Our primary service teaching you how to make your own shows and then put the equipment in your hands so you can do it yourself. It's a real 'do it yourself' environment, which means that you are the camera operator, the sound recordist, the editor, the director, and the talent. We give you free access to the equipment and in return you give us the right to play your program on our three cable channels. The quick and dirty guide to producing programs that will be cablecast on CCTV is as follows:

• Come to an Orientation.
• Become a Member.
• Take classes to learn how to use equipment.
• Sign a Production Contract.
• Schedule the use of cameras, edit suites, etc.
• Submit your finished tape to be cablecast.

Orientation

Once per month we have an Orientation for new members who are interested in getting involved with CCTV. Orientations are mandatory for anyone who wants to use our cameras and equipment or be on our live programs. This meeting covers our history and mission, rules and policies, classes and schedules, and gives you a clear idea of how to get started here. You are not allowed to use our equipment or take equipment classes until you have attended an orientation. See the dates.

Membership

In order to have a show on CCTV's channels, or use equipment and cameras to make shows, you must be a member. We have a membership called Access, which is mostly for Cambridge residents, that is the only kind of membership that lets you use our equipment for free. If you are making shows elsewhere and want to play them on our channels, you can become an Affiliate Member. More info.

Classes

For every piece of equipment or type of show you want to make, there is a class that you must take first. We require that you take out classes so that you can learn both how to use the equipment well and how not to break it when you use it. Only after you have taken the right classes can you then get equipment use from CCTV. More info.

Production Contract

The key piece of community production at CCTV is this Production Contract. This is an agreement between you and us that clearly states, you get to use our cameras, lights, mics, editors, and live studio facilities, but only with the understanding that anything you produce must be cablecast on CCTV's channels. That is how you get free stuff and how we get our channels filled up with shows. If you are producing shows that are not going to be seen on CCTV, then you cannot get free use. Also, if you are profiting from producing programs you cannot get free use. For further information about contracting please read our contract policies. Download the Production Contract now.