[IMC-Video] [Fwd: <nettime> A youtube for the activist world]

Wed Jun 13 17:12:24 UTC 2007

I think that having an in browser player is probably the most important
component. Isn't there an "indytube?" Is anyone using it?

mark burdett wrote:
> hi, i'm curious what are the key feature requirements of "decent video support".
> 
> we have lots of folks posting video to our local site..
> although ideally that number would be growing.
> there are a lot of folks out there who dont know about it, 
> so we try to do some outreach when we find good videos on youtube.
> 
> --mark B.
> 
> On Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:44:31 -0700, lotu5 wrote:
>> Wow, this really shows how far behind indymedia has fallen in terms of
>> relevance because of not having decent video support... I was at a rally
>> yesterday at UCSD which was organized largely using facebook and where
>> the ~100 participants were begging the people taking video to post it on
>> youtube right after the rally...
>>
>>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: <nettime> A youtube for the activist world
>> Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:24:41 +0530
>> From: fred at bytesforall.org
>> Reply-To: fred at bytesforall.org
>> To: nettime-l at bbs.thing.net
>>
>>
>> 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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>>
>> -- 
>>
>> blog: http://deletetheborder.org/lotu5
>>
>> gpg:  0x5B459C11 // encrypted email preferred
>> gaim: djlotu5 // off the record messaging preferred
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> 

-- 

blog: http://deletetheborder.org/lotu5

gpg:  0x5B459C11 // encrypted email preferred
gaim: djlotu5 // off the record messaging preferred