Woodworking TV

[Alan Holtham]

I have been watching with interest a couple of recent threads about woodworking programmes on TV, but rather than hijack these thought it better to start another one.

Just supposing there was to be another woodworking series, exactly what would you like to see featured? Are you more interested in projects or techniques or out of workshop stuff such as visits to manufacturers etc. Of course these can all be combined in a single programme but it can then all get a bit messy, although modern TV techniques seem to flick from one scene to another every few minutes.

My own interest as many of you will know is other peoples workshops. I would also like to see projects made within a realistic workshop as per the home woodworker, rather than huge expensively fitted out shops which may be inspirational, but not achievable for the bulk of us.

Anyway if you can spare a thought the information would be very enlightening and much appreciated.

Best wishes for a Happy Christmas to all.

Alan

 

[Philly]

Alan
I'd enjoy a show where a project was made each show using "real-world" tools, in a workshop most of us own. I'd also like to see hand tools used as well as power tools, and with useful techniques/skills showcased.
Hope this helps,
Philly

 

[lurker]

Would'nt "real life" be difficult to film??

Regards home workshops - I'd personally be anxious about advertising to the criminal fraternity.

Although I must admit I love snooping around other people's shops.

 

[MikeG.]

I couldn't fault Phil's wish list......only to add that it would need to be on proper (terrestrial) TV for me to be able to watch it.

Mike

 

[Steve Maskery]

Would'nt "real life" be difficult to film??

Difficult? It's well-nigh impossible! In my workshop it is cramped when there is just me filming. When Bob is with me it's tight, and if you had a "proper" film crew, well, I just don't think you could.

When I build my next workshop I shall make it with filming in mind from the outset.

But if anyone can tell me how you can make such programs/film, whatever you want to call them and make a profit, I'm all ears.

S

 

[TrimTheKing]

Yep, I second what Philly said. Something showing what can be achieved without having to have a Norm Abram size workshop and all the tailed beasts that he has.

BTW Alan, I never replied to your previous post about visiting workshops, but seeing as we are both in Cheshire (not sure where you are but I am in Grappenhall), you are welcome to pay me a visit and have a look around here.

Drop me a PM if you're interested.

 

[kenf]

I would be happy to have 30min programmes of the Wood Whisperer.
His www site videos seem to have the right mix of humour, skill, projects, tool use, makers or show visits and his personality fits. They are just too short!

 

[wizer]

Alan, are you suggesting you have the power/budget to do this? Are the TV stations interested? Or is this just an 'ideal world' notion?

Even The New Yankee Workshop had faults. TV is incredibly restrictive.

 

[como]

How about a woodworking show where the presenter would visit a different amateur/home workshop each episode,
and then would be challenged to create a project using just the tools and materials which are available in that workshop.

 

[flounder]

I think for it to have any sustainability it would need to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. It should therefore have a different sections within the programme, eg a newbie bit, a hand tool bit, a power tool bit, a turners bit etc.

 

[Smudger]

Where Norm won was a good balance between depth, pace and variety - and being a good communicator. Many of the also-rans were missing in at least one area, and so lost the mainstream audience - and remember that to get a programme on terrestrial TV you will have to attract millions of viewers. DIY SOS has attracted up to 8 million viewers, and that isn't because of its DIY content! Discovery Shed has a maximum 'reach' of about 250,000, so if you want new content it has to be either very popular (BBC) or very cheap (Discovery).
We have to recognise that we are a very specialised audience, and probably no more than a third of the Shed viewers. It's a great shame.

 

[wizer]

I'm not actually aware of any programmes of any genre being newly created for Home & Leisure\Shed for quite some time.

 

[kenf]

And yet, Dick, there are programmes on tattooing and two guys putting up sheds!! Perhaps new programmes on woodworking would create a new generation and large audience base. Norm's programmes must have started many people on the craft; I know he started me off once I knew what was possible.

 

[OPJ]

I think we can look at The Wood Whisperer [not forgetting Steve M.! :wink:] to get an idea of what people would generally want to see. I think the most important factor is that the viewer learns something new each time - whether that be how to build a piece of furniture, what to look out for when buying timber or ideas on how to set out and organise a workshop, even taking tips from visits to other 'shops. Marc Spagnuolo appears to have covered most of this over the last three-years.

Marc is getting closer to Philly's idea in his "small" workshop... But, as it's still a three-car garage :evil:, us Brits can't take him seriously enough when he says he's struggling with only two bandsaws as well!! :roll:

I honestly think it would be a better idea to ;replicate' what Marc has done with a series of Podcasts (I may even try this myself, some day... :wink. It's not hard to get a video online. You can't really say the same for getting a slot on TV, unless you know all the right people and have loads of spare cash, etc. Plus, on the internet, viewers will always have instant access to a back catalogue of your shows. On Discovery Shed, we can go months without seeing a glint of woodworking.

Steve, for what it's worth, you workshop does look a reasonable size on TV... I guess the camera lies!

 

[Smudger]

Some of the Tommy Walsh stuff - build your house for free, etc. was, I think. They seem to be very heavily invested in him. But in general there doesn't seem to be much, and the repeats seem to be getting more frequent.

 

[wizer]

The Tommy Walsh workshop series was produced by him and I suspect he bankrolled it too.

So maybe if Alan has the budget to make this series and then sell it to to the TV. it might work. I think you'll have a much harder time convincing a TV exec that annoying camera angles and music is out and 'real' woodworking is in.

If the US TV stations have just cancelled Norm...

 

[Smudger]

Did they cancel him, or did he call it a day? I thought that it was an independent production company for PBS.

 

[wizer]

He said he was retiring, but there is a strong rumour in the states that the sponsors pulled out and PBS cancelled.

 

[lurker]

Steve, for what it's worth, you workshop does look a reasonable size on TV... I guess the camera lies!

I can vouch for a lying camera; its a bog standard garage ( I doubt a modern car would fit) with a little bit of extra depth. Cats are safe from being swung.

 

[Smudger]

He said he was retiring, but there is a strong rumour in the states that the sponsors pulled out and PBS cancelled.

The Kitchen series was a mistake, imho, and he had seemed to go stale. There's only so many times you can demonstrate a biscuit jointer!