Monticello next in WILL-TV series
It seemed for a spell the PBS outlet WILL-TV Channel 12 had reduced its in-house production to the barest basics, presumably due to funding setbacks, but the return of a program absent for more than a decade hopefully signals an imminent rebound for the University of Illinois-based broadcasting service. Before crowdsourcing became a reliable media resource and consumer-level video acceptable for airing outside of clip shows, WILL oversaw a quartet of hour-long specials between 2000 and 2003 for which dozens of residents living in the towns highlighted – first Bloomington-Normal and then Decatur, Danville, and Champaign-Urbana – ventured forth with camcorder and blank tape to capture people, places, and things they loved about where they lived. A DAY IN OUR HOMETOWN was the series’ name.
Now, a new entry called WE ARE MONTICELLO will paint a resident-generated portrait of the small town situated between the C-U and Decatur that neighbors the UI’s Allerton Park & Retreat Center. Veteran WILL producer Kimberlie Kranich, who worked on the original run, tells C-U Blogfidential an organizational meeting for interested Monticello citizens will be held tomorrow, Thursday, September 12, 7 p.m., in the auditorium of Monticello High School, 1 Sage Dr., Monticello, after which participants will have until Saturday, September 28, to record video for submission. As with HOMETOWN, WILL staff will interview participants about how their segments relate to the character of Monticello; the completed WE ARE MONTICELLO will then premiere on WILL-TV on Thursday, December 5, at 7 p.m.
Below is a promotion for tomorrow’s introductory event. Questions about participation can be directed to Illinois Public Media at (217) 333-7300.
~ Jason Pankoke