Obtaining News Footage
 

How might I as an independent documentary producer go about obtaining highly relevant news footage from local network affiliates?

Have you tried calling up the news director of the station that shot the footage?

Right... That would be the way to go I'm sure. I guess what I really meant to ask is whether anyone could share their experience of getting news footage. I'm trying to get a handle on the best way to approach my goal. What would be in it for the station? A fee or simply acknowledgement in the credits? I'd like to have a little background information in hand before I make the inquiry.

Bargain--they may give it to you for free. As a former TV news station creative services writer/producer and a news editor, we had someone else usually do it for us. And it was all VHS. Ask if they can give it to you on mini-dv, DVCPro, DVCam or BetaSP. And have the station do it from their library. Be careful, though, they recycle shooters' tapes like crazy and I used to always see tons of drop out. And the decks are used all the time, at least two to four, 24 hours a day.

heath

Good news... sounds promising. What is in it for the station? Good p.r.? Getting more mileage out of their stuff?

Thanks for the ideas and good assistance Heath.

CNN has a specific division for this:

http://www.cnnimagesource.com/CNIS/index.html

Thanks for the link Bob... great info...

I am so low budget, I'd be worried about CNN's fees. But maybe an angel will come through and help fund my project soon.

It's funny that you're both from Florida, Heath and Bob, because in fact, one of the stations I want to try to work with is Channel 12 in West Palm Beach. I'm in central Louisiana making an independent documentary about a hurricane-related story that involves a Canadian billionaire who temporarily housed some New Orleans evacuees at his thoroughbred training facility in Boynton Beach. Maybe you heard about it.

I think so--there's a new racing facility I passed by on my way to the airport today. I used to work at WPTV, the NBC affiliate, for five years.

heath

Florida is a big state. Miami to Pensacola is about 1o hours by car, or 15 by airplane. Heath and I are pretty close to each other for Florida, but still 3+ hours apart. He is closer to Boynton, I am on West Coast and further north (near Tampa). [end florida geography lesson] :)

Venice is nice, which I know this is off topic. Boynton is about 20 miles from me. I used to live there.

My advice, getting back on topic, is to call the TV station, get permission and ask for a DV or beta sp version, otherwise you'll end up with bad VHS, more than likely.

heath

Muchas gracias amigos. I will pursue that route.

[BTW, I was in Boynton Beach, Palm Beach just a few days before Wilma. Lovely area. I hope it wasn't ravaged by the storm. Royal Palm Boulevard was a thrill. Judging from the height of those beauties, those trees have endured years of high winds. I hope they withstood.]

Sam,

I haven't driven through Boynton, but pretty much Miami up to Port St. Lucie got nailed. It was rough. School was out for the most part in Broward and Palm Beach counties for 2 weeks. A lot of people are still without power.

heath