* EMAIL - Write a brief description (with ordering information) and email it out to appropriate lists and recipients. Include website links to pages that describe the video in more detail (if they exist) and also consider a link that is about the issue your video deals with - and/or contact information for a group that works on that issue.

* WEBSITES - Email appropriate website administrators and ask them to post about your work - include text in simple text (or even html) and a digital still image grabbed from your work, if that is possible. Or, if you have a site that includes a graphic and a description, ask them to link to it.

* MASS MAIL OUT - This is expensive and labor intensive, but still very effective and more inclusive as there are a lot of people out there who are not online.

* HANDOUTS - Trifolds, quartersheets, glossy raver post-cards - carry some type of handout with you that describes your work (or works) and put the print material on tables at events or just hand it out to interested parties that you meet.

* ADVERTISMENTS - If your budget allows, consider placing an ad. in local journals and on local radio broadcasts (this can be free with micro-broadcasters, or on college radio.)

* ISSUE ORIENTED BENEFITS/ SCREENINGS - Promoting an evening that includes some talent, your video and local representatives concerning the issues presented in your video, is a great way of spreading information and encouraging involvement.
Bay Area Venues for Progressive Video Screenings

* ROADSHOWS - Barbara Trent, the producer of the Panama Deception, found that by getting out there - travelling the country, booking screenings and being present at those screenings - was the only way for her to break through the media monopoly and get exposure for her important work. The Empowerment Project continues to support independent video work and to give seminars on distribuion.

Also, some campaigns are supported by a "travelling troubador." These travelling singers are often happy to bring your video with them and use it as part of their presentation.

* PARTIES, RAVES, CLUBS - Do you have a video that works without sound? Consider giving it to DJ's or going to their events and projecting video images against walls - outside at night can be nice - there are many possibilities.

* CABLE ACCESS - Most large communitities have at least one cable-access channel and the programmers are eager for good work (esp. from local producers). This type of broadcasting can be greatly enhanced if you promote it yourself (i.e. during the Gulf War of 1990, Paper Tiger TV would carry little handouts with them as they taped at demonstrations. The handouts said something like, "Do you want to see this covered on TV? Then tune in to Channel ** this Thursday at 9:00 for . .. . ") The station was actually able to register a marked jump in viewership at this time. Paper Tiger's video was subsequently included in latenight PBS broadcasting in communities throughout the US. If you really want to get an issue out there, produce works about it of varying lengths (i.e. the 30 second (PSA), public service announcement) will allow broadcasters to fill gaps in their programming, so they are likely to run it more often.

Community Cable Access Links

* FORMATTING FOR BROADCAST - If your production budget has gone up and you feel that you are producing "broadcast quality" work, then you need to be aware of the special time limitations and formatting requirements of PBS-type broadcasters. Quoted from the KQED website about a grant opportunity - on the subject of lengths of video works . . . "Programs should be standard public television lengths of 26:40, 56:40 or 86:40." There are local PBS affiliates that are still receptive to good-quality, alernative video productions. One example is "video i" - a festival of independent film and video works hosted by KTEH in San Jose, California.

video i (408) 795-5400 / videoi@kteh.pbs.org

Producing video is costly and tireing. Many independent producers don't have budgets for duplication and distribution. But, their efforts can be greatly enhanced if their work is accepted as part of a video magazine - a single tape that contains short video works about a number of timely issues. If a video magazine does not exist in your area, or is not being produced about issues that you feel are important - consider networking with other videograghers to create a new one. Current video magazines include:

Global Insights
C/O ska t.v.
po box 1252
st kilda south vic 3182
Telephone: (+61)-03-9663-6976
accessnews@skatv.org.au

Indymedia THE SERIES
C/O Free Speech TV
PO Box 6060
Boulder, CO 80306
imc-satellite@indymedia.org

undercurrents
166, Cherwell St.
Oxford OX41BG / Britain
underc@gn.apc.org

The web is fast becomming a great way to bypass the mainstream media and more and more viewers are turning away from the major networks and looking for information elsewhere. As computer speeds increase; offering audio and video over the web will become increasingly effective. Below are two specific sites that are eager to stream progressive video.

Regeneration TV very progressive and appeals to a young audience. Webviewers are offered a menu of progressive videos to stream on topics such as: anarchy genetic engineering, the growing prison industry, environmental campaigns, etc. They are good about crediting producers of independent work.

Freespeech TV - These people collect work from all over and feed it to cable access programmers in the US and Canada. They were among the first to offer video to viewers over the web and are now involved in satellite broadcasts as well.

*BEWARE* Many corporate-sponsored, and pro-consumer DOT-COM companies are desperate for real content. They will approach you and offer you "space" on their site and say that they are "going to help you get your work out there." It is up to you to decide when you are contributing to a grassroots effort that is somewhat democratically run and promotes values that you agree with, or when your work is being co-opted by the man (so-to-speak.)

On our Ordering Videos page and on our Links page are several sites that will consider promoting your work on their site and/or give you some ideas for how to present text and graphics which will best describe your video. And, as a final note, the Video Activist Network will consider posting information about your video on our site. Email a text description, one graphic and your contact information to us. We will post what you send us and direct people to you through the contact information you provide.

This will take some research on your part - (i.e. some festivals charge money and are not amenable to your style or content choice.) So, you will want to ask for festival descriptions and deadlines to be sent to you, or do research online-about which festivals are best to submit to. Here is a good list to start from ... Film Festivals Listed

If your video has a nice cover, bring it down to the video rental stores in your area. You can sometimes even ask them to purchase your work. This makes it available for the less politicized home viewer to see your work. Please boycott Blockbuster and other chains, if you live in a city with choices. The Bay Area has several local renters . . .
SF Rental Stores Listed.

Last updated on 25/FEB/04

Give feedback to:
Video Activist Network
PO Box 40130
San Francisco, CA 94140 USA
(415) 789-8484
info@videoactivism.org