Friday, June 22, 2012

The Bridge to be Broadcast Weekly


The Bridge Community Church in Wilder, KY will now air their weekly services through Insight Communications in Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties. The program will be available on Channel 422 at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings and at 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday evenings. The Bridge was also picked up by Insight’s Channel 17 and Cincinnati Bell’s Channel 807 in Campbell County and will be broadcast at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday and at 10:00 p.m. Thursday.

The Bridge broadcast is hosted by Ashley Dugger, a sophomore at Northern Kentucky University. She is pursuing a degree in electronic media. The program will feature a mixture of interviews and feature stories, but it will primarily focus on the teachings of Senior Pastor, Bo Weaver.

We asked Executive Producer, Harold Hay, his thoughts on what it will mean to the church to be on television. He said, “There’s no question it’s going to increase our exposure in the community.

We’ve got some amazing time slots, especially that 8:00 p.m. time slot on Sunday nights. Sunday night is the most viewed night of the week for television. And we’re right in the middle of it. It’s my prayer that everyone at the Bridge will use this broadcast as well as the Webcast as a means to share the Gospel with your friends and family. And, these days with Facebook, that’s not hard to do. This is the whole reason why we started a media ministry in the first place. Pastor Bo is perfect for television. His message is timeless, and he has the ability to cut across generation and cultural lines. He preaches the simple truth in an elegant style. I have no doubt he is going to connect with a much larger audience than ever before, thanks to these new opportunities.”

Boone, Kenton and Campbell Counties

Insight Channel 422

8:00 p.m. Sunday
10:00 p.m. Tuesday

Campbell Only

Insight Channel 17

7:00 p.m. Wednesday
10:00 p.m. Thursday

Cincinnati Bell Channel 807

7:00 p.m. Wednesday
10:00 p.m. Thursday

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Bridge Media Team Produces First Video

After weeks of training, the members of the Bridge media team have produced their first video. It will be played this coming Sunday at the Bridge Community Church in Wilder, KY. The video is a promotional piece for the new, upcoming college ministry connect group.

Footage was shot at the home of Duane and Gina Dugger, who are also the co-leaders of this new college connect group. This is an exciting first step for our media team here at the Bridge. It gives us an opportunity to promote and support the various ministries of our church.

Ashley Dugger, served as producer and editor for the project. Ashley will be a sophomore this coming fall at Northern Kentucky University and is pursuing a degree in electronic media.

Training will continue for another two to three weeks. Up next will be a session on post-production, editing, and Final Cut Pro Studio.

We appreciate the dedication and the commitment of the Bridge media team members who have given up their Tuesday evenings for the past several weeks. The team recently had a brain storming session and discussed future projects. Starting in the next few weeks, the Bridge will launch a TV show which will air on local public access. The program will be hosted by Ashley and will feature the Bridge’s weekly message from Pastor Bo and others.

The program will also contain special features, interviews, and other unique media packages. Look for it soon on Insight Communications.

A big thanks to the Bridge media team members who have faithfully been attending the training sessions:

Justin, Ashley, Jason, Theresa, Jeffery, Jeff, Aaron, Levi, Johnny and Jonah. You guys are the backbone of this new effort.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Media Training Commences


It’s always exciting to start something new. There are all sorts of possibilities and opportunities to explore. Here at The Bridge Community Church, we’ve launched our new media ministry. Several volunteers are now involved with training. It’s a good group who is eager to learn and get things up and running. Their dedication and commitment are definitely going to pay off in the months ahead.

We want to thank the leadership of The Bridge for taking this huge step forward. I have no doubt that the work we have embarked upon will have a major impact in the Kingdom of God. The bottom line is we want lives impacted; therefore, the media team is dedicating our work to help support the vision and mission of The Bridge Community Church.

I want to thank John Calhoun for teaching our camera workshop on the Panasonic HVX200A. John worked with me at both Victory Videos Ministries and UndergroundZone. He is one of the best videographers and editors in our city. Currently, John works at the Vineyard Community Church in the video department.

Our students were given an opportunity not only to learn about basic camera operations but were also presented with a hands-on approach. We learned about aperture, iris, light balance, work flow, how to set up and tear down a tripod, audio inputs, and many other functions of the Panasonic camera. For many of the students, it was their first chance to work with high-end, professional gear. Who knows how many of them may actually go on to have a career in either the film, TV, or media industries?

But more importantly, we also talked about the spiritual applications of media making. After all, it isn’t just about shooting pretty picture. The big question is: Why do this in the first place? We spent our first session talking about the importance of media and the impact it is having on our culture. We want to know what God has to say about all of this. I think for many of the students it was an eye-opener. The truth is if you are going to change anything, particularly in today’s modern culture, it most certainly will be through visual storytelling. In the weeks ahead, our students will come to learn and understand this important truth.

We’re building a team of media makers who are going to want to change and impact our society through visual arts. After all, we’ve moved from a word-based to an image-based society. In order to fulfill the Great Commission and be a witness for Christ, we must use media to communicate our message to a world that is looking for hope and redemption.

As I said, it’s not just about pretty pictures. Media is powerful. John showed us how to use the camera, Hopefully, we’ve laid a foundation on how to use it effectively to communicate our message. We think that something exciting is beginning here at The Bridge Community Church.

We ask for your prayers and support in the weeks and months ahead as we take our first steps in establishing The Bridge Media Team.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Volunteers Needed


The Bridge Community Church located in Wilder, Kentucky, is currently recruiting volunteers for our new media program. No experience is necessary. If you’ve ever had an interest in media, filmmaking, or visual arts this is your opportunity. Have you ever wanted to learn how to use a video camera or ever desired to edit? We will teach you everything you need to know to get started. We especially would like to talk to you if you have experience as a videographer, editor, producer, writer or director.

Our new media team will be responsible for shooting Sunday morning services which will air on local cable in Northern Kentucky and will be posted to the Internet and other social media outlets. The media team will also create original content which will be used on Sunday mornings to support Pastor Bo Weaver’s message. Future plans call for the creation of a podcast which will be distributed on multiple platforms.

Are you a creative person? Take this opportunity and join our new and innovative media ministry team to explore your creative side. Whether you want to be behind the camera or in front of the camera, there is a place for you. We are looking for innovators who can help us to communicate the message of Christ’s love and forgiveness.

Maybe your interests are graphic design or Photo Shop. There are so many ways that you can contribute in helping to launch our new media initiative. Orientation and training will start on April 10, 2012 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Classes will run for four weeks.

We ask that you make a commitment to serve at least twice monthly with a minimum of six hours of service. All volunteers are expected to attend The Bridge Community Church.

For more information contact Harold Hay at 859-918-6220 or e-mail me at harold_media@insightbb.com.

The following positions are available:

Videographer

Has knowledge and experience with video and digital cameras. Has worked in field or studio production. Understands camera operations and can demonstrate visual skills, including framing and composition techniques. Has worked with DSLR cameras such as Canon 5D or 7D series, BetaCam or DV-PRO.

Editor

Has worked on a nonlinear-based editing system such as AVID, Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express or Adobe Premier. Has knowledge of various software packages, including Aftereffects and other third-party plug-ins. Has worked with either online or offline applications. Has some knowledge of color correction. Understands how to import and export files to final destination, including Web-based or Broadcast applications.

Grip

Has worked on video production teams and is capable of setting up light fixtures, tripods, cranes, jibs, and capable of moving camera support systems.

Sound Recordist

Has knowledge of sound field production and is capable of mixing various live video feeds. Has worked with boom mics and has a complete knowledge of sound applications and software.

Production Assistant

Can perform multiple tasks to support both field and studio production. Has basic knowledge of the overall workflow, protocols, and basic setup of the production process.

Social Media Specialist

Has working knowledge of all aspects of social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, video files, internet interface and other social media-related applications.

Associate Producer

Understands the concept from script-to-screen. Can perform a turnkey operation to create content for in-service, internet, and broadcast purposes. Can carry an idea or concept from its creation to its completion. Can manage several members of a media team to complete a given task. Has excellent interviewing and writing skills. Has some knowledge of the editing process.

Director

Has experience as a floor director, multi-camera director, or field production. Knows how to work with talent to create the performance which is necessary for the production. Can work with Director of Photography, camera operator and other key production team members. Has a working knowledge of where the camera needs to be placed and why. Understands coverage and other technical aspects of production.

Creative Specialist

Has excellent writing skills. Capable of initiating a new concept or idea. Understands the elements of scriptwriting for documentary or narrative applications.

Graphic Design Artist

Has knowledge of Photo Shop as well as other 2D and 3D software programs. Can work to achieve both CGI and VFX for video post production.

Director of Photography

Understands how to achieve a visual style by the use of creative lighting concepts. Has a familiarity of lighting fixtures. Understanding and knowledge of digital video cameras and various lenses.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

The Power of Film

I often talk about the power of film. I’m convinced that movies are the most unique form of all media. There is something remarkably different about the effectiveness and impact of a movie compared to television shows, video games, web content or any other type of electronic image. In fact, film transcends all other forms of media. That means they have a unique place and influence in our society. It’s through films that we can express our wants, fears, hurts and desires. Cinema has a unique ability to shape public perception while educating and enlightening our society. There is no question that movies have changed our perceptions and influenced and impacted the very fabric of culture and our nation. Movies challenge us individually to consider our lifestyle choices as well as the pathway we are currently pursuing.

So why do movies have this unique ability than other media forms? What makes them different? Why are they more capable of communicating powerful messages? Here are five concepts that separate film from all other media experiences.

1 The cinematic experience. There is something very different and profound about entering a dark theater. It is perhaps the last place that we truly shut out the outside world. Where else do drop off of the planet for two hours. No cell phones, beepers or electronic media devices allowed. Think of it, when most of us go on vacation, we check our e-mails. Movies at the theatrical level have our total, undivided attention. If we are spending ten bucks, most of us want to get our money’s worth. We are not in control of the cinematic experience. We cannot hit pause or rewind. We are totally immersed in both sound and image. There is nothing like the big screen because it creates an experience more real in some ways than life itself.

2 Movies are about something. A few years ago, I heard an industry insider say that movies are about something or at least the good ones are. He is absolutely right. Films are not like television shows or web-based content because they are typically anywhere from 90 to 120 minutes in length. In other words, you have to have something of importance to drive two hours of content. Plot will not get it done. Movies require a theme. The characters must need something in order for movies to work on an emotional and psychological level. Movies work best with big ideas such as justice, forgiveness, redemption, freedom, social change, philosophy, or political change. Movies work on a big canvas so they require something important to say in order to hold our attention and interest. Why do films such as Casablanca, Citizen Kane or the Wizard of Oz hold up after all of these years? Because they were all about something. In the case of the Wizard of Oz, it was about finding your way back home and also the thing you seek the most, you always had it within your possession. Those are universal themes that are just as relevant today as they were at the time these movies were produced.

3 The group experience. Where else do we gather with total strangers to share an experience such as viewing a film? We laugh together, cry together and are frightened together. There is something powerful about a group experience. It validates the importance of the message that a film expresses, and most often we see films with friends and family. It always invites a discussion. Afterwards, we may go out to dinner or for coffee, and we often ask each other, “How did the movie impact you. What did you think about this character or that particular scene? Did you understand what the movie was about?” What other forms of media can you think about where we have this kind of profound discussion and dialogue.

4 The journey. Movies most often are about the human condition. What makes us human? Films have the capability of taking us on this journey as we seek answers. We can relate to this because at some level we are all on our own personal journey trying to make sense of the world we live in. All films are part of some journey. It’s expressed through what writers call the “character’s arc”. Films can transcend both space and time. In fact, we can see a character’s entire lifespan in a film. It’s through this process we can see how characters change, whether they are moving toward the truth or away from the truth. We can witness a conflict of values as characters wrestle with their inner demons to move from vice to virtue. Movies are the only form of media that has the ability to present this type of character arc and development. Through this process, we can see our lives played out in the characters portrayed on the big screen.

5 The suspension of reality. When does a movie stop being fiction and take on the form of reality? If the filmmakers have done their job well, there is a point at which the audience crosses a threshold where they start to believe what they see in a movie is reality. It’s no longer a film but a reflection of the real world. I’m convinced that film is the only form of media that can do this convincingly. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about when a movie has the ability to transport us to a different time, age, world, or even a different universe. Can you think of a film that has done that for you? When the experience became so real that you forgot you were watching a movie. When this happens, truth can be communicated on a very deep, personal level. You care very deeply about the characters, their fates and their causes. You can imagine how God can use this experience in our lives to reflect His glory and truth.