Lynn’s Ablevision launches first episode

LYNN – In a darkened room in the second floor offices of Triangle Lynn Day Habilitation a full house gathered to watch the debut of a group of unlikely stars with the official launch of Ablevision in Lynn.Ablevision was created in 2003 as a way to enrich lives at Triangle Inc. in Malden and now it is doing the same in Lynn.Triangle is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities maximize their potential to live as independently as possibly by focusing on individual goals. And Ablevision has become a huge part of that.The show itself is an interview format generally made up of several segments. Thursday the Lynn team watched the premiere of their first ever episode. A segment, that according to Ablevision’s Executive Producer Alisa Brugnoli, was conceived of, directed, filmed and produced entirely by the participants.”I really took a backseat on this one and they did a fabulous job,” Brugnoli said. “They are a very talented and willing and passionate crew.”Audience members were giddy and excited to see the fruits of nearly six months of their labor Thursday. After sitting quietly through the first story, people began to giggle when Anne Marie Farina came onscreen looking casual and reading a brochure on The Lynn Time Bank, the organization the group chose to profile.Brugnoli said the segments try and focus on other non-profit groups because it speaks to their vision to promote organizations, like theirs, that focus on special talents and gifts.The segment then cut to John Curran interviewing Barbara Cox, director of the Time Bank and back to Farina as she interviewed a Time Bank member, Bob Kowalik.Richie Shaw and Arnie Eldredge got into the action as well helping another Time Bank member, Juana Garcia cook a meal for everyone, which Danny Denicourt gave a thumbs up.As the show came to a close the audience cheered as the credits rolled the Lynn crews names.When Ablevision started there were 15 participants and four teachers. Brugnoli said the number of teachers hasn’t changed but the participants have quadrupled to 60.John Curran of Lynn said he was one of the first to join in but admitted it was hard to get to the Malden location at 8:30 a.m.”That’s actually how the whole thing started,” Brugnoli said.Since it was difficult for the Triangle Lynn patrons to get to Ablevision in Malden Brugnoli decided to bring Ablevision to them.Triangle Lynn Program Director Robin Zucker views the program as a way for people to learn fine motor skills by running a camera, or practice writing skills by developing scripts but Denicourt and Curran have definite stars in their eyes.”We’re going to be celebrities,” Denicourt said with a broad grin.Curran, who conducted an interview for the Lynn piece said he’s also learned how to use the camera and edit.”I would like to learn more,” he said. “For our next episode we will do something on human rights.”In fact Brugnoli said she is hoping to help the crew write and produce more of a training video on human rights and how to treat people with disabilities.”I know the next program will be even better because they can expand on the base they already have with fancier camera angles and advanced editing,” she said. “They are all super skilled and caught on quickly.”When asked if she enjoyed being on camera Farina smiled shyly and said, “I don’t mind.”Ann Pellegrini and Andrew Carrella said they prefer to work behind the scenes. Carrella, the cameraman, said he is already working on his first blooper reel and can’t wait to unveil it during next month’s party to celebrate Ablevision’s 20th episode.Pellegrini works in the editing room where her brother John, who came to see the show’s premier said, “Ann found her niche when she discovered the editing room.””I really liked everything about it,” Pellegrini added.Ablevision airs Fridays at 5 p.m. on LynnCam’s channel 3 or it can be seen while learning more about Ablevision on its Web site, www.ablevision.org. To learn more about Triang