Video as an Advocacy Tool: How to Tools

Introduction

3 how-to tools to improve your video and filming techniques from Witness including mobile phone filming, sound recording and interviewing techniques.

Videos

An Activist’s Guide to Mobile Video: Sound Recording

When shooting video on a mobile phone, the quality of your sound is just as important as getting a good picture. Recording sound for video on a phone can be challenging, especially when filming interviews. The microphone on your phone is designed for picking up phone conversations and not for video production. This video provides an overview on how your phone records sound and provides tips and tools that you can use to make sure you capture clear audio.

Mobile Filming Tips

Basic guidance on safely and effectively filming human rights abuses on your mobile phone. See our other resources for mobile filming here.

Interviews are often the building blocks for documentary video. Some simple steps can ensure good results. In this video, learn how technical guidance for filming indoors.

About Author

WITNESS is an international nonprofit organization that empowers human rights defenders to use video to fight injustice, and to transform personal stories of abuse into powerful tools that can pressure those in power or with power to act. By bringing often unseen images and seldom heard stories to the attention of key decision makers, the media, and the public–WITNESS catalyzes grassroots activism, political engagement, and lasting change.  We bridge the worlds of human rights, media and technology by incorporating cutting-edge innovations into traditional approaches to advocacy. WITNESS’ unique contribution to the human rights community is to serve as global authority on best practices in the use of video for human rights purposes and a frontline resource for training and expertise.

Explore Further

• Quick Guide to Video Archiving
• Filming Protests and Police Misconduct
• A Practical Guide to Video Activism
• The Story Canvas Template
• Beginner’s guide to making video with your smartphone
• The Power of Story: The Story of Self, Us and Now
• Story of Self, Us and Now: Video Examples
• How to Change the Narrative / Story: Guides, Worksheets and Templates
• Storytelling for Deep Impact Course
• Activists Guide to Archiving Video
• Learn to tell Stories with your Smartphone Video
• TED talk: Fight injustice with raw video
• Films for Social Change