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How-To Videos
This video series is designed for first time users of video for advocacy, but is also a great refresher for more experienced practioners. The four short videos (ranging in length from 3-5 minutes each) highlight strengths and challenges of using video for human rights advocacy as well as key items to consider before you pick up a camera.
This video series is available in multiple languages:
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Arabic » |
They are also available in Burmese and Spanish.
We also have a video series on basic Filmmaking Tips & Techniques that you can visit here.
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Getting Ready To Make A Human Rights Film Find out how to identify the goal of your video, link your video to action and understand consent. |
Filming, Audio & Using Cellphones Find out how to film, get good sound and use a mobile phone to film. |
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Filming & Protecting Interviewees Find out how to film and protect interviewees. |
Editing and Distributing Your Film Find out how to edit and distribute your film. |
Filmmaking Tips and Techniques
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This video, Safety and Security, covers the practical techniques to be safe during filming.
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This video, Filming, Audio & Using Cellphones, helps you prepare yourself and the people you're working with how to: decide what and how to film, get good sound, use a mobile phone to film
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This video, Getting Ready To Make A Human Rights Film, helps you prepare yourself and the people you're working with to: identify the goal of your video, link your video to action, understand consent.
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This video, Filming & Protecting Interviewees, prepares you and the people you're working with to: film an interview, get additional footage, protect the people you film
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How to keep a steady shot minimize the effects of camera shake.
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There are some basic camera movements which imitate the way that we move our head and eyes to look over a stationary object or to follow some action from a static position.
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If you are walking forwards keep your legs bent and your body lowered all the time, this will help you to avoid the rise and fall of normal walking. Concentrate on creating a slow-motion, gliding feeling. Put one foot down softly before you move the next, keeping them close to the ground. You...
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Usually the zoom-in is used to emphasize an intimate or emotional moment, or to highlight an important element or detail in a wider shot. As a program-maker, with the zoom-in you can dictate where your audiences attention should be focused. You can pick out and draw them towards what you...
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Unless you adjust what is called the white balance on your camcorder you may end up with very orange or very blue pictures. Different sources of light produce light of different color temperatures that the white balance can adjust to accommodate and ensure that the colors in your pictures stay...
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All camcorders are equipped with an automated exposure system, where just like your eye, the iris of the camcorder will close down or open up to let in the correct amount of light to collect good pictures.
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Almost every camcorder is fitted with an autofocus facility. This means that you do not have to worry about making sure the image in your viewfinder is not out of focus or blurred. The camcorder will automatically ensure that what you are filming is sharply in focus.
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Most camcorders are good at recording in low levels of light and will automatically accommodate for it. Although the camcorder will record in low-light conditions, the definition of the pictures you collect may be poor or the colors subdued. Shooting outdoors during daylight hours, even on...
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Sound isn't everything, but it can make or break a video. Even if you have shot excellent visual footage it will very often be useless without good sound. Pictures without usable sound will only provide you with half the story.