<videovortex> A youtube for the activist world

[Geert Lovink]

> From: fred at bytesforall.org
> Date: 13 June 2007 9:54:41 AM
> To: nettime-l at bbs.thing.net
> Subject: <nettime> A youtube for the activist world
> Reply-To: fred at bytesforall.org
>
> A YOUTUBE FOR THE ACTIVIST WORLD... ONLY MORE FAIR
>
>  By Frederick Noronha
>
>  Across the internet, a growing number of websites and tools are
> offering people a wide range of 'free beer' -- type of products. But,
> as far as cultural activists go, there is still a shortage of free
> speech tools.
>
>  This is where Engagemedia.org steps in.
>
> This Australia-based collective has produced software to enable an
> activist network in SE Asia and the Pacific to take online a wide
> range of social jusice and environmental video. What's more, it wants
> to do so on a socially just model.
>
>  Other commercial services -- like YouTube.com -- also allow you to
> place your video online. But there's a big difference between the
> two, as Anna Helme, co-founder and project manager of EngageMedia.org
> points out.
>
>  YouTube.com's advertising revenue goes only to its shareholders --
> not the film-makers that created all the value for it. It only allows
> streaming of its video collection, and not re-distribution both on and
> offline. YouTube's license allows it to use your video pretty much for
> whatever purpose it wants to in perpetuity. It is based on a 'closed
> source' or proprietary software platform. And, it recently made a huge
> killing from everyone's creative work when it was sold for US$1.65
> billion.
>
>  In contrast EngageMedia.org allows videos on its site to be
> downloaded for redistribution. It will soon offer a donations model
> to channel funds back to the producer. Licenses of work on its site
> are based on the Creative Commons system, and the choice is left up to
> the producer. It is based on a Free Software platform, and there's no
> question of this community-based site being sold.
>
>  EngageMedia.org also has a very clear-cut editorial policy. Says
> Anna: "We will accept work that is well researched, well produced and
> edited; focuses on SE Asia and Pacific; aids in development of social
> movements; is innovative, engaging or entertaining; and constructive,
> critical or highlights key issues."
>
>  "We won't accept work which promotes sexism, racism or homophobia
> or discriminates against dis-empowered members of the community; is
> advertising or advertorial," she adds.
>
>  EngageMedia.org is also very clear about how its editorial control
> works. It is growing from a small core collective, and wants to hand
> over its editorial control back to the community once the community
> has matured. It uses an established editorial policy as a foundation
> for community decision-making.
>
>  Incidentally, it use features of the Free Software-based Plone CMS
> (content management system). It describes its "publishing workflow" as
> based on a submit-review-publish cycle. Community members can play the
> role either of member, reviewer or manager.
>
>  This network has a lot of hints for campaigners and activists wanting
> to place their content online, or promote it through myriad ways.
>
>  It points out to possibilities for online video distribution. For
> this, says EngageMedia.org, one has to be aware of one's audience and
> thus the appropriate distribution channels to use. Likewise, one also
> needs to know how to compress and upload video. Using these tools,
> once can promote and syndicate one's work.
>
>  First of all, one needs to determine a digital distribution strategy.
> Will it be based on screenings, TV, DVD, VCD or online distribution?
> For this, one needs to determine the audience and how to reach them.
> What are their viewing habits? Where do they go on the internet?
>
>  Video-compression is a crucial issue. What is the best format
> and codecs to be used? (A codec is a software module capable
> of performing encoding and decoding on a digital data stream
> or signal. The word codec may be a combination of any of the
> following: 'Compressor-Decompressor', 'Coder-Decoder', or
> 'Compression/Decompression algorithm')
>
>  Where does one find the appropriate encoder? How does one export
> a movie from the editing application, in digital video? There are
> other aspects one needs to also take care of such as preparing your
> metadata.
>
>  Video-compression is an important issue. To get it right, one needs
> to determine the best formats and codecs to use. You need to find an
> appropriate encoder. Then, one needs to export movie from editing
> application in DV format. Compressing the video is next, followed
> by preparing the metadata, and finally uploading the video and the
> metadata to your website of choice.
>
>  Anna points to a number of ways of how to syndicate and promote
> online any alternate video. These means range from email to blogs,
> RSS info feeds, RSS vodcast, peer2peer networks (including torrent
> trackers) and even via mobile phones.
>
>  Offline ways of promotion include distribution using TV, cinema
> and local screenings. Then, there's the possibility of faxed-out
> media-releases. Interviews (to radio, print and TV are other
> possibilities). Promotional material needs to be created too, and
> shouldn't be overlooked.
>
>  Why compress video files before putting it out? Compression allows
> you to make your video smaller for easier and faster transport on the
> web, or so it will fit on a disc. Roughly, in DV format, only four
> minutes of video will fit in one gigabyte of space. This is too big
> to transfer over the internet, or even put on disc. So you need to
> compress your video.
>
>  There are varied tools with which one can compress a video.
>
>  First, one needs to export the file from your non-linear editing
> program such as Premiere, Vegas Video, iMovie OR Final Cut.
>
>  In terms of video compression tools, there are currently a number of
> softwares available. From the world of proprietorial software these
> include Cleaner, Canopus ProCoder, Quicktime Pro, Flash etc.
>
>  In the case of Free/Libre and Open Source Software (or shareware),
> there's Virtual Dub and Media Coder FOR PC, ffmpegX for Mac,
> Gtranscode for GNU/Linux and mencoder also for GNU/Linux.
>
>  Video compression terminology needs some understanding. It has
> various standards -- MPEG1, MPEG2, H.264 (which are mostly rules set
> by Motion Pictures Experts Group).
>
>  Compression formats or containers have file-endings like .avi, .mpg,
> .mov, or .ogg. These are the wrapper for the audio/video information.
>
>  CodecS -- the algorithm for compressing and decompressing -- include
> the video codecs Theora, XviD AND Sorenson 3 and the audio codecs AAC
> or lame MP3.
>
>  There are a number of software players for video files. One which is
> attracting the most attention nowadays is VLC. This is free software
> and open source-based and also cross-platform so will work on Mac,
> PC and GNU/Linux But there are also others like Democracy, Mplayer,
> Quicktime, Flash, Windows Media or Real Media.
>
>  Browser plugins that enable you to watch video in Firefox or Internet
> Explorer include VLC, Cortado java applet, Quicktime, Flash, Windows
> Media and Real Media.
>
>  Your video settings depend on the screening quality required. You
> could opt for the .avi format and the XviD codec TO enable your
> audience to download a decent copy to screen on a TV or in a cinema.
> For web-streaming, the .mov (QT progressive) format is suitable
> together with the Sorensen 3 codec.
>
>  For video screening quality, you need a data rate of approximiately
> 1200 kbits/sec, and the resolution should be either PAL or NTSC,
> whichever was the original format. Web streaming comes out good enough
> if you have a data rate of 128-300 kbits/sec, with a resolution of
> 320x240.
>
>  For audio settings (screening quality), use a data rate of 128
> kbits/sec, with the codec of Lame .mp3. Web streaming suffices with
> around 64 kbits/sec and a codec of Lame .mp3.
>
>  How does one test whether a file would work?
>
>  Says Anna: "Test your compression settings by outputting a 30
> second clip of your movie first. Try different settings until you
> get the result you want. Try videohelp.com for more info or the
> Guide to Digital Video Distribution and tutorials available on
> www.engagemedia.org"
>
>  There is a new documentation project being set up to aid video
> makers in the use of FLOSS video tools by the Transmission Network, a
> collaboration between www.ourvideo.org and www.flossmanuals.org. Check
> these sites for details.
>
> -- 
> FN: Frederick Noronha
> Phone 0091-832-2409490
> http://wikiwikiweb.de/MyContacts
>
>
>
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