An Interview with Tim Janis
Tim Janis, host of Beautiful America shares his thoughts about pledge programming with APT ...
Q: American Public Television currently distributes two of your pledge specials — Tim Janis: Beautiful America and Tim Janis: An American Composer in Concert. Why did you choose public television as a venue for these shows?
A: Public television is very important to me. I grew up watching it. I live up in Maine, where it's very beautiful and tranquil, and I find that a lot of the programs on public television echo the way I like to live. It really represents my values and I wanted to support that kind of television.
Q: What inspired you to write the music for Beautiful America with scenery of the great national parks across the country serving as a backdrop?
A: Well, I thank God for my gift to be able to write music. Being a musician, I get to travel all around the country and see all these beautiful places. It's an honor to get to do a program on our National Parks — they're so beautiful. If you have a stressful day, you can think of a beautiful nature vista and it will help you feel better. I try to create the same effect with my music.
Q: How did you get involved with this particular project?
A: Matt Singer [co-producer] and I worked with KCTS out in Seattle to produce Beautiful America. I was brought on board to do the music.
I sometimes do performances for schools and our teachers are doing an amazing job, and I like to show students another type of music. With the special Beautiful America, my goal was to feature some of America's beautiful places and support public television, which is so important for our kids. Television is such a powerful influence and public television is the best network for families and it's educational.
Q: Your first program on public television, An American Composer in Concert, was a live performance while Beautiful America uses your music as an accompaniment to the scenic shots. Why did you use these two different formats? Do you think one better represents your music?
A: Both specials were very exciting to create. The fourteen-piece ensemble featured in Beautiful America is very representative of the music on my albums, which has a lush texture with violin, flute, and pennywhistle solos. I enjoyed being a part of both specials and I love exploring the creative relationship between music and nature.
Q: Do you have plans to do more public television specials in the future? If so, is there another genre or style you'd like to explore that is different from your two previous specials?
A: I would like to make a special that would again be uplifting and inspiring, and work on a show that would help public television and their pledge drives. That's both of the things I have in mind. During the pledge drives, public television tries to have programs on that will inspire people all over again, and make people say, 'Wow, public television is going all out to have great programming for their viewers.' I like being a part of that. It makes me feel part of a team to be out there working side-by-side with all of the stations.
*This interview is available for use in the marketing and/or promotion of Beautiful America (program guides and/or Web sites). No part of this interview may be used relating to any product or service, other than the program.
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