Producer Resources

LTC is dedicated to providing our members with the information and resources that will aid them in their media productions.

Downloadable Forms

Production Resources

• Project Application
• Producer Agreement/Indemnification Form
• Cablecast Submission Contract

Release Forms

• Talent Release Form
• Location Release Form
• General Release Form

LTC Membership and Facility

• Acceptable Use Policy
• New Member Guide
• Rules and Procedures
• Facility Trouble Report
• Adult Content and Feedback Policies

Producers Forum

LTC encourages its producers to participate in regular meetings to meet other producers, find out about new happenings, and actively work to advise the organization on how to better serve its members.

Dates for upcoming forums:

Additionally, LTC producers are able to connect with one another via the LTC Producers Email List. To subscribe to the list, you can visit this link.

Creative Commons

The essence of community is sharing.

Copyright is about protection, not sharing.

For those of us who make video and audio for the Lowell community and especially those who put work up online Creative Commons is a way for YOU to share your work and enjoy the work of others without sweating the copyright issue.

Creative Commons is not the opposite of copyright... it is an addition to copyright. Copyright says: "I own this work, and no one can use it without my permission."

A Creative Commons license says "I own this work, but others can enjoy it, and maybe even use it in their own work."

You can learn more at the Creative Commons website.

Free (and Legal) Resources for Your LTC Productions

You can't just go and use the latest hit song as the background music for your video productions. Those songs are owned by someone -- the singer, songwriter, their publishing company or record label. That entity holds the copyright to the music, and can determine how it is used. For you to use that music in your own production, you need to obtain permission, and usually pay them a fee.

Fortunately, there are alternative sources for quality, legal music that you can use without restrictions and exhorborant fees. Much of this content is released under a Creative Commons license.

• Podsafe Audio - "aims to provide a location where musicians can upload music under the Creative Commons License for use in Podcasts, Mashups, Shoutcasts, Webcasts and every other kind of 'casting' that exists on the 'net..."
• Magnatune - No paid license is required for people creating new works for non-commercial use. However to use Magnatune tracks in your production, you must also license your content under a Creative Commons license.
• CCMixter - This is a community music site featuring remixes licensed under Creative Commons, where you can listen to, sample, mash-up, or interact with music in whatever way you want.
• CCHits - CCHits is a web site that tracks popular music released under Creative Commons licenses.

Educate Yourself

Here are some web sites that have lots of information about media. This will continually be expanded:

Video Production

• OurMedia Digital Learning Center
• Video 101 Fundamentals
• Videoblogging with FreeVlog
• Digital Editing with iMovie
• Video Pop Up Link Maker
• Creating a Video Podcast with Apple

Equipment Availability

To reserve equipment at LTC, you must be an active member with certification to take out portable equipment. Equipment reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis and an approved Project Application must be on file. You may reserve equipment up to 30 days prior to use. Each approved project is granted a limited budget.

Equipment Reservation must be made in person with an LTC staff person at our main offices located at 246 Market Street. However, you may check equipment availabilty via phone or email. If you have questions about equipment reservations or check out, please contact us at tech@ltc.org or (978)458-5400.

Distribution

LTC shares content and information produced by our members primarily through cablecast and Internet distribution vehicles. To see what is currently playing on our channels check out our TV guide. To find out more about our Community Web projects, visit the TV & Web section of our website.

If you are an LTC member and would like to cablecast your program you will need to fill out a Program Playback Request form. If you are experiencing technical problems with the cablecast of an existing show, you should fill out a Trouble Report. For more infomration about cablecasting, contact the Program Playback Coordinator at prog@ltc.org or 978.458.5400.

LTC also makes available to its member producers, satellite downlinking and interactive authoring tools (i.e. DVD) as additional means to secure and distribute programming. We also encourage our members to market their message to other community media and technology sites.