission is free, please RSVP on the Academy Chapter President website www.emmysf.tv. Let us know if you will Soon you will be able to continue the conversa- attend in person or on-line via Skype. tion online by posting your comments at Contact the Academy for additional information www.emmysf.tv. Look for Trade Talk each month. [email protected] at or call (650) 341-7786. Off Camera, September 2009, page 2 Gold & Silver Circle Induction Luncheon Oct. 24 Ross McGowen & Ann Frazer present Emmy® Awards; Ross & Ann; Ann & Terry Lowry induct Ross into the Silver Circle 2006. continued from page 1 recognize individuals who have been: actively engaged in television for at least 25 or 50 years presenters. Six professionals will be inducted into respectively (at least half of their careers in the the Silver Circle and one into the Gold Circle. NATAS Chapter Area - Northern California, Reno and Silver Circle: Stefani Booroojian (KSEE 24 NBC, Hawaii); actively involved in a performing, creative, Fresno); Michael D. Clark (KGO ABC7, San Fran- technical or administrative role within the industry or cisco); Tad Dunbar (KRNV, NBC 4 Reno - retired in a peripheral area directly related to television, KOLO TV 8, Reno); Dr. Dean Edell, KGO Radio such as commercial production, journalism and (retired KGO ABC 7, San Francisco); Don Knapp education; distinguished in their career and made a (KPIX CBS 5, San Francisco - former KRON, KTVU, significant contribution to the television industry and KGO, CNN); Emerald Yeh (former KRON 4, San to the community in the NATAS Chapter Area. Francisco). Gold Circle: Jan Moellering, KNTV, San “This event is not to be missed,” says Terry Jose. Jan was inducted into the Silver Circle in Lowry, Chair of the Gold & Silver Circle Committee 1994. and member of the 1996 Silver Circle. “I encourage In addition, the 2009 TV Academy Scholarship everyone to attend on October 24th and support all recipients will receive their plaques, $3,000 checks the inductees and the scholarship recipients. The and present samples of their work. Proceeds from Gold & Silver Circle Induction Luncheon is a fun way the event will go to the TV Academy Scholarship to get together with old friends and colleagues, Fund. celebrate some of “the best among us” and contrib- The prestigious Silver Circle and Gold Circle ute to our industry’s future.” THE NATIONAL A CADEMY OF TELEVISION A RTS AND SCIENCES SAN FRANCISCO/NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO THE 2009 GOLD & SILVER CIRCLE INDUCTION LUNCHEON Saturday, October 24, 2009 Hilton San Francisco Financial District 11:00 a.m. - Reception 12:00 p.m. - Luncheon 1:00 p.m. - Induction Ceremony Stefani Booroojian Michael Clark Tad Dunbar Dr. Dean Edell Don Knapp Emerald Yeh Jan Moellering KSEE 24 ABC 7 KRNV 4 KGO CBS 5 KRON 4 NBC Bay Area Master of Ceremonies, Ross McGowan, KTVU Channel 2 Sponsorship & Tickets www.emmysf.tv or call 415-777-0212 Off Camera, September 2009, page 3 Skipper Bruce Sedley It was at that time that Sedley realized he had a Class of 1997 talent for “doing voices.” He mixed up his show by Silver Circle Profile By: Kevin Wing using them, including one for a character named The life trajectory of Bruce Sedley began ever “Professor Fuddle,” who would give the daily so modestly in the Bay Area.