PLSCS 1900 Sustainable Agriculture: Planning your Video

When planning your video, consider these factors. Especially in these socially distant times, thinking ahead will help make sure you can complete your video and save you time when filming and editing.

1. What is the purpose of your video? What message(s) do you want your viewer to receive? How does it connect to sustainable agriculture? Make sure that the connection to sustainable agriculture is clear.
2. Who will be watching your video? What tone should you use for the intended audience?
3. Where will you be filming your shots? How can you make sure that you are following public health requirements when shooting (staying 6 feet away from others, wearing masks, sanitizing)? Is there existing footage or images you can use? Can you interview people via videoconference or those in your quarantine bubble? If you do shoot on location, what arrangements do you need to make? Do you have backup plans if public health requirements change?
4. Who will be in your video, if anyone? Have they signed the consent form (see seeking permission box on right)? Be sure that they understand the possibility of being viewed by other students, as well as the instructor. Remember, the top videos from your class will be viewed during the film festival.
5. What outside data or scholarly resources can you gather to support your message?
6. What equipment do you need to achieve to create the film? Will you be using your phone or do you prefer a video camera? Will you need software for editing?

Fair Use Guidelines provide an exception to infringement in U.S. Copyright Law.

To be considered Fair Use, your use of a copyrighted image, video or publication should generally meet these requirements:

1. Your intent is educational, without foreseeable profit.
2. The nature of the copyrighted material .
3. You are not using a significant proportion of the whole copyrighted item.
4. You will not disrupt the value (financial, cultural or otherwise) of the copyrighted material.

For additional reading, explore this worksheet and see the Cornell Copyright Information Center.

What is the Public Domain? 

Any work that is no longer protected by copyright (due to expiration or forfeiture) are considered in the public domain. Examples include plays by Shakespeare. 

Before filming any people or private property, be sure to seek proper permissions.

If filming other students, faculty of staff at Cornell, also be sure to explain the following:

1. Videos will be shared with classmates and the professor in PLSCS 1900.
2. These videos may be on public display.
3. At the discretion of you, the producer, these videos may be shared with future classes to serve as examples.

As a content creator YOU also control how your work is used. If you'd like to let us display your work for future classes (which we encourage you to do) we need YOUR permission using the student eCommons release form.

**Please only be sure to create content that you feel comfortable displaying with your name attached. 

The Center for Media and Social Impact at American University has released a number of useful codes of best practice in fair use in various areas including online video.

Before filming any people or private property, be sure to seek proper permissions. Sometimes no permissions are needed at all - see Yes You Can! - Where you don't even need fair use for more information.