World Famous Comics: Video for Change: A Guide for Advocacy and Activism
Video for Change: A Guide for Advocacy and Activism
From: Pluto Press Publisher: Pluto Press Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Pluto Press Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 342 Publication Date: September 26, 2005
This is the first ever comprehensive practical guide to human rights and video campaigning.
Pictures from Abu Ghraib showed the power of the amateur image to grab the world's attention. The Asian tsunami, caught on camcorder, brought home the reality of what had happened more than any news report ever could. Around the world the increasing availability and affordability of technology has fuelled the world of social justice video activism. Film-making---at its best---has the power to change the way people think, and create real social change, and now the tools to do it are more accessible than ever before. This book shows how activists and human rights campaigners can harness the power of images and stories for their own purposes---it's a step-by-step guide to the handicam revolution.
Written by leading video activists, and staff of the world-renowned human rights organization WITNESS, this practical handbook will appeal to experienced campaigners as well as aspiring video activists. It combines a comprehensive analysis of what's going on in this growing global field with a how-to primer to doing it yourself.
Video for Change is packed with real-life stories from the fray, how-to guidance, and easy-to-use exercises. Clear and accessible, it provides a crash course in the basics of social justice video documentation and advocacy. The authors cover every aspect of filmmaking from technical guidance to strategic and ethical issues, making it indispensable for both amateur and professional filmmakers.
Readers are shown how to plan, film, edit and distribute; they are shown how to adopt an effective strategy so that their video makes a difference. The book is unique in that it also covers the practical ethics and responsibilities of social justice video-work and offers a global range of real-life stories to learn from.
Peter Lucas This is a serious book for emerging documentary professionals who want to work on social justice issues. The book is closely tied to the organization Witness, and their pioneering work training and partnering with front-line NGOs around the world documenting human rights abuses. I used the book in my human rights and media class last spring and it provided much needed practical advice on grassroots video advocacy, all aspects of production, the use of video as legal evidence, the role of narrative in documentary films, safety issues while in the field, how to work distribution channels, and how to use video for making changes in the world. Video for Change is very much a "how to" kind of book with great appendices containing sample release forms, action plans, checklists, etc. As a human rights educator I wish there was more on the importance of packaging documentary video with educational materials, informative websites, and radical outreach. Perhaps a bit more too on the politics of representation. Hopefully this will come in a followup guide. But at this point, Video for Change is the best study out there. And as more documentary media workers move into the human rights field, this is a must read.
An essential guide to promoting social justice - using video Video for Change combines creative inspiration with practical advice as it guides us through the process of using video to advocate for social justice. It proves not only that video can be an incredibly effective tool for promoting change, but also that this course of action is accessible to all of us - video buffs, human rights activists and novices alike.
Sprinkled with real-life experiences from successful video activists, this book motivates the reader to action, while never forgetting the risks involved. Essential information on safety and security, on ethical issues and legal restrictions ensures that the book remains grounded in reality as an indispensable guide.
Whether you're an experienced filmmaker or you've yet to own a Handicam, the book will guide you from the technical basics to those precious finer details, ensuring that your video skills will do justice to the human rights story being told. Useful tips on identifying your audience, conceptualizing storylines and accounting for the emotional elements of video merge the technological know-how with the vital human element.
Video for Change then goes beyond the confines of the filmmaking process and explores effective strategies for distributing your video to ensure that it lands in the right hands. Exploring the advantages and disadvantages of public or private screenings facilitates an accurate assessment of the tactical distribution possibilities for each individual film.
This book is a great tool for those interested in human rights and/or filmmaking. I found it incredibly helpful and really interesting to read.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
