Major networks continue to feed America’s craving for reality television — chefs, weight loss, survival, models, singers, dancers, fashion designers, artists and more.

But what about writers and actors? Don't worry; Batavia's got it covered.

Starting this Sunday, anxious participants will flock to the Batavia Public Library (Sunday, Jan. 13) and St. Charles Public Library (Sunday, Jan. 20) for auditions where they will display their writing or acting talent and compete for one of 14 slots available for Project Publish.

Project Publish is a 7-week series that will be broadcast live from local BATV studios on Sunday afternoons, Feb. 10 thru March 24 (starting the week after Super Bowl Sunday). There will be two resident judges and one guest judge, which will be a different person each week from the local community.

To register for auditions as a writer, performer or crew member, go to batv.us and click on the Project Publish link.

The show is not only grown out of our own backyard, all the elements are from the neighborhood too. From the theme song and sound elements produced by Patrick Moynihan of Waveform in Batavia, to the rendering of the logo by local resident Karl Lescelius shown on this page, this project is community driven to the max.

A Show is Born

Richard Graves, a local writer and St. Charles resident, reads a humorous poem titled “Open Mic Mania” at local open mic events. In the poem he dreams up a reality competition…

… So here’s my solution; yes, hand out cigars, We’ll do our own version of “Dancing with Stars”

We’ll bring in performers with Hollywood looks and randomly pair them with those who write books.

Each week for one pairing the door will slam shut. We critique then we vote; two hopefuls get cut.

For those who remain we announce the next task. A sonnet or sci-fi, who knows what we’ll ask …

Enter Kimberly Kozar, Batavia resident, BATV (community television station) intern and Project Publish producer, who heard the poem while covering the Art in Your Eye festival in Batavia this past summer and immediately saw the potential for a TV show.

“I’m always amazed at the talent here in the Fox Valley," Kozar said. "When I heard Richard’s poem I knew there was a nugget of gold here — an opportunity to let that kind of talent be seen by a wider audience.”

Published author Don Bingle came on the scene to join in the creative adventure and the rest, as they say, is history.

“Project Publish is unique. It gives local talent a chance to showcase their gifts and who knows where it might go from there,” Kozar said, with a twinkle in her eye.

About The Studio

BATV studio is a state-of-the-art facility, located adjacent to Batavia High School.

“This is creating a lot of excitement," Station Manager Holly Deitchman said. “This is the kind of community involvement we are all about. We film many local sports competitions and other area events. We incorporate the use of local volunteers as well as high school students involved with the Broadcasting curriculum here at the high school. It gives them valuable, real world experience.”

Viewers, we need your votes! Don’t miss the first episode, airing live on batv.us Feb 10, to find out how YOU can be the judge!

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