The Collection: Film & Video | Documents | Access: Commercial Users | Access: Private Users | DVDs for Sale
Introduction
The use of material from our holdings in commercial television, video and cinema films is one way in which the NRFTA can offer the public access to our collection, and it is for that reason that we work with commercial producers to try and meet their footage requirements. However, please remember that we are an archive, not a stock shot library. In many cases we hold the only copy, or only surviving copy of a film or videotape. Therefore we have to ensure its long-term preservation as well as meet access requests for this material. Furthermore we do not own or control the copyright for much of our collection. This can also impose limitations on the commercial access provision that we are able to offer. But in most cases we are able to fulfil footage requests from producers and researchers.
Using the Service
The NRFTA’s staff and collections are split across two sites. Two full-time and two part-time members of staff and approximately half of the holdings are located at the University of Teesside. The remainder of the collection and a part-time access officer are based at Tyne and Wear Archives Service in the centre of Newcastle. Please feel free to contact either office with your query. We can normally make recommendations as to which material from the collection covers the general subject area of an enquiry and can usually carry out the necessary research. There is no charge for the provision of this information other than for large-scale enquiries (in which case the NRFTA may impose a service charge, which will be negotiated and agreed in advance of the work being carried out). Subject to certain technical and copyright restrictions we may be able to supply DVD viewing copies for commercial research use, and the charge for this can be found in our current rate card.
Contracts and Copyright
Once the required material has been identified, copyright clearance must be obtained where necessary and this is the responsibility of the customer. We can often provide contact details for copyright owners, but before releasing any material the NRFTA will require their written authorisation. The NRFTA may impose clearance charges in respect of material for which it owns or controls the copyright (these vary according to the intended use of the material). In the case of 'orphan films' (i.e. material for which the copyright owner cannot be identified) we may be prepared to license footage if the customer is willing to indemnify the NRFTA against any and all future claims. A contract stating the charges applicable and describing the full, binding conditions governing the use of the material will be issued prior to the release of the material. Once final editing is complete, we will require a footage return statement from the customer, detailing the material used in the final production. We will will then issue an invoice.
The NRFTA reserves the right to:
- Require that a copy of the finished production (as released and/or broadcast) be deposited with or loaned to the NRFTA for reference and use by researchers on its premises and those of its partner organisations.
- Require a deposit prior to services and/or material being supplied.
- Impose a charge for complex or large-scale commercial research enquiries.
- Make additional charges in some circumstances, e.g. for urgent enquiries or viewing large amounts of material, and impose penalty fees for breach of contract.
Supply of Material for Editing
We can supply material 'in house' on the following formats:
- Beta SP
- DVCAM
- In a range of digital file formats on CD- or DVD-ROM
We can provide material on Digibeta if you need it, but we would have to oursource the telecine or transfer work for this, and pass the cost onto the customer.