Small Town, Big Stories: A Model for Local Creators
I’m putting all my money where all my mouth is, and launching a 'TV channel' in my small town, which is a suburb of Manchester. The high street is famed for indie businesses and street art, in a world where many main drags are overtaken with illegal vape and chicken shops.
Plenty of good stories to uncover.
I’m starting this as a very, very small project, with the aim of gradually unfurling to incorporate Manchester as a whole.
This is the trust-building exercise, plus a video lab, where I will hone my style and build my reputatiojn.
Here’s the method behind it, for anyone wanting to follow the same model:
- Pick your test bed – start in a small, manageable area where you can get access. I chose Withington because it’s vibrant, community-led, and has lots of businesses and street art worth filming.
- Immerse yourself in the community – spend time walking, filming, and quietly observing. Don’t just make content about businesses; capture the streets, the murals, the atmosphere. This builds a library of authentic b-roll and establishes your presence locally.
- Start with teasers – short, cryptic clips that hint at your series without giving everything away. My first teaser is a retro static intro, just saying Withington TV, coming soon. Simple, premium, and intriguing.
- Be the face of the content – I’m both presenter and filmmaker. This makes the channel personal, trustworthy, and action-oriented. My style invites people to experience the place, not just watch it.
- Engage businesses naturally – start with hellos, casual introductions, and show them the vibe of the series. Don’t pitch hard at first; trust and credibility matter more than immediate contracts.
- Build a coherent body of work – every video, teaser, and insert contributes to a portfolio of high-quality content. This is what can scale beyond your initial area and attract clients, sponsors, and bigger projects.
- Think long-term, not viral – this isn’t about chasing views or subscribers. It’s about creating a sustainable model, with a signature style, trust with the community, and proof of concept for future work across Manchester.
By following this approach, local creators can start small, build credibility, and grow a sustainable content business while making work that matters.
Here's my teaser, made on Canva. The vintage static sound effect is from the free BBC sound effects (SFX) library.
It's simple, intriguing, and sets the tone for my retro filming style, based on BBC Archive documentaries, which we've been watching loads of lately.
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Small Town, Big Stories: A Model for Local Creators
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