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TO: ALL MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF VIDEAZIMUT


FROM: CLIPS EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

The Clips Editorial Committee has chosen Alternative/Independent Production
as the theme for the next issue.  The following text presents the different
aspects of this theme as well as some key questions.  If you would like to
write an article or know someone you think we should contact about writing
an article, please let us know as soon as possible.  Articles should be no
more than 700 words (about 2 pages).  The article deadline is February 7th,
1997.  For more information, see contact address at the bottom of the text.

CLIPS #12   ALTERNATIVE/INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION
Because of the many changes taking place in the communication landscape
today, the realities of alternative audiovisual production, that is,
production outside mainstream or commercial circles, are undergoing
fundamental shifts.  In this issue of Clips, we will look at the
alternative/independent production process from a perspective of wide or
global distribution.  While in past issues of Clips, we have talked about
access and legal questions, about defending the right to communicate, in
this issue, will look at the programme being produced itself.  In
particular, we will focus on programmes which often contain a clear or
radical political orientation and which, though produced with all the
required professional criteria, refuse the uniformity of style and content
requested and often imposed by Market forces.  Independent producers and
NGOs involved in production are asked to help us understand how they
succeed in doing their work and how they have evolved in these changing
times.  Specifically, we want to look at several aspects of the production
process: form and content choices, production and financial strategies,
distribution options, and other related subjects.  We would also like to
provide a regional overview of production issues as well as an analysis of
or a report on global economic production questions.


KEY QUESTIONS FOR DIFFERENT ARTICLES

1) INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION
Do you think that there is there such a thing as an independent production
today?  What does it mean and what are the political implications?
Where does independence start and end? ...with money issues or when seeking
a larger audience?
Are your goals (organisational, institutional, collective) always
compatible with what you produce?  ...or, is there a conflict between what
you have to produce in order to survive and/or what the political situation
in your country will allow?

2) CONTENT
What is the principle motivation behind a given production? ...is it a
reaction against mainstream TV or a cultural, social or political need?
How do you decide on which video/film to produce?  ...and, how do you make
choices on subjects and treatments?

3) IMPACT
What are your educational, political or socio-cultural objectives for this
product?  Have you seen tangible results/consequences from your work?
...can you give examples?

4) FINANCES
To what degree do you feel fundraising affects the content? ...or, other
aspects of production?
Have you found an acceptable balance between the strength of the content,
the technical quality, etc. and the financial resources available?  ...or,
have you found that a cheap production necessarily means poor technical
quality, weak product, etc.?



For more information or to write an article, please contact:
Sylvia Roy, Editor
VIDEAZIMUT
International Secretariat
3680, rue Jeanne-Mance, bureau 430
Montreal (Quebec) Canada H2X 2K5
Telephone: (1 514) 982 6660
Fax: (1 514) 982 6122
Email: videaz@web.net

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VIDEAZIMUT
International Secretariat
3680, rue Jeanne-Mance, bureau 430
Montreal (Quebec) Canada H2X 2K5
Telephone: (1 514) 982 6660
Fax: (1 514) 982 6122
Email: videaz@web.net
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