What to do on 26th August

The lives and wellbeing of children and adults in Gaza are constantly under threat from Israeli attacks. We want this to be a safe event. Please consider the safety of participants and organizers at all times.

We recommend you designate one person during the event whose sole task will be the video recording.

Use landscape mode – wide with phone on its side. Landscape mode is more suitable for filming groups of people. Many people record video on their phones in portrait mode, but for this event, can you do all the recordings in landscape mode.

Some phones will record at 4K which is very high definition but makes for huge files. If you can record at 1080p that is best, at just a quarter of the size of 4K. If not at 720. These are setting you do on your phone. See below.

iPhone video settings: Open Settings > Camera > Record Video to adjust the default resolution and frame rate from 720p at 30fps, 1080p at 30fps or 60fps, as well as 4K at 24fps, 30fps, or 60fps

Android video settings: On an Android device, open up the Camera app > switch to Video mode > and then tap on the recording settings to open up a list of resolutions and fps values. Like the iPhone, default video recordings should be set to HD (1080p) at 30fps. Switch the fps value to 60 for the smoothest capturing.

You can use the internal mic on the phone but getting good quality sound may be difficult especially with a lot of background noise and wind. If you can borrow/purchase an external mic with a hairy cover to provide a better sound it would be great (Rode Wireless Go II, DJI or Holywell Lark recommended). Test all equipment before the day. See interviews below.

A collection of short videos is probably better, up to a minute each, and even shorter would be fine. Longer videos are unlikely to be of much use but they may still be of value if they are very good.

You could do a short video of the group approaching the scene of the swim. If there are some notable landmarks try to include them too. Landscape mode allows you to record the whole event and get the whole group into the frame, without the need to constantly pan. Try to include some images in which it is obvious why you are taking to the water on the 26th – Palestine flag, colours and more.

Short interviews are great. Try to get up close to the interviewee including head and shoulders only. Getting close to them is particularly important for sound. If it is windy, try to shield the microphone on the phone. If you have a wired headphone, you can pass the small microphone to them to hold near the mouth. Get the interviewee to look at the phone camera if possible. But it is a fun day, and do not let the video image distract you and your interviewee from that. The interviewer or interviewee should make it clear in which city or country they are. For an interview, the sound is the most important thing.

Whatever system you are using, try it out first.

Recording video can be draining on the phone’s battery. Try to have a back-up external battery available.

Because of the difference in times of the swimming at the sites and in Gaza, and the different time zones, only a few sites will be doing their swim during the time window of the Gaza Swimming Carnival recording. We will let these sites know soon, so they can test the connection to the internet at the location of the swim. We will be sending out separate advice for these sites.

We hope to include videos from the sites who are swimming before the live stream. For this you need to upload your videos immediately after the swim, so we can show parts during the live stream. Please upload the files at the earliest time so we can get them ready for the live show.

We are using WeTransfer to transfer your video to the studio. Can the person recording the video please try it out first using the same phone to ensure they know how to use it.

• address: https://wetransfer.com/
• Use free send without creating an account.
• For Subject put your location
• For Message give more information about the swim
• When asked for the email address to send to use: swgdrop26@gmail.com

We will be notified when the videos arrive.

Still photographs can be sent along with the video using WeTransfer.

If you only record photographs, you can send them directly by email to: swgdrop26@gmail.com – video using WeTransfer

Please tag with #swimwithgaza, and tweet/post at regular intervals during your event and after.

Safety

Please consider providing a disclaimer such as the below to participants

‘You are participating in this event at your own risk. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure your safety, we take no responsibility for any injury or loss incurred as a consequence of the participation in this event.’

Permission to use images

Please consider providing a disclaimer such as the below to participants (in particular if it involves minors)

‘We will be filming and taking photographs during this event for public attention, for use on social media and to create a video as a lasting memory of the day. By participating in this event, your permission to use images of yourself/your family is implicit. If you do not wish to agree to this, please let the organiser know.’

You will decide, as local organisers, whether to fundraise for the event, before, during or after the swim itself.

We are aiming to raise 5,000 US dollars to pay for swimming lessons for those whose parents are not able to pay. You can direct people here

Unfortunately, we will not be able to use all of the images or material uploaded. We are hoping for lots of material and will be editing to provide a film which is inclusive and representative of the events across the world.

Thank you so much on behalf of the Gazan people for your commitment, enthusiasm and participation.