Finding archive for a documentary edit: 5 online libraries you need to know
We've all been there in the edit trenches, fully immersed in crafting a very gripping interview scene, reliving an historic moment or a poignant memory, only to realise that it needs something extra. More emotion and connection for a viewer to be immersed into that world. One way to achieve this magic touch is through the wonderful world of archive!
Now, as any seasoned Archive Producer and Researcher will tell you, great detective work to find the ‘right’ clips will always take time. As a film editor, time can be a scarce resource, and that’s where the Archive Producer steps in and helps discover these gems. However sometimes you need one shot to add to the timeline and assess how it feels in the overall flow of a scene, especially when a review is around the corner.
So, to assist you in finding archive for a documentary edit, here are 5 online libraries you need to know.
This is considered to be one of the most extensive newsreel archives in the world as it holds a collection of 85,000 films. It was born in the era before television when people attended the cinema to watch the news. Which is not *THAT* long ago. Its signature style was to blend information with entertainment – “If it happened, British Pathé filmed it.” Also, they are very prompt to respond to any licensing queries.
This is a vast database of archive from 1896 onwards. You can easily find suitable screeners. Not all archive is available to review online and for those clips you need to request access. Their licensing terms are quite clear.
The Prelinger Archive is a time machine of American cultural life and social history. It’s a treasure trove encompassing so many forms of video: - commercials, public information films, news and current affairs. Those landscape shots of San Francisco in the 1960s are there along with commercials for breakfast cereal and newsreels broadcasting St Patrick’s Day parades in Chicago. It’s very extensive and was founded by Rick Prelinger in 1982. I have used it to help find archive for documentary edits and really appreciate the home movie quality to some of the footage. They tend to have very favourable licensing terms.
Need footage of Earth from the stratosphere or some intergalactic vibes? Look no further than the beautiful and easy to navigate catalogue from NASA. This image and video library is always updating and their licensing terms are very clear. You’ll definitely find archive for any space-related documentary edit.
Library of Congress American Memory Film Collection
Last but certainly not least, is the Library of Congress American Memory Film Collection. In 1893 The Library of Congress started to collect motion pictures when Thomas Edison and his fantastic assistant W.K.L. Dickson deposited the Edison Kinetoscopic Records for copyright. Due to the flammable nature of the film, only the descriptions were kept and in the 1940s the library actually started to store films. What a collection they have too. You will see on their site that you can download viewable clips ranging from arrivals to Ellis island, entertainment in America from 1870-1920, New York under construction in the early 20th century and many many more.
So, there you have it - a little glimpse into the world of online film archives. There are many many other online archive libraries out there to help in finding archive for a documentary edit. Always read the terms and conditions before you dive in, which will reassure the Archive Producer. Archive presents many stylistic and narrative opportunities for any film editor. For me as a documentary editor, working on archive documentaries is very enjoyable and I’m always keen to hear from filmmakers and (non filmmakers) on ideas/proposals and editing queries for archive-based documentaries. So please feel free to reach out. Happy researching.
