FOR PUBLIC TV : STATIONS SEEK FUNDING OF DOCUMENTARY SERIES

In an attempt to mount a new documentary series for public television, four non-commercial stations have set out to raise funds for what they’re calling “The American Documentary.”

The stations in the consortium are the same ones that presently produce public television’s “American Playhouse” drama series: KCET Channel 28 in Los Angeles, WNET in New York, WGBH in Boston and South Carolina Educational Television.

“We know that there are a significant number of outstanding, independently made documentaries out there that are not finding their way onto public television,” said “American Playhouse” executive director David Davis, who would serve in the same capacity for the new consortium.

One reason, he explained, is that there is no existing “context” for such documentaries--that is, an umbrella title under which a variety of productions can be presented, such as “American Playhouse” or “Great Performances.”

PBS does have the documentary series “Frontline,” but it commissions its own programs for the most part, rather than acquiring independently produced documentaries.

“We are convinced, and so is PBS, that this series would fill a need,” Davis said.

According to Davis, the four stations have a conditional commitment of $150,000 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and hope to raise $600,000 more in foundation grants by the end of this month.

“If we raise the money in time,” he said, “we can get this series on the air next summer. If we do not raise the money by the end of the month, we will delay the series until next year. But we will keep trying, and we will get the series on when we get the money.”

Davis said that the idea for the projected 15-week series resulted from recent discussions between Marc Weiss, a New York-based independent producer and a leader in the independent film making community, and officials at WGBH, where “Frontline” is produced, about the need for increased access to public television by independent documentary producers.

Weiss would serve as executive producer of the new series.

“The aim is to build a continuing presence for independents, who bring a unique vision and approach to their work,” Weiss said in distinguishing traditional broadcast journalism from independent documentaries that express “a point of view.”

Weiss estimated that there are already 30 to 40 “outstanding” documentaries from which to choose for a series, and he said that an editorial board comprised of representatives of public television stations and independent film makers would be established when the money for the series is found.