By: Gerard Elmore, Governor and Cinema Club Chair

Our hearts are heavy to hear and see the news about the devastation on Maui. Our friends, ohana and colleagues on Maui need our love and support. The impact is unquantifiable, unimaginable and heartbreaking. Maui will need all our collective help to help clean up and rebuild. I urge people to consider donating to such organizations as Maui Mutual Aid.

Mahalo nui.

By: Joyce Mitchell, Governor and Gold & Silver Committee Chair

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Reporters filled a studio at San Francisco Educational TV Station KQED in 1965 to cover the legendary, 51-minute news conference held by Musician Bob Dylan. An overview of what happened that day and so many other stories are now captured in a new book just released by Bay Area Film Director Robert Zagone.

Propped-up on a platform, smoking nonstop, Dylan carved out a piece of rock history during that famous question- answer session. And Zagone was there, producing and directing the 2-camera film shoot for the world to see.

Back then, rock was not deemed important enough to warrant long news conferences. Dylan set the tone for future rockers – like the Beatles and Rolling Stones – to follow suit.

Out of the 4^th and Bryant Street TV station, magic was made. San Francisco’s growing subculture prompted young and energetic broadcasters to take notice and document what they were seeing. Zagone was one of them.

That famous Dylan footage exists under the auspices of Ralph J. Gleason who acquired the footage from KQED immediately after the news conference was held. Gleason, back in the day, was a well-known music critic for the San Francisco Chronicle. Today, the Gleason Estate continues to promote the event on DVD and other media. That news conference has gone down in history, been studied, analyzed and used in numerous articles, books, and documentaries.

The press opportunity had evolved into a cut and thrust for Dylan. Zagone paid close attention as reporters tried to brand Dylan as the spokesperson for a new generation. Refuting the inference, Dylan turned somewhat self-effacing, mocking himself as a simple “song and dance man.”

And then, Dylan’s answers began trending toward obliqueness as a shield. At one point, he said something like, “What do you want me to do? Attack the cameras?”

That unforgettable moment influenced the title of Zagone’s self-published book, ATTACK THE CAMERAS! Musings of an Independent Film and TV Director. “Dylan and that press conference helped me name the book, for sure,” said Zagone.   

Stories included in the book are vast and memorable. At one point, Zagone invited an unknown Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company to perform on KQED. It was the first time that Joplin and her band would appear live on TV.

Pushing the envelope sometimes gets a little push-back. Zagone heard from the director of development, in charge of raising money for the station who asked, “why are these scruffy-looking people here?” He continued, “How on earth is the station expected to get people donating to public television listening to that screeching voice?”

Zagone responded, “I’ll tell you why I’m doing this show. It’s because someday that singer you are seeing is going to be really famous. I didn’t know how big of a star she would become.” He said that he just had an innate feeling that the group and Joplin were something special.

ATTACK THE CAMERAS! draws on Zagone’s memories of the past. Add to the list of firsts for the energetic film director and KQED, B.B. King. Zagone produced and directed the first national television appearance by the blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. Zagone muses with fond recollections. “The show was such a delight and the band loved seeing themselves on camera,” said Zagone.

He maintains the 60’s and 70’s were the golden years of television. “A lot of talented people migrated to KQED to work and volunteer, said Zagone. “It was sort of like getting a master’s degree in film and television. Many went on to extraordinary careers, some won Academy Awards.”

Zagone, himself, has received a great deal of recognition for his work, including a Regional Emmy in 1995. “For years, I’ve been telling stories about meeting all these wonderful people,” he said. “During the pandemic, I thought this is a perfect time to write a book and I took all those stories and decided to bring them to life.”

“I’ve been in the right place at the right time,” said Zagone. “Colleagues have really enjoyed going back and reliving those times of working in film with creative people in the Bay Area. It’s been a wonderful experience.”

At 85, Zagone’s still going strong. And still making a little bit of history, himself. “I got a call from my old friend and colleague Danny Glover about doing a commercial for an insurance company in the middle of the pandemic,” said Zagone. “I put together a crew for him and asked my old cameraman to direct for me. But he got COVID, and I stepped in at the last minute. At the time I was 82.”

Zagone said directing felt like riding a bike. He didn’t skip a beat. A big smile came out of that project when Zagone asked the crew, “how many of you have ever worked with an 82-year-old director before?”

As for what’s next? A low budget feature film. And after that, we’ll just have to wait and see. The answer…my friends…is Blowing in the Wind.

Zagone’s book ATTACK THE CAMERAS! Musings of an Independent Film and TV Director is now available on Amazon.

Video link: Bob Dylan San Francisco Press Conference 1965

By: Joyce Mitchell, Governor and Gold & Silver Committee Chair

The SF/NorCal TV Academy bids farewell to Awards Chair and force of nature, Wayne Freedman. Upholding the legacy of the golden statue and the excellence she represents, in 2016, he accepted a leadership position as awards chair with the chapter. The role is a commitment to validating the level of distinction that comes with receiving an Emmy® Award.  

A couple of months ago, confident the awards committee was in good hands, Freedman decided it was time to move on. He officially resigned July 8th, 2023, during the monthly Board of Governors’ meeting. He has been with the academy since 1981.

As awards chair, Freedman, like those before him, put in hours, weeks, and months of work, ensuring the integrity of the competition. “All I did was continue carrying on the tradition established by Linda Giannecchini,” said Freedman. “She was a teacher and mentor, setting the bar high.” Giannecchini knew the academy well, having served 5 decades, holding nearly every elective office.  She joined NATAS in 1972 and remained a knowledgeable influence both regionally and nationally, until her untimely death in 2019.

Eventually separating the English and Spanish language contests, Freedman maintains the competition better reflects the talent and excellence embedded in the Spanish-language television market. He sought out guidance from the Spanish-language TV community to ensure that the competition meets guidelines and expectations.

Freedman waded through some interesting times in his tenure as chair. When the pandemic hit, Emmys were awarded online. As awards chair, he was part of the team tackling two virtual galas. Both times, the shows harnessed the festivities of an actual event. “While I was chair at the time, production of the virtual galas was a total team effort with everyone pitching-in,” said Freedman.

Also, under his purview, a couple of Gold & Silver Circle virtual ceremonies went down in history. They were not easy, but – still – prevailed. For 2023, the upcoming Circles are looking very promising. The number of applications for the honor societies tripled this year. Freedman is assuring a diverse field and, early-on, reached out to both English and Spanish-language markets to encourage full representation.

Confident that the Awards Committee is headed in a solid direction under the new leadership of Pamela Young, Kris Sanchez and Paula Marcheschi, it’s Freedman’s time to go.  “I’m focusing on a new adventure, having left California, and now living in beautiful North Carolina,” said Freedman. It’s the end of an era for Freedman and the San Francisco region.

Freedman, however, is on the National Awards Committee. He began serving as a national trustee in 2019 and will be available for advice. He’s a good one to talk to. Freedman has 54 Emmy® Awards.

The past couple of weeks, Freedman’s been out golfing, travelling with family, and enjoying retirement in a gorgeous, new home he and his wife built from the ground-up. He’s been narrating a couple of documentaries here-and-there, staying busy. Life is good for the former San Francisco reporter.

Freedman retired a couple of years ago from KGO ABC 7 after 30-years with the station – and a total of 40-years working in the Bay Area. Because of his story-telling expertise, he’s something of a legend.

Still – among his vast Emmy® collection – the one that truly stands out is the Emmy® that belonged to his father, Mike Freedman. He logged 46-years in the industry, pioneering live TV and hand-held cameras.

As for the illustrious career of Wayne Freedman, it began when he was a kid following his dad around on the job. In 9th grade, he began writing a regular column for The Los Angeles Daily News. While studying for his BA Degree in political science at UCLA, Freedman became a network page assigned to the newsroom at KABC-TV in Los Angeles. He never forgot his father’s words, “Son, if you want to work in television, do the news. They don’t cancel the news.” Clearly, it’s advice Freedman took to heart.

He pursued an MA Degree in journalism from University of Missouri and that primed him for jobs in Louisville, Dallas, San Francisco and at CBS Network News. But San Francisco became home. “I have been on San Francisco television since 1981, beginning at KRON,” said Freedman.

Freedman, who is known for his keen writing abilities, shares tips of the trade in his book, IT TAKES MORE THAN GOOD LOOKS TO SUCCEED AT TELEVISION NEWS REPORTING. Now in it’s second edition, the book is required reading for 50 major college journalism programs in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. “It Takes More Than Good Looks…” is available on Amazon.

Freedman received the Governors’ Award in 2021, the highest honor a chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences can bestow. In 2013, he was presented with the Governors’ Citation, and in 2002, inducted into Silver Circle.

Because of his dad’s influence, Freedman refers to himself as a “news brat.” Raised by his parents in Los Angeles, his mother provided an interesting perspective in ‘what was to be’ – as well. She was a Broadway performer.  The die was cast. And Freedman manifested the destiny.

By: Kevin Wing, Chairperson, Media Museum of Northern California

Betty Ann Bruno, a well-known presence on Bay Area television as a longtime news and investigative reporter and show host for KTVU Channel 2 in Oakland from the 1970s through the 1990s, died July 30 in Sonoma County after suffering a medical emergency. She was 91. Bruno would have celebrated her 92nd birthday Oct. 1.

Her husband and partner of 46 years, Craig Scheiner, a retired longtime KTVU news photographer, said Bruno suffered a heart attack at a local hospital after rushing her there after she complained of having a severe headache following a hula dance lesson she was teaching.

“She loved hula dancing,” Scheiner said, “The last thing she did was dance with her students. Danced in her bare feet like hula dancers do. Couldn’t have had a better way to go, doing what she loved.”

Bruno worked for the Oakland station from 1970 until her retirement in 1992, first working in the station’s community affairs department, which she became acquainted with during her tenure as president of the League of Women Voters of Oakland. Bruno helped to produce election broadcasts and public service announcements before joining the department’s staff. She would eventually host Channel 2’s public affairs show. After a stint with that, she was persuaded to move to the newsroom, where she became an accomplished, three-time Emmy Award-winning news reporter. Besides Emmys, Bruno received numerous accolades and honors, including a presidential certificate from President George H.W. Bush.

In October 1991, Bruno and Scheiner lost their home in the Oakland hills to the devastating Oakland-Berkeley Hills firestorm, which destroyed more than 3,000 single-family homes, condominiums and apartments. The fire gutted more than 1,500 acres. When it was finally over, thousands of people lost their homes, and 25 people lost their lives.

Once the firestorm was over, Bruno and Scheiner allowed a KTVU cameraperson to walk with them as they surveyed what was left of their home. It had been reduced to ashes.

Although Bruno retired from KTVU in 1992, she remained with the station until 1994, working part-time.

“Betty Ann was such a good reporter,” said Bill Moore, a retired KTVU photographer who worked at the station for three decades, from the 1960s to the ’90s. “She was a great person to work with. I have the highest respect for her, and I will miss her.”

“Betty Ann’s amazing talent was that she could get anyone to talk to her, anyone,” said Gary Kauf, director of television broadcast operations and film at Ohlone College in Fremont and a former longtime KTVU reporter and producer. “She was non-threatening, and gentle with everyone.”

Born in Hawaii and raised in southern California, Bruno graduated from Stanford University, and also did graduate work at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

At age 7, she was chosen to play one of the Munchkins in the 1939 film classic, “The Wizard of Oz”, starring Judy Garland.

After retirement, Bruno and Scheiner moved to Sonoma. In 2009, Bruno founded Hula Mai, which she called her “retirement career” — teaching hula and Hawaiian culture. Hula Mai performed in the Sonoma Plaza every spring and at luaus and other celebrations throughout the Sonoma Valley.

Officials with the Sonoma Cultural and Fine Arts Commission named Bruno the city’s Treasure Artist in 2020 and 2021.

We will miss you, Betty Ann. May you rest in peace.

Our sincerest condolences are with Craig and his family during this difficult time, and with everyone who knew Betty Ann as a trusted friend, colleague, teacher and mentor.