Plan the discussion before editing the playlist
Choose the idea the two scenes should illustrate, then identify the exact films and approximate moments. Kanopy’s custom-playlist feature can contain complete films or clips with defined start and end points. It works on the website and requires a Kanopy account; the help says it is not available in the mobile or television apps. Begin there rather than trying to find a missing editing control on a TV remote. A clear discussion question gives the playlist a purpose beyond collecting posters, and reduces the temptation to add a long sequence that nobody has time to watch.
Create the list and add the correct films
Kanopy directs viewers to My Lists, then Custom Playlists, where Create New Playlist establishes the list. Add the intended film from its details page through the Playlists tab. Use a meaningful private title such as the discussion theme and date. In an original example, a film group might compare how two documentaries introduce a location. Confirm the year and filmmaker for each entry before adding it; a remake or a similarly named short could otherwise make the comparison confusing. These preparation choices are ours, not a report of a classroom or device test.
Set clip boundaries around the point being discussed
The official editor provides timeline controls and start, end and length fields for an individual clip. Use those to preserve enough context for the question. A clip beginning after the relevant line or ending before the visual response is not a fair comparison merely because it is short. Give each clip a descriptive name, save the changes and check the opening and closing points in the website player. The feature organizes playback within Kanopy; it should not be presented as permission to extract the video into a separate file or republish the footage elsewhere.
Review access and the final sequence before sharing
Play the sequence in its intended order and read Kanopy’s current sharing and access guidance before distributing the official link. An existing playlist does not establish that every recipient has the required library or institution access. Keep a separate note of the full film titles so viewers can explore the context through legitimate access. If an entry becomes unavailable, revise the discussion plan rather than treating the link as a permanent media archive. A good result is two deliberate excerpts, understandable boundaries and an explainable viewing question, supported by the publisher’s own playlist tools instead of an exported copy.
Questions answered
Can I create Kanopy custom clips in the TV app?
Kanopy says custom playlists and clips are a website feature, not a mobile- or TV-app feature.
Does creating a clip mean I have exported the film?
No. The documented feature defines playback within Kanopy; keep viewing and sharing within the applicable access conditions.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the subjects discussed. Service terms and device software can change.