Brown Television
Brown Television (also known as BrownTV and BTV) is a student run television broadcasting station on the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, operating out of one studio in the second floor of Faunce Hall.
History
Brown Television is one of the most historically rich organizations at Brown University. It began in 1987 founded by Doug Liman, now Hollywood director of “The Bourne Trilogy” and producer of “Jumper”, among others. It was a student run television network running student made productions both for news and entertainment back in the old days of analog UHF equipment and tape decks.
At some point down the line, technology left BTV in the dust. The old analog equipment started to fail, production ceased to exist anymore after the last great stand of the show Elected and BTV became nothing more than a channel on Brown’s IPTV network broadcasting movies distributed by Swank. This, however, also ended due to contract disputes between Swank’s clients and the use of IPTV for the distribution of the movies. At this point, BTV had become nothing more than an empty room with missing and broken equipment and a channel broadcasting a blackscreen 24 hours a day.
BTV was, however, not yet ready to die. A group of determined students, though small in number, still yearned to resuscitate BTV and put their efforts toward this goal. At the same time, another small, but passionate group, of students was trying to reestablish the Brown Film Society’s old production outfit that had also become a sad nothingness, Brown Film Production. These two groups would eventually realize their common goals and agree upon collaboration for the good of all, and as of Spring 2008, a heavy budget written and proposed, the Undergraduate Finance Board took BTV’s side and allocated the necessary funds to powerfully and tangibly start the reconstruction of Brown TV.
As of this moment, BTV stands on the cusp of this new frontier. From near total extinction, BTV is finally near a point where it can return to what it once was, and more, but it requires your help. We are building our creative arsenal of technology and equipment, and we also require the help of creative individuals interested in learning the production process by being a part of it. Join us in learning how to produce by producing. For all those who desire to learn video production, who want to act, who want to do broadcast journalism, who want to write screenplays, who want to do lighting, editing, or set design; come!—and do it. BTV is to become whatever it is we make of it. Create it’s future.
Current Shows
BTV Original Productions
- Campus Liqours - Created in 2009 by Alex Dobrenko, Quin Fenlon, and Mitch Moranis “Campus Liquors” chronicles the days of John and Gus through the lens of their local college liquor store. As employees, John and Gus get a shockingly intimate, first-hand look at the social lubricant that breathes life into every university happening. Besides being the merchants of this highly delectable sin, John and Gus humorously deal with their own issues.
- Use As Directed - Created in 2009 by Allissa Wickham and Sara Molinaro is a performance-addled comedy as RUPUR (aka, Rebecca Upur), a college freshman with a taste for alcohol and larceny, decides to sell Adderall to her fellow students in order to make ends meet. Her best friend, DRAKE, is an aspiring performance artist with dreams of becoming the next Andy Warhol. Together, they will navigate the rocky waters of freshman year…while frequently setting their boat on fire.
- College Green - Created by Chris Jesu Lee is about a group of naive FreshMen who begin their college adventures. Follow the lives of ETHAN and LEWIS, two good kids who finally achieve freedom in college only to find that they’ve been accidentally housed in a sub-free dorm. Living across from them are ANNIE, a shrinking violet who is finally ready to blossom, and her rich queen bee roommate, BRIDGET. Thrown into the mix is PAUL, an easy-going and handsome type whose game is light-years ahead of the likes of Ethan and Lewis. Finally, colourful recurring side characters ensure that things are never dull on campus.
- The Circle - Created in 2009, the highly anticipated fantasy action installment is currently being developed and shot. Not even we know what exactly it is about...but trust us...its awesome. The premiere 3 episode release is due Fall 2009
- Roundhouse - Created by Joshua Marcotte and Chauncey Leahy the show follows the lives of six students, “Roundhouse” unabashedly addresses the private and public lives of a diverse group of friends as they pass through the Roundhouse Café, the show’s namesake, in their day-to-day lives. With characters ranging from bisexual RICHARD who is preparing for a big day with longtime girlfriend MAXINE all the way to the reserved and somewhat prudish RAEGAN who is constantly avoiding the catcalls of flirtatious NOVA, “Roundhouse” pushes the envelope for BTV with its constant exploration of taboo [...] topics and how the characters attempt to find themselves, both sexually and personally, through the course of the season. Inspired by the fall 2008 section of MSex, “Roundhouse” is sure to shock and amuse.
- Love Lockdown - Created in 2009 and shot in BTV's very own studio room, join your hosts Dani and Nicole as they attempt to cure the dearth love (or something like it) by giving singles and adventurous couples alike a spot in the limelight in this campy fusion of the lonely hearts club and all things exotica.
- Scenes From An _____ - Created in 2009, an artistic, location driven show currently being developed
And others are always on the way...
Campus Productions
BTV has partnered with numerous student groups on Brown University's campus to film and broadcast student driven performances and events. There's a lot of them...I'll list them all tomorrow