Jay Mitchell, Thanks very much. I know where to come next time!

Yes, I have the master mini-DV tape back. I insisted on that when I met them after the event.

As far as I am concerned they have no rights to it whatsoever because I have signed nothing at all. Does the fact that I took cash off their representative mean that I've sold over the copyright to them? I doubt it but correct me if I'm wrong.

Now I know you're all going to start frothing at the mouth again about me underestimating my work but the footage is not THAT special. It's not like I actually shot the tsunami rolling in or anything. It's some dead and dying fish that have been dynamited in Burma, it's some surface footage that I took of a town on the coast in Burma totally unaffected by the tsunami, and it's footage of unaffected coral in Thailand. It's quality footage but I could take my VX2000 and go and shoot much the same again next week.

I'm pretty much decided that I'll let this one go this time. It's been a great learning experience hearing from all of you guys anyway and I'll try and toughen up... or get an agent. Jay M, I'll drop you a line. Sorry I didn't do it earlier.

Jay,
apart from all "right on time", "dead on" footage you sell to news broadcasters and such, what's the type of footage you found is the most easy to sell generally speaking?

FuTz,

I don't know what you mean by "dead on" and "right on time". But, I'm thinking that maybe you mean - - "Caught on Tape".

Some important points were brought out by myself and others in the know - - in these threads - - about the useage of certain terms. Let me recap a few of the points.

1. Only Rookies and Naive Persons - Use the Word "Sell" or "Buy" when talking about News Footage or Stock Footage or such....

2. People and Companies who Buy Footage from Naive People - - Will Always Think of the Sellers as Rank Amateurs. To Understand the reasoning for this - - refer back to the point #1.

3. Licensing Footage from Amateurs for Broadcast Purposes always carries with it - - some risks - - for the Broadcast End User. Most Rookies are not able to handle the Indemification Clauses, Waivers of Subrigations and Errors and Ommissions Insurances - - that are usually part of the Process. So, If a Company can do business with a Trusted Footage Provider - - They will Gladly Pay Much More to License the Material - - then they would, otherwise. This is only a very small part of the equation.

4. As for What is the Most Easiest to "License" - - that depends on certain naturally occuring factors, trends, hot topics and such... For Example: Right Now "Survival" and "Amazing Rescues" are Very Hot. Which makes Tsunami Footage - HOT! There will be an upcoming Montel Williams Show on Survivals that features, My Work. And, E! - - Just Ran a Celebrity Piece of my Work on "Life is Great With Brook Burke"

5. So, the Answer is that at any given time there are Hundreds of Shows in all stages of Production that are looking for Specific Footage. And, there is a Process that they go through to locate the material. I am known for my Reality Based Footage. Life and Death, Cops and Robbers and Everything Else in between. I did a great Deal of Work for Real TV, Maximum Exposure and All of the Crime Scene Related Shows on A&E, Discover Channel and Such...

If at any time - - Anyone, would like to discuss - - what Footage - - You may have - - You may contact me offline at my email address.

Jay Mitchell
Newsshooter@hotmail.com

I meant "trend of the day", or "hot topics"...
And obviously, it was a "roo-rookie" asking...

And I'll never say "sell" again, promised...

For those who care,

Sometimes - - We Learn from our Own Mistakes. And, Sometimes - - If we are Lucky Enough or Smart - - We can Learn from the Other Guy's Mistakes.

I Certainly, Have made My Share of Costly Mistakes in the Stock Footage Licensing Business. And, Fortunately for me - - I no longer make the same mistakes.

We all have our areas of expertise. And, This One - - Happens to be mine.

I could share hundreds of learning experiences that got me from there to here. The Reasons behind using and understanding the correct terminology is very important. Especially, where the contractual meaning of words are involved.

There has Never Been an Instance of Where I Inadvertently Used the Word "Sell" and Not Had a Person or Entity try to Enforce It or Take Unfair Advantage of it - - In This Business.

In Most Instances - "Sell" means to Transfer the Complete Ownership Rights of a Thing - - for a Monetarily Agreed Upon Value. Software, Like Vegas is Sold at Stores - - But, You are Only being Sold a License to Use the Product in a Prescribed Manner. A Misuse of that License Could bring trouble.

I'm sure that everyone can see that when you are dealing with Intellectual and Artistic Copyrighted Works- - Like Stock Footage - - it would be best to Protect Yourself by using the Appropriate Terminolgy. Or, You may end up Selling - - what you only intended to License.

Jay Mitchell

Great advise Jay, do you have a website (sorry if I missed an earlier post) where you tout your services in this regard other than just an email address?
I'm sure there are loads of people here on this site interested in discovering your services, who would like to see a presentation of how this is accomplished, or your pitch, in other words. Is this what you do for a living?

Yes! Stock Footage Licensing and Representation is Now My Primary Business. For the Past 17 years - - I have dealt exclusively with the Broadcast News, Broadcast Production, and the Entertainment and Motion Picture Industries.

And, Up Until Now - - I have focused mainly on Rights Managed Media. And, In a Traditional - - Tape to Tape, manner. Recently, I had a Very Expensive, High Tech, High Speed - Web Server Built - - For Serving Stock Footage and other Multimedia Files.

A New Content Asset Management Website has been built to Host the Media Files. Clients, Will be able to Preview Quicktime Clips Online and Download Full Resolution Files on Demand. Or, Request Files on Tape, CD, DVD Data, etc....

It's a Huge Project - - as I am encoding over 200,000 Clips. The New Website will be unveiled - - just before NAB!

In the meantime - - I will be happy to assist anyone with your Stock Footage Questions and to help assess - - what you may have - - that may be Licensable.

Regards,

Jay Mitchell

Would you consider London clips? - Grazie

Hi Grazie!

Funny, You should say that. I saw the Footage Clips of You and Liam, Slamming a Few Guinesses - - "Down by the River". And No! I don't mean the Neil Young, Song!

Sure, I'd love to know what UK Footage is Available. Shoot me a private, email.

Jay

Hi again Jay M,

I've emailed you privately but I thought I'd ask you a further question so other forumites can benefit.

I've just finished my "best of the last 3 years" DVD entitled "Reef Life Of The Andaman". The raw footage is all mini-DV PAL mostly shot with a VX2000 here in Thailand and Burma.

Many people have said to me that it's good enough to be on Animal Planet or National Geographic or whatever. It's 1 hour 55 minutes so I'd probably need to edit it down to an hour for such a purpose and perhaps strengthen the storyline a bit. One or two people have suggested alternately I should just use the DVD as a means to get one of those channels to fund me making the next one.

I don't have contacts directly with Animal Planet or Nat Geo, and I guess they get a lot of material to wade through, mostly rubbish. So how would I go about getting my foot in the door?

Bubblevision,

I did go to your website earlier - - and had a difficult time - - getting, anything but the homepage - to load. I was going to try again - later.

I wanted to see the demos - - before I responded to you.

As far as getting Your Project on Animal Planet or National Geographic or Others - - Is Totally Doable.

There are some Careful Steps that Must be Done in a Certain Order to Acheive the Best Results.

Best Results - means:

1. Successful Negotiation Strategy
2. Building Interest - Through a Successful Treatment Presentation
3. Securing Production Funding
4. Possibly Working with a Recognized Production / Post Production Co.
5. Getting Legal Assistance from a Qualified Lawyer
6. Having the Correct Insurance Policies
7. Working Out Compensation Agreements
8. Securing Appropriate Licensing, Home Video Sales, Etc....
9. Building Trust
10. Getting Credits and Recognition

It's not as hard as it sounds - - You just have to do it , right.

Jay Mitchell