The man of science has videotaped more entire local events than possibly anyone in the county.

As a physical science teacher at Seaside High, Hebard Olsen was hyper, enthused, bespectacled, empirical, earnest and awkward. When he retired in 2000, after more than 20 years, he began videotaping for the newly formed public access television channels and facilities called AMP (Access Monterey Peninsula), a convergence of media, free speech and citizenship. Olsen provided AMP with the original content it needed, including free and public lectures, protests, political and cultural events, religious services, and public meetings on things like Whispering Oaks and Monterey Downs. He’s had four AMP shows for 10 to 14 years apiece that he feeds his footage into, and he’s trained others to do their own shows, including members of his Green Party and his Unitarian Universalist Church. He estimates he’s done about 3,000 programs, so many the 77-year-old forgets what he’s shot. Good thing the AMP archive, accessible online, exists to store it, and share it.

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Weekly: When did you get into video?

In 2000. AMP had an open meeting of people who might be interested in putting things on the air. I attended. What I wanted to see were programs about the Monterey Peninsula on TV.

I live in Monterey. That gives me special rights. Monterey and Marina were the first two [local] cities that enabled public access. I don’t pay AMP to put my programs up. If you live in Salinas it will cost you. Seaside joined AMP [in 2013] or last year. Anyone in Seaside can take their show down to AMP and they [must] play it.

What attracted you to do it?

There was a shortage of local content. I wanted to see more local issues like water, police, local speakers. I’m filling in a gap so you can know what’s going on in your community. If I video [an event] and hand it to AMP, it will be played. It won’t be judged.

Describe your set-up.

I tried to borrow AMP’s equipment but every time they had it lent out or were using it to train. I got a cheap camera and tripod and I got razzed about that. KSBW and KION were constantly setting up in front of me so I got a 7-foot tripod and shot over their heads. Now I have an 11-foot tripod. I can shoot across the street and not see the cars. I have four cameras. My equipment is all battery operated. I try to put myself in a position of being invisible, in back of the room. I have a parabolic [microphone] reflector. But the simplest is to use a wireless mic.

What events attract you?

If it’s not available in the newspaper or on TV. If it’s historic; preserving historic buildings, [American] Indians and how they were treated at the missions.

What have you shot? Or what haven’t you shot?

Not the Monterey Jazz Festival because AMP goes in there and brings a crew. If I can’t get permission I can’t do it. The Natividad Hospital board tried to deny me permission but they brought the entire quorum into a meeting and I informed them that I will be there and that the sound may not be as good for their side as the opposition – I got a call and they said I had permission. I will exercise my Brown Act rights. I think I shot the MLK march in Seaside. I shot the Big Sur Marathon once. The symphony doesn’t want me to video them. I videoed city council meetings until they put in cameras. Sometimes I use my position to promote an idea.

What’s been an interesting shoot?

Remember when the Salinas libraries were closing? There was a 24-hour program [at the Cesar Chavez branch] in opposition to it. I recorded all that and [AMP] broadcast it for a whole year [which] kept it in public view. I got a friend who would operate a camera. We would catch a wink and keep shooting.

What’s your relationship with AMP?

AMP is the conduit. I press the buttons and AMP [does] what it’s supposed to do. They might not like me saying it that way, but in the end they carry out the command.

What has been exciting to videotape?

Moot Court is very exciting. The Big Sur Experimental Music Festival at the Henry Miller Library. It recurred for several years. I enjoy overcoming obstacles. Videoing bagpipe bands at the county fairgrounds. I put my camera on a 14-foot pole and controlled [it] with a remote. Then I had trouble with the trees.

What are you shooting next?

I don’t know. The YWCA is putting on five different programs. A Green Party meeting is coming up. Interesting things that have political overtones to them.