Published February 21, 2025

How ARTEFFECTS Comes to Life!

by Beth Macmillan

 

In January 2014, I was in New York attending the APAP arts booking conference when I received a call from Tony Manfredi at KNPB, which was the name of PBS Reno at the time. He invited me to join a brand-new weekly show called ARTEFFECTS on behalf of the Reno affiliate public television station. I immediately agreed, and that moment marked the beginning of a wonderful partnership between Artown and PBS Reno. I was warmly welcomed into the PBS Reno family by everyone.

During much of the first season, I had to memorize the scripts. It wasn't until I had a substitute stand in for me during one episode that the team realized I should have a teleprompter. This was a significant game-changer for me and smoothed out the filming process considerably. Throughout the first season, we filmed the show in a variety of locations, both outdoors and indoors. At many of these sites, we had to shoot each segment multiple times due to traffic, wind, passersby, pedestrians and other interruptions. Once we transitioned to using a teleprompter and moved inside to the television studio, the process became much smoother

 

My relationship with the producers is extremely close-knit. Many viewers of ARTEFFECTS assume that I handle everything on the show, but I want to emphasize that the credit goes 100% to the producers, who work tirelessly to select national segments and produce every regional segment.  They conduct extensive research on potential artistic pieces, and spend countless hours interviewing and filming each artist’s work. Each segment may appear seamless to viewers, but the many details that contribute to this are crafted with care and love. I would venture to say that the producers become huge fans of all the artists they cover. Each episode is carefully curated, with some featuring a specific theme while others showcase a sampling of great art from across the United States.

All locally produced segments are submitted to a “library” of segments from around the country. Our producers seek out and select national segments from this library, and other PBS affiliates may choose to feature segments produced by PBS Reno. To date, 159 segments from the Reno producers have been picked up nationally, meaning that audiences in many other communities are seeing artists and artistry from right here in our own community.

 

I receive scripts and video clips the night before filming. I rehearse the script and watch the videos to ensure I am well-informed about the artistry in each segment. Since the onset of COVID-19, I take care of my own makeup, wear my own clothes, and arrive on set ready to record. I do this as a volunteer for PBS Reno. Through ARTEFFECTS, which is now in its 10^th season, I have discovered many artists, and the producers have also found new talent through me.

Everyone at PBS Reno is dedicated to serving the community, and I feel deeply honored to collaborate and dedicate a few hours each week to creating this award-winning series. I am also grateful to all the sponsors who support this program. I frequently encounter people who express their love for the show. The partnership between Artown and PBS Reno has been strengthened through ARTEFFECTS. The poster artist for Artown’s 30^th anniversary is Connor Fogal, whom I first learned about during a segment we did on his art in 2016.

I could not be prouder or more honored to host ARTEFFECTS for PBS Reno!

Beth Macmillan is the Executive Director of Artown, one of the largest arts and culture festivals in the western United States, offering over 500 events with a wide range of artistic disciplines, including music, dance, theater, visual arts, literature, and more.

Artown Encore Series: Entertainment and Discovery through Live Performances  by Beth Macmillan — January 10, 2025

Artown is celebrating its 30^th anniversary! Why not join us and present an event?  by Beth Macmillan — November 29, 2024

Approaching Artown’s 30^th Anniversary  by Beth Macmillan — October 18, 2024

Artown 2024 Tips and Tricks!  by Beth Macmillan — June 28, 2024

Artown 2023  by Beth Macmillan — June 30, 2023