Be more Tuned In

‘Sewing With Nancy’ Returns with a Variety of New Projects

Posted on July 17, 2014 by David

We recently stopped by Nancy Zieman’s office to pin down a few remaining details about the upcoming season of Sewing With Nancy. In Nancy’s words, this season could be billed as a “variety show” of sorts.

Nancy working on the upcoming season.

But don’t expect to see any singing and dancing segments this season. Nancy was quick to clarify that viewers can expect to see a wide “variety” of innovative sewing and quilting projects.

“Sewing quick projects from rectangles and squares, making column quilts instead of block quilts, creating doll costumes, sewing fashion wraps, and learning the absolute easiest way to sew are a sampling of the array of projects that will be shown.”

And that’s just the first half of the season. New episodes are still in the works, but Nancy says viewers can expect to discover a diverse range of sewing and quilting projects throughout the season.

The new season of Sewing With Nancy begins in August with full episodes streaming online right here at wpt.org. Click to watch the new season online.

Before we left Nancy Zieman Productions, we couldn’t help but poke our heads into the workspace. Here are a few more candid shots from our visit.

Behind the Scenes of Nancy Zieman Productions

Bursting with Creativity

Behind the scenes at Nancy Zieman Productions

The Cutting Room

Photo Shoot

Posted in Show Previews | Tagged Behind the Scenes, Nancy Zieman, Sewing with Nancy

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Wisconsin From The Air - Behind the Scenes

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Erik

Last September, Wisconsin Public Television producers spent a week in the air above our state to capture Wisconsin’s cities, towns, lakes, cliffs, farm fields and other natural areas. The resulting television special, Wisconsin From The Air, will premiere on WPT this December.

Now, as we look forward to the program’s premiere, we want to take you inside the process of capturing every corner of the state from above. Strap yourself in to the helicopter and soar over the state as you find out just what it takes to plan, record and edit a project that will feature more than 200 of the state’s most beautiful and iconic places.

Check back here on the Be more Tuned In blog and at the WPT Facebook page in the coming months ahead of the broadcast premiere for more preview content from inside this exciting journey to the skies above our state.

Posted in Resources, Show Previews | Tagged Aerial, Air, Behind the Scenes, Film, films, Helicopter, PBS, Program, public television, video, Wisconsin, Wisconsin From the Air, Wisconsin Public Television, WPT, youtube

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A True Political Satire Unfolds in Iowa

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Pete Schwaba, Host of Director's Cut

This week on Director’s Cut it is my pleasure to welcome the very talented Grace Lee, director of “Janeane From Des Moines.” This is a unique look into the 2012 Republican caucuses in Iowa through the eyes of Janeane Wilson, a housewife played by Jane Edith Wilson. This is a film you won’t want to miss because of Wilson’s portrayal of the troubled Janeane and some deft storytelling by Lee and Wilson who co-wrote the script.

‘Janeane’ is a genre hybrid. The film is scripted and improvised but shot documentary style which will keep viewers guessing for the first 30 minutes, at least those viewers who don’t read this blog.

A staunch conservative, Janeane searches for a candidate to throw her support behind in the 2012 election. The film is engaging from the start when Diane Sawyer throws to a clip of Janeane talking with Mitt Romney. She manages to talk with just about every candidate in the race without breaking character and even gets a sit down with Michelle Bachman. As the story progresses, Janeane’s life unravels and she struggles with her beliefs and political ideology. Political leanings aside, you find yourself really rooting for this conflicted character.

Grace Lee is an accomplished filmmaker with a diverse and award-winning track record. Her credits also include “The Grace Lee Project” and her most recent film, “American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs” which premiered nationally on POV on Wisconsin Public Television last month. In case you’re wondering, I do confront Lee about the fact that she has two films with her own name in the title. I don’t back down from the tough questions!

Lee is a director to keep an eye on and you can start by watching my interview with her and then “Janeane From Des Moines” on Director’s Cut Presents tonight at 10 on Wisconsin Public Television. Hope you can watch!

Posted in Show Previews | Tagged Director's Cut, Director's Cut Home, Directors Cut Presents, Grace Lee, Janeane From Des Moines, POV

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Meet Otter 501

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Jonna

Otter 501 being carefully groomed as part of her journey to being released back into the wild. “Saving Otter 501″ re-airs 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 9.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that sea otters are one of the most adorable creatures found on the earth. I’ve always found them fascinating, but the catalyst for my adoration was when I discovered that they sometimes hold hands when they float in their aquatic habitats. There is nothing more heartwarming than seeing two little otters floating while holding hands.

In today’s world, sea otters face a number of challenges, so they often need some human intervention if they’re going to thrive. Nature: Saving Otter 501 chronicles the journey of one such otter, the 501^st otter rescued by the Monterey Bay Aquarium since they began their rescue missions in 1984.

When Saving Otter 501 first premiered on WPT, we were completely won over by the fuzzy title character, which we met as a completely helpless 3-day-old infant who could do little more than cry.

Despite her early obstacles, her incredible journey takes her from a newborn pup found crying on the beach to her rehabilitation at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and eventually to an attempt to reenter the wild. With the help of her rescuers and her surrogate mom, she learns to dive, hunt, eat and become independent.

I guarantee that if you watch the below clip of the show, you’ll be won over as well. Then you can tune in 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 9 to watch the full episode!

Posted in Show Previews | Tagged Nature, PBS, Schedule, Wisconsin Public Television

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Let the Wait Begin - Sherlock is Returning

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Erik

Our day got a lot brighter this morning when the news broke that our favorite sleuth and Dr. Watson are set to return in all new installments of Masterpiece Mystery! Sherlock. Even better, this go-round we won’t just be getting three new episodes - we’ll also see a brand new special starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.

The only downside? According to our friends at WGBH and PBS, production on the new shows won’t even begin until January 2015. (That’s what we all get for making the two stars so popular and subsequently busy!) So, we have to wait awhile until the new shows arrive. But, that just gives us more time to conjure up all of the adventures we hope will be coming!

Click here to see the full announcement from PBS and read some comments from show co-creator, writer and executive producer Stephen Moffatt.