Obtaining News Footage at DVinfo.net

Sam Shore · November 4th, 2005, 07:57 PM

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

Steve House · November 5th, 2005, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Shore

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?

Sam Shore · November 5th, 2005, 05:52 AM

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.

Heath McKnight · November 6th, 2005, 06:01 PM

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

Sam Shore · November 6th, 2005, 09:21 PM

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.

Bob Costa · November 6th, 2005, 10:57 PM

CNN has a specific division for this:

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

Sam Shore · November 7th, 2005, 06:32 AM

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.

Heath McKnight · November 10th, 2005, 02:25 PM

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

Bob Costa · November 10th, 2005, 10:13 PM

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] :)

Heath McKnight · November 11th, 2005, 12:34 AM

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

Sam Shore · November 11th, 2005, 07:06 AM

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.]

Heath McKnight · November 11th, 2005, 07:35 AM

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

November 4th, 2005, 07:57 PM	#1
Sam Shore Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 58	Obtaining News Footage How might I as an independent documentary producer go about obtaining highly relevant news footage from local network affiliates?

November 6th, 2005, 06:01 PM	#4
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	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 __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

November 6th, 2005, 10:57 PM	#6
Bob Costa Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 850	CNN has a specific division for this: http://www.cnnimagesource.com/CNIS/index.html __________________ You are either growing or dying.

November 10th, 2005, 02:25 PM	#8
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	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 __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

November 10th, 2005, 10:13 PM	#9
Bob Costa Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 850	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] :) __________________ You are either growing or dying.

November 5th, 2005, 05:52 AM	#3
Sam Shore Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 58	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.

November 6th, 2005, 09:21 PM	#5
Sam Shore Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 58	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.

November 7th, 2005, 06:32 AM	#7
Sam Shore Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 58	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.

November 11th, 2005, 12:34 AM	#10
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	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 __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

November 11th, 2005, 07:06 AM	#11
Sam Shore Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 58	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.]

November 11th, 2005, 07:35 AM	#12
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	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 __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog