Guide to using videos

See Me Films
Sample video clip
Top tips
Sound and speech
Lighting
Technical specifications
Getting the film to us
Video security

See Me Films

See Me Films is an exciting, new collaboration between BAAF and Glocal Films.

Glocal Films create sensitive short films of children to assist with family-finding and can also edit any video footage you already have. BAAF is happy to endorse Glocal Films who use good quality materials and whose films making is informed by best practice.

Sample video clip

Top tips

• Make sure there are no identifying elements such as school logos on sweaters, street names, people or photographs in the background.

• The clip should not include any information identifying the photographer or filmmaker who shot the footage so as to protect the identity of the child.

• Show the child in a range of situations, such as eating, playing, reading a book, brushing their teeth, or doing their homework.

• Make sure there are no inappropriate shots of the child – e.g. not in the bath or wearing nightwear or skimpy clothes.

• Use steady shots and shoot on the best quality setting possible.

• Keep it simple: technical effects are best avoided.

• If you are using music in the soundtrack of the video clip, make sure you have cleared copyright for using it.

Sound and speech

• Be aware of background noises such as from television, radio, music and passing traffic.

• If the mike is incorporated in the camera, make sure that the child is close enough (remember that zooming in will not get the same sound quality).

• Any speech should make sense within the context of the short clip and be non-identifying e.g. not mentioning the child’s school, address or full date of birth.

• Let the child speak for themselves without prompting. If asking questions, make sure they are open, e.g. “tell me about… “, “what …do you enjoy…”, “what’s it like to…”.

Lighting

• Make sure there is adequate and ample lighting. Be aware of reflected lights from windows, glasses, sunlight and mirrors.

Technical specifications

• Please provide the file as a QuickTime, WMV or MPEG file, maximum 20Mb. The output dimensions should be approximately 320x256 pixels.

• The video clip should be 3–5 minutes long for a single child and up to 7 minutes for a group of siblings.

• We regret that we cannot accept VHS tapes. Please have any video clip on VHS transferred onto DVD before sending to us.

If the video clip does not meet the Be My Parent standards of privacy and security of the child, or of image quality, we may ask you to edit or replace it, or we may decide not to use it if you are unable to provide a suitable alternative.

Getting the film to us

Please forward the video clip to us by post on CD Rom or DVD to Be My Parent, BAAF Adoption and Fostering, Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Remember to make a copy before you send the clip, or send it by recorded delivery.

Video security

The video clips of children included in Be My Parent profiles are secure. They are not cached, i.e. they are not stored or saved anywhere automatically when viewed. In addition, it's not possible to, for instance, right click on the video clip to save it. The video is also downloaded gradually whilst it is being played, which makes copying or editing it impossible without sophisticated software.

Last updated: 03 April 08

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