NewEnglandFilm.com

As major Hollywood productions increase in the New England
area, news coverage has similarly increased.  Barely a day goes by without a
newspaper or website reporting a celebrity sighting.  But what about everyone
else?  Where is the publicity for the rest of the talent in the region still
striving for their big break?  Well, in New Hampshire, a couple of industry
veterans were wondering the same thing and decided to do something about it. 
So Joe Cummings and Mike Abbene created Hollywood New
England, a show that features local talent throughout the region.  The
format of the 30-minute episodes varies; there are in-studio interviews with
hosts Gail Scott-Key and John Campanello, as well as Mark Rosenthal, formerly of
WBZ.  There are also on-location features such as a recent story on the dance
instructors at Studio 665 in Woburn, MA.  
Cummings and Abbene hope it becomes a fast-paced
Entertainment Tonight type of show with various recurring segments.  One,
which is already in place, features former Miss New Hampshire Rachael Barker,
who provides a weekly update on what’s going on in New England. 
Abbene says, “local publishers, writers, producers —
they’re not getting any recognition.  And without the show, our own production
company, Miken Entertainment, wouldn’t be either.”  The producers are interested
in a wide variety of arts disciplines, with recent programs focusing on actors,
writers, musicians, etc.  Elena Abbene, Mike’s wife and partner, believes the
show highlights “other parts of the entertainment industry,” and she hopes “to
expand everyone’s vision of what’s out there.” 
Besides introducing audiences to regional artists,
performers, and people in related fields, Hollywood New England is
becoming a great networking tool for those who appear on the show.  Abbene
appreciates that individuals on the show may end up working together. He
describes how Charles Carpenter, a composer, wrote some music for the show and
has since collaborated with some of the guests.  He says his goal is really to
“promote our backyard.” 

From L-R:  Elena Abbene, Joe Cummings,
Rachel Barker, Mike Abbene, and Ken Lawrence.
[Click to enlarge]

Part of the show is filmed at the Granite Media Center in
Tilton, NH, a full-service production facility.  “It’s a fantastic place,”
Abbene says, with plenty of resources to maintain their high production values. 
Cummings maintains an office there and thinks that more people should be taking
advantage of it. 
Currently, Hollywood New England airs on cable
access in the southern New Hampshire area.  They started in Bedford and Amherst
but have quickly added other towns such as Londonderry and Concord.  Abbene
expects to keep expanding outlets at a fairly rapid pace.  But don’t let the
medium fool you, this isn’t your typical cable access show.  Hollywood New
England employs three cameras and a full production team.  Achieving
professional quality is important to the Hollywood New England team as
they pursue sponsorship for the show.  Cummings’ goal is to reach three million
cable subscribers by the fall of 2008.  They already have 15 episodes in the
can.   
Another purpose of the show is to involve young people who
are studying production in local colleges.  Internships have been set up with
the film program at Keene State and others are planned as well.  Students get
real world experience, as well as college credit, and actually perform a
wide-variety of responsibilities.  Ken Lawrence, another of the producers, says,
“These students do a great job and this is a way of getting their work
highlighted.”  
Ultimately, their goal is to be syndicated regionally. 
They firmly believe in the creativity and talent scattered throughout the area
and in the vision of New England as a hotbed of film and television production. 
Their show aims to be there and shine a light on the people making it happen. 
First Hollywood New England, then Hollywood. 
Anyone interested in being on the show or students who are
interested in participating in the production of the show can contact Mike
Abbene at

or Joe Cummings at

cpdfilms@msn.com.