To make his vision a reality, Caplan plans to seek funding from the SFC and work in collaboration with Amherst Community Television (ACTV), the local public access cable station. "ACTV has some of the best digital video cameras and editing facilities of any public access provider in the country," he said.
Caplan's first project will be to create a weekly comedy talk show in front of an audience in the Keefe Campus Center Frontroom. A student band would provide live music for the show. Caplan hopes to have the creative writing parts finished by winter break, with shooting to begin in spring semester. He may also run a set of optional classes over Interterm to teach students how to use cameras, editing equipment and lights.
The show will be broadcast in the Pioneer Valley on ACTV. Caplan has called various public access providers in New York and London and on the West Coast; a few of them have already expressed interest in broadcasting the show.
The show will probably start with 10 episodes, each an hour long. Shooting will be on Friday nights.
Caplan is looking for writers, producers and technical supervisors. "Previous experience is unnecessary because it's hard to get experience with this type of thing," said Caplan.