Setting up a mobile video rig is an easy and effective way to expose the reality of the animal agriculture industry. You can incorporate videos into nearly any other activity, such as information tables, leafleting, cage-ins, die-ins, protests, street theatre, and/or civil disobedience sit-ins.

For addtional information on how to plan these activities, see our Outreach Guide and our Guide to Planning an Event. Don't forget to register your event to recieve an event pack from FARM.

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Laptops & Video Rigs

Video set-ups can be as simple as a laptop computer or as elaborate as a mobile video rig. Video screenings work best after dark, but can still be effective during the day. To increase visibility, find shading or create your own with a tent or other cover.

You will need a DVD or VHS copy of a video that documents the cruel realities faced by animals raised for meat, milk, and eggs. For general demonstrations, we recommend Meet Your Meat from PETA. If you are doing a chicken-related demonstration, we recommend COK’s 45 Days: The Life and Death of a Broiler Chicken. These videos run about 12 minutes, but you can request a 2-hour loop on VHS or DVD format.

For those who prefer a less graphic video (e.g.: sanctuaries, schools and indoor events), we recommend Farm Sanctuary’s factory farming video Life Behind Bars.

For information tables, a laptop with a built in DVD player is the simplest option. Play somber music, make sure there are volunteers to leaflet, and wear black to match the mood. For a demonstration, protest, or sit in, a video rig will be more effective, though more labor intensive.


Setting Up a Video Rig

What you need

• TV
• DVD Player, VCR, or TV/player combo
• Video
• Power Inverter

Power inverters are simple devices that allow your TV/VCR to draw power from a car battery (via the cigarette lighter) or from a separate battery pack.

You will need an inverter that converts 12-volt DC power into 117-volt AC power. Small inverters (150 Watts) are suitable for most small TV/VCR combos and may be suitable for a TV and a VCR as separate units, if total wattage does not exceed 150. Larger units may require a higher wattage. Check your unit to ensure compatibility.

Less expensive inverters often have a single outlet. A splitter (with two outlets) may be used if total wattage is within limits, or you may choose to spend a few extra dollars on an inverter with multiple outlets, which tend to have a higher wattage capability.

Online options include BUY.com or Radio Shack. Other options include going to a Radio Shack store or camping or boating supply stores. Store clerks can assist with details.

A two-hour run is likely to discharge the average car battery, so start your car frequently or consider investing in a separate battery. Running times vary so practice, practice, practice! If you are using a car battery to run your video, bring a pair of jumper cables and another car in case the battery runs low. You may also decide to take turns switching vehicles or invest in an external battery pack.

Remember, you can use these materials again and again so it’s worth the small investment, and the animals will thank you. Instructions for a more serious rig are available here.