written by Alecia Orsini, WIFVNE President

Last night at ICON in Boston, MassAccess held its second annual Mass Creators Awards. I was honored to again be a judge for this event, highlighting some of the best works coming out of Public Access, and the competition was tight! When you think of Public Access, you probably have visions of “Wayne’s World” or shaky video footage of a town event. This is a far cry from what was on display light night, as pointed out by the night’s Awards Host Kyle Draper, Host of “Celtics Pre & PostGame Live” on NBC Sports Boston. Public Access is sharper and has more production value than ever before. The focus remains the same. Highlighting stories from communities that mainstream media can’t or won’t capture, but done on a level that would rival any TV news or magazine production.

Categories of competition include Civic Engagement, Sports, News, Culinary, Live coverage and more. Some unexpected categories were For-Profit and Podcasting, as many access stations have producers creating pieces for pay and the popularity of Podcasting has prompted many access stations to add the capabilities to their facilities. The night also honored members of the wider community who have been champions of Public Access in the Commonwealth, including the Legislator of the Year awards going to James P. McGovern (US Rep 2nd District of MA) and Mathew Muratore (State Rep 1st Plymouth District). Both recognized the impact that Public Access has on a community, continuing to create a space for people to learn, gather, and tell stories that otherwise would go untold. They also spoke about their support against the FCC’s attempt to adopt a new rule that would gut funding for public, educational and governmental channels.

Overall the night was a glamorous celebration of art, media, and community. I enjoyed every moment celebrating the unsung heroes of the filmmaking diaspora.