HRW Videographer READ ME

1. CAMERA Originals & fILE FORMAT

  • When shooting video for HRW, please send exact duplicates of all camera original files
    Please send camera original files and do not transcode footage

    Please ensure data is encrypted throughout production and data submission/delivery process

  • Please create shot logs for all footage you submit

  • Assuming files match the audio and video specifications below, we accept files in many different camera native formats, including XDCam, AVCHD, Canon XF, MPEG-4, MPEG-2, H.264, and many others.

  • If you are doing a shoot with multiple cameras rolling simultaneously, please make sure the audio and video formats and specifications match and sync timecode when possible.

2. TECH SPECS

AUDIO SPECIFICATIONS

  • Location and studio audio should be recorded at 48 KHz, 16-bits, and in the AIFF format

  • The Waveform Audio File Format (WAV) is acceptable, when no AIFF option is available

  • Interviews: Please record room tone.

  • On-Location Shoots: Please record natural sound at every location.

VIDEO SPECIFICATIONS

  • Frame size: 1920x1080

  • Frame rate: 25 fps PAL - Progressive ( interlaced – so 25p not 50i)
    Please shoot 24 fps progressive (24p) if your camera does not shoot PAL or 25p at the 1920x1080 frame size

  • Bitrate: 35mbps or higher. If you have questions about this, please contact our team

  • Timecode: Please shoot with Time Code and enable your camera’s GPS location metadata if available

  • Color: Please send footage with usable color. Please DO NOT shoot “log” or raw footage. We do not have the capacity to color correct many formats.

3. DOCUMENTATION & ORGANIZATION

Shot Log
Provide a log of your footage that includes: Date(s) footage was recorded, Locations depicted in footage, Names of interviewees, Description of footage

Consent from Inteviewees
For interviewees and other people appearing on camera, consent is required. Please ensure you have either on-camera consent or singed HRW consent forms from people appearing on camera.

Folder Naming & Structure
Deliver files in a folder with the shoot date and your last name. Arrange shoots/footage by DATE (example below). Be sure maintain the original folder structure created by your camera.

4. FILE DELIVERY

Physical Media Shipments
Ship Encrypted hard drives to:

ATTN: HRW MM Delivery c/o Human Rights Watch
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor
New York,NY, 10018
Phone: (212) 290-4700

Online Data Transfer
To send files virtually, move your data into an encrypted container and send it to our MASV portal:
https://hrwarchive.portal.massive.app

Remember to share your encryption password with HRW staff over Signal, Whatsapp, Apple Messages, or another secure messaging service. Encryption instructions are available here:
https://www.hrwmedia.org/encryption