What service meets your needs? - Photographic Society of America services - Brief Article

PSA Journal, Jan, 1998 by Gerald W. Turk

B, I and A -- Video Study Groups

This service has something for everyone. If you are just starting, the tips you get on how to accomplish what you want are invaluable, and the experience of the other members will save you time, effort and money. If you have already started on the road to video fun, this activity will add polish to your efforts and help you improve your work much faster than you could by trying to do everything alone. Advanced workers will find that judging others' work and having others evaluate their work can add the final polish to their videos. If you are interested in the reactions of your family, friends, or competition judges, many suggestions and a bit of reediting can help make your shows better.

Each group consists of about 10 members. Each member makes a short video, then all the videos are copied by the Group Manager onto a master tape. The circuit is routed to each member in turn by mail. Each participant sees and comments on the master tape. This is a good way to learn video evaluation. The goal is to have three circuits per year (two competitive rounds that count for Star Rating and one personal show). The fee is currency $8 per year. If you would like to be assigned to a group, mail a check payable to PSA to the director, Gerald W. Turk, FPSA, 12916 Autumn View Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146; (314) 434-8500; E-mail: gturkpsa@juno.com.

B -- Instruction Video Tapes

Rent a tape to help avoid problems or learn something new about video. Mostly for people starting out. $8 for ten-day rental. Write to the director: Robert Hammond, 539 Chandler Mill Road, Avondale, PA 19311; (215) 444-5244. Some tapes available are: Introduction to Video, Graphics for Video, Audio for Video, Copy Slides and Prints to Video, Cheap and Easy Video Editing, Video Travelogues, Working with People, Camcorder Controls in Depth, Video Composition is Different.

(*) B, I and A -- Tops in Video

See the winners in the "PSA Video Competitions." That's a minimum of six winning shows. $8 for ten-day rental of a VHS tape. Brenda Lantow, 3625 Kingsley St., San Diego, CA 92106; (619) 222-1320; E-mail: bllantow@worldnet.att.

(*) B, I and A -- Video Notebook

Purchase a notebook full of notes by division members and program presenters. These can give you ideas, guidance on equipment, etc. They are worth their weight in gold. $ 10 per book. G.W. Turk, FPSA, 12916 Autumn View Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146-4332; (314) 434-8500; E-mail: gturkpsa@juno.com.

I and A -- PSA Members Video Festival

This competition, started in 1992, is open to any PSA member in the world. The competition is on an annual basis and there are beautiful plaques for awards. The competition will count as a Class B for Star Rating and Who's Who.

(*) I and A -- Club, Council, Association Competitions

VMPD Star Rating acceptances and titles may be won in organizational video competitions. Information on starting, promoting, getting a video competition approved, guidelines, and evaluation sheets from G.W. Turk, FPSA, 12916 Autumn View Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146-4332; (314) 434-8500; FAX 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (314) 434-4341; E-mail: gturkpsa@juno.com.

(*) B, I and A -- Program Package to Start a Video Section in Your Club

We can furnish you programs at a 30 percent discount that will give a new section a head start. For $50 we will furnish a VMPD notebook, six taped educational programs, a Tops tape of the last six winning shows, two out-of-town judgings, and help set up an approved competition that would qualify for acceptance credits toward a VMPD Star. Info from Robert Hart, APSA, 2120 Rosemont Road, Berkeley, MI 48072; (810) 547-6447; E-mail: rbhart@compuserve.com.

B = Beginner I = Intermediate A = Advanced

(*) indicates a service for which PSA membership is not required.