Best Way to Grab Movie Clips?

DorkusMasterus asks: "I work for my church in a volunteer sense, and I'm trying to produce a video that will incorporate video clips from films (short, less than 30 seconds per clip, more likely 5-10 seconds), and I am wondering what you fine folks use to grab clips from DVD and TV (in preferably an MPEG or AVI format when completed). Please keep in mind that I am not interested in something that would copy a full-length film, nor am I'm not advocating discussion on how to best pirate films. What utilities would you use to retrieve short clips from DVDs and other digital sources?"

Re:DVD Shrink & TMPGenc

[Baricom]

Are you familiar with the fair use/DMCA implications? An administration organization that deals with Christian music says public performance is exempt [musicservices.org] from copyright restrictions, but does that also apply to DVDs?

Re:DVD Shrink & TMPGenc

[dada21]

Here's a tough one -- I'm an anarcho-capitalist Christian, so I actually don't pay attention to whatever laws you guys voted for. They're irrelevant for how I live my life. That being said, MANY congregations that I serve are VERY cautious about violating copyright. There's a huge debate that comes up every 6 months or so over at www.churchmedia.net (worst community ever, but its the only one, so that's where we go) about what Fair Use is and isn't.

I use it all, and if anything, my use of "unlicensed products" probably sells more of it -- people see clips, gain interest (or regain interest), and go out and buy the DVD or CD. Ridiculous laws, but some people want to follow them.

Re:DVD Shrink & TMPGenc

[DoubleRing]

Hrm, I'm curious. I could say that I don't pay attention to the rules that a Mafia sets up. I'd hardly call that wise though. I'd pay a lot of attention and take action (like, um, move away?). The thing is, any organization that has the potential to have a significant impact on your life (let's say, arrest you) shouldn't be straight up ignored.

I find anarcho-capitalism intriguing. What you want is for capitalism to extend into the public utilities, law enforcement, etc. should be run on a capitalist model. I just think there are some things where more money shouldn't equal more power. Or, money shouldn't be involved at all, like libraries. I can see that it would be an excellent way of life (like communism if it ever worked at the way it was supposed to), but it's too dependent on human perfection. As much aversion you may have to government, I find democracy is the best place where our leaders can be placed in a "free market" and each person (well, citizen) can vote equally regardless of whether they're rich or poor. I believe humans are generally good, but shouldn't be trusted. Because of the state that the world is in and the existence of human flaws like racism, it's hard for me to believe more good would come out than bad. People will form corporations and people will form mafias. I can see how things could become very efficient, but with the existence of off-shoring, very little trickle-down will take place and the masses will tend to suffer. Monopolies and cartels form without the urging of government, and American history alone demonstrates how negative of an effect these have. And the capitalization of public utilities is not efficient. What will happen is that each company will create it's own highway/rail/etc. And some things, like air traffic control, have no real market. Who sets the monetary standard by the way?

Law enforcement is similar. I really don't ever see rent-a-cops in malls and neighborhood watches ever do anything more than call the "real" cops. And that's a GOOD thing. A law enforcement without laws is a little scary, especially if that is blended with capitalism meaning money is involved. A great place to look is Sicily. It's been occupied so many times over the years that the constant changing has created a place with virtually no government (well, not anymore really, but historically). During that long unstable time, a fairly stable society rose up. A sort of neighborhood rule. I find that unnecessarily divisive. Neighborhood rule, Mafia rule, gang rule, are all the same in principle, and that is what will happen. There are too many cases in history to ignore the dangerous possibility.

You talk about how you dislike the RIAA's practices. So do I. I would be REALLY scared if they could employ their own law enforcers. All of the jokes about the RIAA police would come to life!

I find it odd that you are also Christian. Will there be free market religion as well? Religion is one of the most hierarchical organizations on earth. It's a step beyond autocracy. Did you ever get to choose your leader? What makes it right for him to rule? Why does he have that power? Do you know that he's perfect, or just take his word for it?

I really respect your views. They fact that you are brave enough to come out and talk about them really shines in my eyes. You have one of the most impressive and logical thought processes I've seen on Slashdot (does that say anything much?). I don't know whether you'd appreciate this, but I'd think you would make an excellent senator or representative. I like to think of Democracy as structured anarchy. It's the best way I can think of letting individual's express themselves without degenerating into complete chaos. Well, we still have problems, but the great thing is, there actually is a way of fixing them. I agree that there are many things that should be commercialized--like space exploration. But stuff like this isn't a zero-sum game. There's room for concurrency.

I'v

Re:DVD DEcryptor

[LunaticTippy]

Studios have been releasing defective DVDs for years. Most players deal OK but you need special ripping software.

Here [wikipedia.org] is one I had to deal with recently. You can't tell by the box if/what copy protection they have. There are half a dozen commercial schemes right now.