All Access: ACAC Then and Now

An independent producer at Austin Community Access Center since 1981, Kirk Hunter has seen his share of characters. "Lots of people go through there and they have their dreams," he says, and then laughs. He remembers Dean Langston's call-in show Austin Hotline, and the time so many viewers tried to phone in at once that the machinery broke down. He remembers Frank Morrow, whose Alternative Views espoused all kinds of loony conspiracy theories. And he remembers, of course, his own show Cheap Peeks, a parody of Sneak Previews. "This is way before all the rules were set up," he explains, "and we actually smoked and drank and destroyed the set afterward." When ACAC put a two-hour time restriction on cable access shows, Hunter rebelled, creating a six-hour video of himself in various locations, wearing the sign "Will Work for Film." It kicked up a cloud of controversy whose result, if nothing else, was to prove that when you put things on cable access, people paid attention. "The city of Austin didn't believe that people watch these shows," Hunter says, "but they do." Recently having celebrated their 27th anniversary, Austin Community Access Center currently airs over 300 series on cable channels 10, 11, and 16. Below is only a glimpse at some of the programs currently offered.

--CAPZEYZ (Sat, midnight, ch. 10) -- Austin Music Network producer Dave Prewitt is a longtime supporter of local musicians, playing videos, live clips, and interviews with local artists on this cable access mainstay.

--COWBOY FROM VIENNA (Sun, 6:30pm, ch. 10) -- Winner of the 1997 Best of Austin award for the "Best and Most Heartfelt Use of Public Television," Werner Zotter may be the most stunning example of ACAC's originality -- a middle-aged Austrian in cowboy gear, playing the accordion. According to programming coordinator Marion Nickerson, Cowboy From Vienna is also the most frequently requested show on ACAC.

--EARTH FIRST! (Sun, noon, ch. 16) -- Environmental awareness show hosted by Barb Evans

-- MAYA PERSPECTIVES (Sun, 8pm, ch. 16) -- Local documentarian Patricia Moore's series focuses on Guatemala's indigenous population. "It is the best show here," says ACAC's Marion Nickerson. "It's done in the spirit of world access."

--MOVIES ON MOPAC (Wed, 10pm, ch. 16) -- Produced by Ryan Marquess, MOM finds host Shelley (recently less one co-host, Amy) offering takes on thematically linked films -- for example, "Top Ten Sports Movies" or "Day and Night" (films whose titles contain one of those words).

--PRIME TIME TEJANO (Thu, 7pm, ch. 10) -- Jerry Avila's live music show recently received an Austin Video Award for Best Variety show.

--ST. JAMES BAPTIST (Sun, 10:30pm, ch. 11) -- Sunday services with Rev. BW McClendon

-- TORAH THE TRADITION (Tue, 8pm, ch. 11) -- Rabbi Levitov offers interviews on Jewish concerns.

--TRAILER PARK SHOW (Mon, 6:30pm, ch.10) -- Local news and information from the unusual Ritter family.

To receive airtime at Austin Community Access Center, the center only requires you to be certified in basic camera and editing. ACAC offers workshops seven days a week at their studios, 1143 Northwestern, starting at $45. 478-8600. www.austinaccess.com.