Aug 18 2012

Copyright Conundrums

Every year it seems we address the same issues of Copyright.  My usual first response to the “Can I use it?” question is:  “If you don’t own it, you can’t use it without permission.”  We then begin exploring Creative Commons and Fair Use which only generates more grief.

For me it is pretty simple.  I own my publishing company.  I was a songwriter/recording artist for several years so it tends to become personal.  The money I missed because of illegal copying is small potatoes compared to that left unrealized in our current technology enabled world.

I recently came across this post from School Video News which provides some interesting resources that may help students understand and navigate the world of Copyright.  Most of the articles are by textbook author and video production guru Phil Harris.
Get your students off to the proper start for the year!

It seems that every year the “Copyright Monster” rears its ugly head

To have this information at your fingertips when you want it, we have compiled the following list of some of the articles that appear in School Video News. Feel free to download them, print them out using the button on the article and distribute them to your classes. There are more, but this should get you started.

How Does YouTube Get Away With It?

What Do Lemmings Get By Jumping Off the Cliff?

Movin’ On Up – Music in Sports

Movin on Up – Use of Music

Copyright Law: What you need to know

Copyright Permissions and LipDubs

Copyright Issues When Using Music in Videos

How Do I get Copyright Permission?

Warning: Your Video Contains Copyrighted Material

How to get Media Permissions for your Videos and Other Media

Illegal Sharing of Music Files-Who’s Getting Sued and Why

Media Permissions and Ethics: Essential Practices for Videographers

and many more in School Video News, your on-line resource for teachers of TV/Video and Film Production.

Not part of the community?  Join our NEW online discussion forum by registering at http://www.schoolvideonews.com/forum/index

Jul 9 2012

Mixing for the Medium

A few years ago I was teaching a class in sound design.  A student brought in a mix of one of his favorite tunes that sounded like it was mixed inside a pulsating thunderstorm.

It reminded me of that car you hear coming down the street six blocks before it reaches you.  All you hear is boom, boom, boom. Continue reading →

May 30 2012

Things your portfolio should include

I recently came upon this post by Miranda Watling in the 10,000 words blog site.  Her advice may seem obvious but I am constantly amazed at how often I find “professional sites” that aren’t.  If you want people to know about you and see what you have done, you need to include the basics.  Continue reading →

May 14 2012

Recording a V/O in iMovie

Your movie just doesn’t seem complete without a voiceover. Fortunately, you don’t have to hire a professional to record a voiceover in Apple iMovie. You can narrate a movie and add your voice anywhere you want in your video. Continue reading →

May 14 2012

Importing video from a camera to your iPad.

OK.  So you’ve got a new iPad.  You want to create a video using your iMovie app but you prefer to use your video camera not an iPad camera app. This article obtained from apple online support provides some useful information about the iPad camera connection kit.

Post courtesy of Apple.com   Original post. Continue reading →

Mar 7 2012

Social Media Strategy

As we continue to experiment with social media it becomes increasingly necessary to decide where to place a message, learn who is talking about that message and quantify the impact of what they are saying.

Developing a good social media strategy is key to any personal or corporate media plan. Continue reading →

Mar 5 2012

iPhoneography

Smaller….faster…..better…..more powerful.  Our always connected mindset has spawned a whole new generation of high-tech tools.  You can now shoot, edit and deliver content in many ways using a variety of tools.  We may have the tools but do we know how to use them?  The following tools, tech and training sites offer some interesting perspectives.

Vimeo video editing app “Cameo”

iPhone video editing apps

Just Creative 5 best photo apps

Best iPhone camera editing apps

Shoot video like a pro on your phone

Mobile video tips and techniques

Jack Hollingsworth on iPhoneography

iPhone video image capture    (This is a quick option that works on Cronkite computers.) Image capture is in your applications folder.

iPhone video downloader

Al Thompkins Video Blog Tips

iPhoto for iPhone and iPad

Camera Awesome: Cool Camera App

Filmic Pro/Movie Pro

Best sites to learn about iPhoneography by Make Use Of

iPhoneography in Education

Vericorder

If you have additional tools, ideas, tips or techniques please enter them in the comments section and I’ll review and post them.

Feb 15 2012

FCP to WordPress

OK.  You’ve created a video in Final Cut Pro.  You want to put it in your blog.  What now?

Once again find that calm place in your mind. It isn’t that tough.

Now what do I do?

In Final Cut Pro, click in your timeline.   (Make sure you don’t select a specific element.)

Go to File>Export>QuickTime movie.

Name your movie and export it to your desktop so you can find it easily.

When it finishes, double click on it to open it using QuickTime Player.  Play it to make sure everything is OK.

While you are still in QuickTime Player Select File>Save for Web.  Name the file and save to your Desktop.  Check the box Computer H.264, 5 Mbit/s maximum data rate.

Uncheck the other boxes.   Select Save.

When that is completed, find the folder created on your desktop.  Right click on the video file inside the folder that says computer m4v.  Right click and open it using QuickTime Player.  View it and make sure everything is working.

When you are satisfied, upload the file to either YouTube or Vimeo.

Open the video, copy the URL.

In your WordPress account simply paste the URL of the video into the Post Edit screen.  When previewed or published, WordPress will automatically embed the video.

For more help with WordPress check out this Ultimate Guide from Make Use Of.  Provided via Creative Commons “share alike” license.

WordPress_Guide_-_MakeUseOf.com

Feb 8 2012

Slideshows

Slideshows are much more than just a random collection of pictures.  In fact they are much more than a connected collection of pictures.

By definition they are a group of pictures viewed in a sequence.  They can however be used to convey messages, advertise products, illustrate ideas and demonstrate artistic content among other things.

Continue reading →

Jan 30 2012

The Web is Not Free

There is a lot of confusion surrounding the use of material found on the Web.  When in doubt there is a good rule of thumb you can use.  If you don’t own the item, document, file, track, pic etc. or have written permission to use it you can’t.

If you don’t own it, don’t use it.

That sounds pretty harsh and things aren’t always “black and white.”  There is this whole thing called Creative Commons.  Essentially defines several types of licenses and rights that an individual can provide to others without surrendering their own copyright protection and ownership.

Within the Creative Commons community are a number of people and sites that publish material that is available for use in creative work.  Attached is an in depth description from Professor Trish Anderton at the Cronkite school that will help you in your quest to honor intellectual property.CreativeCommons

Another good resource is “A picture’s Worth 1,000 Links.”  This post by Amanda Milligan provides a good guide to finding and citing images.