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Oct 6, 2009

Indie filmmakers, get reading

The Independent has compiled a list of 30 Quintessential Books for Independent Filmmakers. Included are everything from How to Shoot a Feature Film for Under $10,000 (And Not Go to Jail) by Bret Stern to The Five C's of Cinematography: Motion Picture Filming Techniques, an oldie (circa 1960s) but goodie by Joseph V. Mascelli.

FCC soon may address PEG channel location complaints

The Federal Communications Commission may "in the near future" take up the issue of the location of PEG (public, educational and government) channels, reports Broadcasting & Cable. The FCC received several petitions from the Alliance for Community Media, which is a national association of local cable-access programmers, and two Michigan cities asking for a ruling on whether cable operators can move PEG channels, and if there should be more specific rules about the signal quality of those channels. Comcast says that its shift of PEG channels to a digital tier in Michigan is legal and in the public interest.

Salsa takes over WGBH to welcome show; Obama plans Latin music night

A crowd of nearly 1,000 turned out Oct. 2 at WGBH in Boston for a huge public salsa dance party and sneak preview of the four-hour Latin Music USA doc. The station’s María Hinojosa served as the night’s emcee as fans danced to live performances by Bobby Sanabria y Quarteto Aché and Mango Blue. (Photo: Lisa Abitbol) In related news, President Barack Obama will host a plethora of entertainers in a Latin music night at the White House on Oct. 13, reports The Associated Press. CPB is backing that performance to the tune of $547,000. Among attendees and performers: Marc Anthony, Gloria Estefan, Jose Feliciano, Jimmy Smits, Pete Escovedo, George Lopez, Thalia, Los Lobos, Tito "El Bambino," Aventura and Sheila E. The concert will be taped to air on PBS on Oct. 15, Telemundo on Oct. 18 and V-me on Dec. 25.

WGBH's Gourmet programs survive death of Gourmet mag

The demise of longtime food mag Gourmet is not stopping the Oct. 17 premiere of the new WGBH series, Gourmet's Adventures with Ruth. Another of the station's shows, Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie, now in its fourth season, also will continue, WGBH spokeswoman Lucy Sholley told The Boston Herald. “Both shows are solid,” Sholley said. “We remain committed to (Gourmet editor-in-chief) Ruth Reichl as an icon in the food world as well as her ideas and editorial input to the format of ‘Adventures with Ruth,’ which will air as planned.”