Writing: Keep it under 60 seconds. Make sure your concept is fresh—and resonant. It’s often smart to borrow a template from pop culture (I used an old Apple ad). Funny helps.
Material: Record TV footage, then transfer it into your computer through digital capture devices ($50 to $200). Try Quicktime Player Pro ($30) to convert Web clips into the proper format.
Copyright: Use short clips; refrain from selling them to avoid snafus.
Editing: No more VCRs. Rely on iMovie (Mac) or Windows Movie Maker (PC). You can cut and rearrange footage, then add text, sound or additional video layers.
Attribution: Cite quotes in small, readable text at the bottom of the screen. If you want to remain anonymous (like I did initially), leave clues in the work to let viewers know whose side you’re on.
Distribution: Put your video to YouTube (only one version—buzz is based on views), then send it to political sites. Be patient. It can take months to go viral.
