Video for Educators (page 2)

That Legal Stuff

There are a few things you have to be aware of when you are producing video for schools.

One of the biggest topics is the legal aspect of video production. Before you even turn on a camera, seek the full cooperation of your school's parent-teacher association. In today's post-Columbine world, you have to be doubly sure everyone knows what you are doing and that your students have permission to tape around the school. Make sure your school provides releases for you to use with all of the students who appear in your videos. For students under 18, parents must sign releases to give permission to videotape or record their sons or daughters. Most schools have a blanket release that the parents sign, if the project is a class or school program.

Another legal aspect is that of copyright. Unless you purchase an ASCAP/BMI broadcast license, any music you use must be public domain or royalty-free. There are many fine buy-out music libraries that offer production music of all types. Explain to your students the importance of copyright. This vigilance also includes events. It is illegal to videotape and broadcast a play, dance recital or concert, unless you have purchased the license to do so, and licenses can be expensive. If the play is in the public domain, like Shakespeare, have fun and do a three-camera shoot. However, you cannot record Annie! and play it on your local cable channel. Dance recitals that use popular music are off limits, unless you get permission to record every song in the program. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Check with an entertainment or copyright lawyer if you have questions about a specific program or practice.

What if you want to sell the programs your students make? As long as you have used copyright-free music and have releases for everyone in the video, you can sell them. However, you need to make sure the school has a mechanism to deal with duplication costs, distribution and taking in the money from the sales. Discuss this carefully with your administration. It could be a great way to make money to purchase equipment, but make sure you have crossed your t's and dotted your i's before starting down that path.

Your final concern is to instill in your students a sense of responsibility. You want to keep the staff and teachers on your side, so that they will work with you. Make sure that your video students are polite, professional and unobtrusive. Don't interrupt classes, do ask permission to shoot in various locations and always let everyone know what you and your students are doing. Make the teachers and other staff part of the production team. You will be amazed at how people cooperate when they know what is happening and feel a part of the process.

Have Fun! You Are Going to Be the New Video Person!

The last bit of sage advice we have is... have fun! Students have a great deal of creative energy and can be quick learners when given the opportunity. Give them responsibilities and the chance to be creative. You will be very surprised at the quality and creativity of the pieces they produce for your video program.

Dr. Robert G. Nulph has worked 10 years as a producer/director for an educational institution, teaches video and film production at the college level and is an independent video/film director.

Side Bar: Video in the Classroom Ideas

• Videotaping science experiments not suitable for the classroom for safety reasons.
• Creating travelogues of class trips to Paris or other exotic locations.
• Interviewing visiting artists.
• Creating family histories as part of a history class.
• Videotaping the process of creating pottery or sculpture.
• Shooting short narratives using scripts from a creative writing class.
• Capturing local and state officials answering the unique questions only students ask.