Man wants to to tape daughters recital.

[DrPizza]

I did check into the admission to sporting events - apparently, that's a local decision. The state has made it too troublesome to even bother. Plus, I believe the board of education determined that the community taxpayers are paying for those football jerseys, fields, etc., and as such, ought to have the right to watch the games.

 

[Moonbeam]

Link

Can I videotape the recital?

No, you may only videotape the rehearsal. Nearly every studio implements this same policy. Let us explain why:

Safety of the dancers: Both physically and preventing exploitation. We want to be able to control who tapes your child. There have been problems at venues where someone was taping or photographing students, and to be blunt ? should not have been.

The enjoyment of those around you: No one wants to try to look around someone else who is blocking the stage to ?get that good shot.?

Choreographic licensing laws: A big one to those of us in the arts. When we go to dance competitions, we have seen cameras confiscated under this same law.

Many studios do not allow even taping of the rehearsal, however, we feel that:
With the house lights on, we can monitor who is taping your child.
We can request that certain numbers not be taped (like the teacher dance)
You can stand up and move around, not worrying about blocking someone.
If a child got distracted or caught a flash in the eye, and his/her safety was in issue, we could stop the dance!

We do hire a professional to come and shoot the recital and sell copies to you at the lowest cost we can! The recital is available on DVD and you get the entire show! Parents have told us that their children LOOOOVVVVEE watching themselves, their friends, and other dances over and over. It makes a great gift for grandparents, too!

Order forms are available at the front desk!
-------------------------------------------------------

Just some of what I said above.

Edit: Another one from dance-tek.com:

Cameras / Video
If you wish to take pictures or videotape your child during, you must do so during dress rehearsal. No video cameras or flash photography is allowed during performances. Flash cameras are never permitted in the auditorium because they are very dangerous for the dancers on stage. Pictures must be taken without a flash using high speed film. A professional videographer will be taping the recital shows. More information on the purchase of these tapes will be available closer to the show date.
These regulations are in place for the benefit of everyone and as a common courtesy to the dancers performing on stage. To videotape a performance that is being professionally videotaped is against Federal Copyright Laws, and also an infringement on choreography copyrights. Do to problems in the past; absolutely no camera of any kind will be permitted in the auditorium during recital. Please do all of your videotaping and photography during rehearsal and enjoy watching the performances without the interruption of photography and video cameras. Anyone bringing a camera into the performance will be asked to leave the auditorium. Please explain this policy to all visiting relatives, also, and thank you for your cooperation.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Link

Can I videotape the recital?

No, you may only videotape the rehearsal. Nearly every studio implements this same policy. Let us explain why:

Safety of the dancers: Both physically and preventing exploitation. We want to be able to control who tapes your child. There have been problems at venues where someone was taping or photographing students, and to be blunt ? should not have been.

The enjoyment of those around you: No one wants to try to look around someone else who is blocking the stage to ?get that good shot.?

Choreographic licensing laws: A big one to those of us in the arts. When we go to dance competitions, we have seen cameras confiscated under this same law.

Many studios do not allow even taping of the rehearsal, however, we feel that:
With the house lights on, we can monitor who is taping your child.
We can request that certain numbers not be taped (like the teacher dance)
You can stand up and move around, not worrying about blocking someone.
If a child got distracted or caught a flash in the eye, and his/her safety was in issue, we could stop the dance!

We do hire a professional to come and shoot the recital and sell copies to you at the lowest cost we can! The recital is available on DVD and you get the entire show! Parents have told us that their children LOOOOVVVVEE watching themselves, their friends, and other dances over and over. It makes a great gift for grandparents, too!

Order forms are available at the front desk!
-------------------------------------------------------

Just some of what I said above.

Edit: Another one from dance-tek.com:

Cameras / Video
If you wish to take pictures or videotape your child during, you must do so during dress rehearsal. No video cameras or flash photography is allowed during performances. Flash cameras are never permitted in the auditorium because they are very dangerous for the dancers on stage. Pictures must be taken without a flash using high speed film. A professional videographer will be taping the recital shows. More information on the purchase of these tapes will be available closer to the show date.
These regulations are in place for the benefit of everyone and as a common courtesy to the dancers performing on stage. To videotape a performance that is being professionally videotaped is against Federal Copyright Laws, and also an infringement on choreography copyrights. Do to problems in the past; absolutely no camera of any kind will be permitted in the auditorium during recital. Please do all of your videotaping and photography during rehearsal and enjoy watching the performances without the interruption of photography and video cameras. Anyone bringing a camera into the performance will be asked to leave the auditorium. Please explain this policy to all visiting relatives, also, and thank you for your cooperation.

What does a commercial dance studio's recital have to do with a public school recital? Do you really not understand the difference?

 

[Thump553]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: Thump553
This thread should be more correctly titled: Obnoxious crank tries to impose his own perception of rules on society, goes to jail.

Sorry but I have absolutely no sympathy for that clown. He knew the rules prohibited him taping. There's a valid reason for this-it's extremely disruptive to have scads of parents blocking the isles and views trying to videotape their little darlings. Instead the school had one permitted taper, and you could obtain a tape from them.

So this jerk's response is to make a complete spectacle of himself and cause violence. What a spoiled brat-and I don't mean the child.

total bullshit. i have 3 kids and have taped many of their school "things" and have NEVER seen any parent stand in the isle. people with video equipment are always in the back out of everybody's way and NOT blocking anybody's view.

If my kids school told me i could not tape their performance and i had to BUY it i would probably be in jail as well.

I raised four kids and know of what I speak of in our area. By the time they reached high school plays level, the school'a AV club would be the only one recording and sell the recordings for a reasonable fee.

That is also why every graduation you go to only the graduating class can enter the front part of the seating, and parents are absolutely barred from that area.

I stick by what I said over a year ago. Go the show to enjoy the kids and rely on your memories. Don't mess it up for everyone else by crowding to the front/blocking views. Buy a copy from the school if it's that important to you. Show some public decorum and respect for the rest of the attendees.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Link

Can I videotape the recital?

No, you may only videotape the rehearsal. Nearly every studio implements this same policy. Let us explain why:

Safety of the dancers: Both physically and preventing exploitation. We want to be able to control who tapes your child. There have been problems at venues where someone was taping or photographing students, and to be blunt ? should not have been.

The enjoyment of those around you: No one wants to try to look around someone else who is blocking the stage to ?get that good shot.?

Choreographic licensing laws: A big one to those of us in the arts. When we go to dance competitions, we have seen cameras confiscated under this same law.

Many studios do not allow even taping of the rehearsal, however, we feel that:
With the house lights on, we can monitor who is taping your child.
We can request that certain numbers not be taped (like the teacher dance)
You can stand up and move around, not worrying about blocking someone.
If a child got distracted or caught a flash in the eye, and his/her safety was in issue, we could stop the dance!

We do hire a professional to come and shoot the recital and sell copies to you at the lowest cost we can! The recital is available on DVD and you get the entire show! Parents have told us that their children LOOOOVVVVEE watching themselves, their friends, and other dances over and over. It makes a great gift for grandparents, too!

Order forms are available at the front desk!
-------------------------------------------------------

Just some of what I said above.

Edit: Another one from dance-tek.com:

Cameras / Video
If you wish to take pictures or videotape your child during, you must do so during dress rehearsal. No video cameras or flash photography is allowed during performances. Flash cameras are never permitted in the auditorium because they are very dangerous for the dancers on stage. Pictures must be taken without a flash using high speed film. A professional videographer will be taping the recital shows. More information on the purchase of these tapes will be available closer to the show date.
These regulations are in place for the benefit of everyone and as a common courtesy to the dancers performing on stage. To videotape a performance that is being professionally videotaped is against Federal Copyright Laws, and also an infringement on choreography copyrights. Do to problems in the past; absolutely no camera of any kind will be permitted in the auditorium during recital. Please do all of your videotaping and photography during rehearsal and enjoy watching the performances without the interruption of photography and video cameras. Anyone bringing a camera into the performance will be asked to leave the auditorium. Please explain this policy to all visiting relatives, also, and thank you for your cooperation.

What does a commercial dance studio's recital have to do with a public school recital? Do you really not understand the difference?

I didn't bother to cover that point because I realized only a willfully moronic poster would look for differences rather than the obviously relevant and overarching similarities.

 

[actuarial]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I didn't bother to cover that point because I realized only a willfully moronic poster would look for differences rather than the obviously relevant and overarching similarities.

But isn't the issue primarily about the one thing that is different, namely looking at a for-profit company given exclusive rights to benefit from a public event? Of course a private event can make any rules they want, but that's not the issue at hand.

If the school required kids to pray to God each morning, would you cite private catholic schools as a justification of this?

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: ultra laser
LOL @ Americans. You guys can't even film your kids dancing at school!

And you think you're free! Hahahahahaha

this is a profound statement.

Yes it is.

and look how many on here support not being free. The ones that claim to be Republican Patriots.

They are the same as Rush, Hannity, Levin etc, traitors to this country and should be dealt with accordingly.

 

[nobodyknows]

If any of you people had any sense you would see the issue is when having an event with 100 kids there are going to be 100 parents wanting to videotape the event.

Look what a pain in the ass ONE individual was, now imagine two of them wanting the same spot to film from.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: actuarial

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I didn't bother to cover that point because I realized only a willfully moronic poster would look for differences rather than the obviously relevant and overarching similarities.

But isn't the issue primarily about the one thing that is different, namely looking at a for-profit company given exclusive rights to benefit from a public event? Of course a private event can make any rules they want, but that's not the issue at hand.

If the school required kids to pray to God each morning, would you cite private catholic schools as a justification of this?

All such hypothetical and theoretical thinking is just horse shit to me. The issue is that a performance is something you go to to watch somebody perform, not have your viewing experiences ruined by people trying to film while you are trying to watch. It ruins other people's viewing experience, is rude, thoughtless, selfish, and anti social. The advent of personal video ruined the experience viewing experience of masses of people and professionals were hired to allow both a video for anybody who could afford one and maybe not a camera, and also allow the traditional focus on what is being performed by people who came to watch and not tape themselves. Of course selfish assholes will insist they aren't bothering anybody. But watch them howl of they were allowed to tape and folk like me who hate being distracted stand up and get in front of their camera to block their view. Don't I have a right to stick my hand in front of their camera or move back in forth in my seat to make sure to block their view. Sure I do. It's a free country and there's no law against it.

One day dear sweet Mr. Larson is going to run into Harry the Gorilla who will shove that video camera right up Mr. Larson's ass.

 

[shira]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: ultra laser
LOL @ Americans. You guys can't even film your kids dancing at school! And you think you're free! Hahahahahaha

this is a profound statement.

Nonsense. It's about the same level of non-profundity as saying that you're not free if you're not allowed to stand up in the school audience and continually shout at the top of your lungs during the performance.

 

[nobodyknows]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

One day dear sweet Mr. Larson is going to run into Harry the Gorilla who will shove that video camera right up Mr. Larson's ass.

I would buy that DVD.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: nobodyknows

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

One day dear sweet Mr. Larson is going to run into Harry the Gorilla who will shove that video camera right up Mr. Larson's ass.

I would buy that DVD.

And I demand my Gawd given right to videotape it myself.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: actuarial

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I didn't bother to cover that point because I realized only a willfully moronic poster would look for differences rather than the obviously relevant and overarching similarities.

But isn't the issue primarily about the one thing that is different, namely looking at a for-profit company given exclusive rights to benefit from a public event? Of course a private event can make any rules they want, but that's not the issue at hand.

If the school required kids to pray to God each morning, would you cite private catholic schools as a justification of this?

All such hypothetical and theoretical thinking is just horse shit to me. The issue is that a performance is something you go to to watch somebody perform, not have your viewing experiences ruined by people trying to film while you are trying to watch. It ruins other people's viewing experience, is rude, thoughtless, selfish, and anti social. The advent of personal video ruined the experience viewing experience of masses of people and professionals were hired to allow both a video for anybody who could afford one and maybe not a camera, and also allow the traditional focus on what is being performed by people who came to watch and not tape themselves. Of course selfish assholes will insist they aren't bothering anybody. But watch them howl of they were allowed to tape and folk like me who hate being distracted stand up and get in front of their camera to block their view. Don't I have a right to stick my hand in front of their camera or move back in forth in my seat to make sure to block their view. Sure I do. It's a free country and there's no law against it.

One day dear sweet Mr. Larson is going to run into Harry the Gorilla who will shove that video camera right up Mr. Larson's ass.

Sorry MB. I don't know who gored your ox, but I think you're way off base on this.

First, whether the venue is a private, commercial performance, or a public performance by school children on public property is the most crucial point. It is obvious that a private, commercial venture can set whatever rules it wants on recording performances. That's perfectly fine and well within their rights, and something any competent enterprise will have addressed specifically in its contracts with its performers. You can't walk into a Broadway theater with a camcorder, even if one of your children is in the performance.

When one has a public event involving performances by one's minor children, denying recording rights is much more difficult to justify. Remember these public servants are our employees, and they are supposed to be accountable to the public. They absolutely should not be selling our children's performances for the benefit of commercial interests.

You might have a point about SOME people being disruptive in their recordings. It's appropriate to deal with such disruption on an individual basis just as you would with anyone creating a disturbance. Having spent the last 17 years or so attending -- and recording -- such performances, I've seen very, very few cases where anyone doing video was obtrusive. Given that I always set up in the very back, I generally have a good view of what's going on in the rest of the venue. I've seen far more problems with still photography, with people using flash distracting from the performance. Video? Not usually.

Perhaps Iowans are just more courteous than the folks in your area, but the only time I've really noticed an issue is when people use tripods in a packed audience. Tripods can get in the way. My solution in those cases is to spread it in front of my wife and myself, so it only takes our two seats, and as mentioned, I sit in the back so as to not block anyone's view. On a couple of occasions where I expected tight quarters, I used a monopod to further reduce my footprint. In my experience, however, most people don't bother with tripods, and just hold their cameras at or below eye level where they are out of the way.

Your comment about the right to stick your hand in front of someone's camera is nonsense. You don't have that right any more than you have the right to stick it in front of their faces. That would make you the selfish asshole, not them.

Again, my experiences are limited to the schools in our area. Perhaps it really has become a major issue in others. In that case, I think it's reasonable for schools to take steps to mitigate the problem. In extreme cases, it might be necessary to enforce a complete ban on cameras. Unfortunate, but people can be inconsiderate assholes, especially in large groups. In that case, a single school-sponsored recording is appropriate ... but not to benefit a commercial interest.

Ideally, competent school employees should do the recording and sell it to parents at cost. Selling it as a school fund-raiser might be OK, though I think they'd have to really prove private taping was a substantial problem before they banned other cameras. (By the way, that's what our schools have usually done: allow cameras, but also offer their own recordings as fund-raisers.) If the school lacks the equipment or competent people, only then should they contract with a commercial firm to provide the recording and duplication at a reasonable, fixed cost. The exclusive sweetheart contract described in this case is way over the line, in my opinion, violating the rights of the parents and their children.

 

[nobodyknows]

Originally posted by: Perknose

Originally posted by: nobodyknows

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

One day dear sweet Mr. Larson is going to run into Harry the Gorilla who will shove that video camera right up Mr. Larson's ass.

I would buy that DVD.

And I demand my Gawd given right to videotape it myself.

Get in line asshole!!

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: nobodyknows
If any of you people had any sense you would see the issue is when having an event with 100 kids there are going to be 100 parents wanting to videotape the event.

Look what a pain in the ass ONE individual was, now imagine two of them wanting the same spot to film from.

And yet in 17 years of attending (and recording) such events, I haven't seen problems like that even once. YMMV of course, but I can tell you it's not an inevitable problem as you suggest.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Link

Can I videotape the recital?

No, you may only videotape the rehearsal. Nearly every studio implements this same policy. Let us explain why:

Safety of the dancers: Both physically and preventing exploitation. We want to be able to control who tapes your child. There have been problems at venues where someone was taping or photographing students, and to be blunt ? should not have been.

The enjoyment of those around you: No one wants to try to look around someone else who is blocking the stage to ?get that good shot.?

Choreographic licensing laws: A big one to those of us in the arts. When we go to dance competitions, we have seen cameras confiscated under this same law.

Many studios do not allow even taping of the rehearsal, however, we feel that:
With the house lights on, we can monitor who is taping your child.
We can request that certain numbers not be taped (like the teacher dance)
You can stand up and move around, not worrying about blocking someone.
If a child got distracted or caught a flash in the eye, and his/her safety was in issue, we could stop the dance!

We do hire a professional to come and shoot the recital and sell copies to you at the lowest cost we can! The recital is available on DVD and you get the entire show! Parents have told us that their children LOOOOVVVVEE watching themselves, their friends, and other dances over and over. It makes a great gift for grandparents, too!

Order forms are available at the front desk!
-------------------------------------------------------

Just some of what I said above.

Edit: Another one from dance-tek.com:

Cameras / Video
If you wish to take pictures or videotape your child during, you must do so during dress rehearsal. No video cameras or flash photography is allowed during performances. Flash cameras are never permitted in the auditorium because they are very dangerous for the dancers on stage. Pictures must be taken without a flash using high speed film. A professional videographer will be taping the recital shows. More information on the purchase of these tapes will be available closer to the show date.
These regulations are in place for the benefit of everyone and as a common courtesy to the dancers performing on stage. To videotape a performance that is being professionally videotaped is against Federal Copyright Laws, and also an infringement on choreography copyrights. Do to problems in the past; absolutely no camera of any kind will be permitted in the auditorium during recital. Please do all of your videotaping and photography during rehearsal and enjoy watching the performances without the interruption of photography and video cameras. Anyone bringing a camera into the performance will be asked to leave the auditorium. Please explain this policy to all visiting relatives, also, and thank you for your cooperation.

For the record, the part I bolded is total bullshit. Whether something is being "professionally" taped is completely irrelevant to the legality of private taping. This is just official-sounding mumbo jumbo dance-tek (or someone) invented to justify their own for-profit activities.

 

[fornax]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

All such hypothetical and theoretical thinking is just horse shit to me. The issue is that a performance is something you go to to watch somebody perform, not have your viewing experiences ruined by people trying to film while you are trying to watch. It ruins other people's viewing experience, is rude, thoughtless, selfish, and anti social. The advent of personal video ruined the experience viewing experience of masses of people and professionals were hired to allow both a video for anybody who could afford one and maybe not a camera, and also allow the traditional focus on what is being performed by people who came to watch and not tape themselves. Of course selfish assholes will insist they aren't bothering anybody. But watch them howl of they were allowed to tape and folk like me who hate being distracted stand up and get in front of their camera to block their view. Don't I have a right to stick my hand in front of their camera or move back in forth in my seat to make sure to block their view. Sure I do. It's a free country and there's no law against it.

One day dear sweet Mr. Larson is going to run into Harry the Gorilla who will shove that video camera right up Mr. Larson's ass.

Did someone hack MB's account? We used to have a smart, witty, always to the point comments from MB and now I see a selfish, arrogant, totally flipped arshole one usually meets at Teabaggers parties or in Bill O'Reilly's audience.

Where is the real Moonbeam and what did you do with him?

 

[nobodyknows]

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: nobodyknows
If any of you people had any sense you would see the issue is when having an event with 100 kids there are going to be 100 parents wanting to videotape the event.

Look what a pain in the ass ONE individual was, now imagine two of them wanting the same spot to film from.

And yet in 17 years of attending (and recording) such events, I haven't seen problems like that even once. YMMV of course, but I can tell you it's not an inevitable problem as you suggest.

IMHO it would only be a matter of time before it happened and the school district got sued over it. Isn't there a suit in this case over the medical bills? I don't particuarly care for being forced into buying a DVD but that seems to be the best way to handle all aspects of the problem.

 

[Colt45]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: ultra laser
LOL @ Americans. You guys can't even film your kids dancing at school! And you think you're free! Hahahahahaha

this is a profound statement.

Amen... some of the folks around here with the "US = only free nation on earth, everyone else is gagged and bound in shackles" concept need to give their head a shake and go on vacation.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: nobodyknows
If any of you people had any sense you would see the issue is when having an event with 100 kids there are going to be 100 parents wanting to videotape the event.

Look what a pain in the ass ONE individual was, now imagine two of them wanting the same spot to film from.

:roll: umm no. from what i have seen from the many school events i have been to with my kids and extended families kids that i would say roughly the number of people taping is 20% at most.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: nobodyknows

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: nobodyknows
If any of you people had any sense you would see the issue is when having an event with 100 kids there are going to be 100 parents wanting to videotape the event.

Look what a pain in the ass ONE individual was, now imagine two of them wanting the same spot to film from.

And yet in 17 years of attending (and recording) such events, I haven't seen problems like that even once. YMMV of course, but I can tell you it's not an inevitable problem as you suggest.

IMHO it would only be a matter of time before it happened and the school district got sued over it. Isn't there a suit in this case over the medical bills? I don't particuarly care for being forced into buying a DVD but that seems to be the best way to handle all aspects of the problem.

sued over what? dude parents have been taping/filming kids school stuff for like 50 years.

 

[nobodyknows]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: nobodyknows

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: nobodyknows
If any of you people had any sense you would see the issue is when having an event with 100 kids there are going to be 100 parents wanting to videotape the event.

Look what a pain in the ass ONE individual was, now imagine two of them wanting the same spot to film from.

And yet in 17 years of attending (and recording) such events, I haven't seen problems like that even once. YMMV of course, but I can tell you it's not an inevitable problem as you suggest.

IMHO it would only be a matter of time before it happened and the school district got sued over it. Isn't there a suit in this case over the medical bills? I don't particuarly care for being forced into buying a DVD but that seems to be the best way to handle all aspects of the problem.

sued over what? dude parents have been taping/filming kids school stuff for like 50 years.

Really? All the way back to 1959? Hmm I don't think most people even had television sets in 1959? And they weren't even color.

 

[nobodyknows]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: nobodyknows
If any of you people had any sense you would see the issue is when having an event with 100 kids there are going to be 100 parents wanting to videotape the event.

Look what a pain in the ass ONE individual was, now imagine two of them wanting the same spot to film from.

:roll: umm no. from what i have seen from the many school events i have been to with my kids and extended families kids that i would say roughly the number of people taping is 20% at most.

It only takes two to tango.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: fornax

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

All such hypothetical and theoretical thinking is just horse shit to me. The issue is that a performance is something you go to to watch somebody perform, not have your viewing experiences ruined by people trying to film while you are trying to watch. It ruins other people's viewing experience, is rude, thoughtless, selfish, and anti social. The advent of personal video ruined the experience viewing experience of masses of people and professionals were hired to allow both a video for anybody who could afford one and maybe not a camera, and also allow the traditional focus on what is being performed by people who came to watch and not tape themselves. Of course selfish assholes will insist they aren't bothering anybody. But watch them howl of they were allowed to tape and folk like me who hate being distracted stand up and get in front of their camera to block their view. Don't I have a right to stick my hand in front of their camera or move back in forth in my seat to make sure to block their view. Sure I do. It's a free country and there's no law against it.

One day dear sweet Mr. Larson is going to run into Harry the Gorilla who will shove that video camera right up Mr. Larson's ass.

Did someone hack MB's account? We used to have a smart, witty, always to the point comments from MB and now I see a selfish, arrogant, totally flipped arshole one usually meets at Teabaggers parties or in Bill O'Reilly's audience.

Where is the real Moonbeam and what did you do with him?

On the contrary, your right to tape where you want delusion is right up tea bag alley.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: nobodyknows

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: nobodyknows
If any of you people had any sense you would see the issue is when having an event with 100 kids there are going to be 100 parents wanting to videotape the event.

Look what a pain in the ass ONE individual was, now imagine two of them wanting the same spot to film from.

And yet in 17 years of attending (and recording) such events, I haven't seen problems like that even once. YMMV of course, but I can tell you it's not an inevitable problem as you suggest.

IMHO it would only be a matter of time before it happened and the school district got sued over it. Isn't there a suit in this case over the medical bills? I don't particuarly care for being forced into buying a DVD but that seems to be the best way to handle all aspects of the problem.

You don't have to buy a DVD. You can do without like all the folk who can't afford a camera which costs way more or those or the DVD. Nobody is forcing you to buy it. What you can't do is tape yourself, like all the folk who can or can't afford a camera. It is the only practical solution to a world that can't allow life to happen once and need to preserve cherished moments to collect dust in the closet. Not only will they not be there for the real event, they will pretend they are when they watch the video once and pack it away to molder with all the rest of their collected junk in their faux lives. Be and you will have a whole life filled with the NOW.