Re: [AMIA-L] National Parks documentary seeks home movie footage

[Joanne Stober <Joanne.Stober@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 I think it is inspired to seek home movie footage and a quick attempt
should be made by maybe the Society of American Archivists or a lobby that
speaks for regional archives to create a partnership on this venture. The
home movies that are being submitted to Burns should, whether selected for
the film or not, be considered for archivial collections and properly
described and preserved. This will be like one giant thematic Home Movie
Day!  I wonder if the Home Movie Day executive could have a hand in
formulating a plan. 

JoAnne

-----Original Message-----
From: Association of Moving Image Archivists [mailto:AMIA-L@xxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Francine Lastufka Taylor
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 4:11 PM
To: AMIA-L@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [AMIA-L] National Parks documentary seeks home movie footage

HI Andrea,
'Ken Burns was in Alaska about two years ago. Kevin Tripp AMIPA's archivist
met with him and his producer. The idea behind home movies is that what
diaries and journals were to the 19th century, home movies are the
historical documents of the 21st century. As a documentary film maker, I
totally agree with him on this. I am sure they will also be going to
production houses and institutions around the country to get footage as
well. Of course they will have to pay for it.

However, receiving a DVD in payment is not acceptable. They have big budgets
compared to the rest of us and should have a healthy amount in their budget
for archival footage. I won't try to figure out what the rates should be for
amateur film but clearly the owner of the film has the right and power to
negotiate. If they want it bad enough Ken Burns and company will be willing
to pay for it.

In regard to giving away the rights, I think home movie owners should be
educated about the importance of keeping the rights. After they have been
given this information, and still want to give it away, only then is it
freely given. AMIA might want to see if there is an educational role they
can play in this.

Speaking for regional archives, I would not want Ken Burns to be given
footage on Alaska's National Parks. That footage should reside in the state.
We have many more wonderful stories to tell with that footage. They are our
region's treasures.

For more information on the meeting with Kevin Tripp and Ken Burns and his
producer, contact him. I have cc'd him on this.
Francine


On May 4, 2007, at 9:31 AM, Andrea Leigh wrote:

> Interesting ... I just received this notice from the Yellowstone 
> National Park Association today.  Not sure what to think of this. 
> Let's do away with
> providing fair compensation for the use of footage? Or ...   
> clearing rights
> is too complicated and expensive so I'll just go get my material 
> directly from the public? Or ... what a terrific way to get home movie 
> footage out of the closets and out to the masses!
>
> --Andrea
>
> Yellowstone Association E-Newsletter May 2007:
>
> In the fall of 2009 PBS will air The National Parks, a major 
> documentary film series produced and directed by award winning 
> documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and writer/producer Dayton Duncan. It 
> will tell the human history of five of the nation's most important and 
> most heavily visited National Parks (Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand 
> Canyon, Acadia, and Great Smoky
> Mountains) and
> the unforgettable Americans who made them possible. They are looking 
> for historic family footage of the national parks from the 1920's to 
> 1980's.
> They are most interested in families and tourists in the national 
> parks, not scenery without people. Do not send original footage (VHS 
> or DVD copies only please). Material will not be returned. Clearly 
> mark the tape or disc with your name, address, phone number and e-mail 
> (if available), so they can contact you if your footage is selected. 
> Include a brief description, e.g., the Smith family, George and 
> Martha, Bill and Sally, in Grand Canyon, 1955.
> If your home movies are used in The National Parks, you will receive a 
> DVD of the series. Send to the address below by August 1, 2007:
> Anne Harrington
> WETA
> 2775 South Quincy Street
> Arlington, VA 22206
> eod@xxxxxxxx
>
>
> *~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*
>
> Andrea Leigh
> Metadata Librarian
> UCLA Film and Television Archive
> 1015 No. Cahuenga
> Hollywood, CA  90038
>
> voice: 323-462-4921 x13
> fax: 323-469-9055
> email: aleigh@xxxxxxxx
>
> -----------<<end>>------------
>