Summary of "Blockbuster Kid Print Instructional Video.mpg"

Overview

The video is a promotional/training message from Blockbuster about its “Kid Print” program, an annual campaign encouraging children’s video prints to help locate missing children. It argues that video records created in-store are more useful than standard photos for identifying a child’s appearance.

Key Points

Scale of the problem: The video cites that over 1.4 million children are reported as runaways, abducted, or otherwise missing each year.
Purpose of Kid Print: Blockbuster claims the program:
- raises awareness for missing/exploited children, and
- provides a practical tool for parents during emergencies.
Effectiveness of video over photos: Law enforcement is presented as believing these “living pictures” are more helpful than traditional photographs for recall and identification.
Program logistics and timing: Kid Print is described as starting in June, with Blockbuster emphasizing that employees should build customer interest before June so the campaign month is fully used.

How Staff Should Promote the Program

Employees are instructed to:

Hand out/insert flyers in tape boxes
Display kiosk materials, plexi inserts, and wear special ribbon/name tags
Place a stanchion sign at the store entrance
Proactively ask customers with children if they’ve heard of the free service

How Staff Should Run the Recording

The script outlines in-store steps:

Set up a tripod camera and microphone
Use Sony T15 tapes on the kiosk
Collect the child’s name, age, and height (measured against the kiosk)
Have the child hold a clapboard at chest level for about five seconds
Capture both:
- full-body shots, and
- close-up shots using camera buttons such as W (full body) and T (zoom)
Ask simple questions while filming, such as:
- age, school, siblings, and favorite movie
Maintain filming coverage so the child’s face/arms remain fully in frame

Quality Control

Staff are told to review the tape before giving it to the parent to help prevent returns and dissatisfaction.

Customer Messaging

Employees should:

Thank parents
Emphasize that the process is quick/easy and enjoyable
Encourage families to tell others, reinforcing a community-support narrative (“we’re parents too”)

Call to Action

The overall message is that Blockbuster employees and customers are “critical parts” of the nationwide effort. The video also claims the company has provided 200,000+ video prints to date.

Presenters/Contributors

No individual presenter is clearly identified.
The video features Blockbuster staff/CSR roles speaking (including a scripted interviewer and customer/parent lines), but no names are provided.