Advice on how to sell my footage

[woz 0]

I have a massed many hours of footage over the last 4-5 years and I am now thinking about trying to sell some of it to help pay for that next big trip. (ok assume for now that any of it is worth selling :wink: )

 

Now I realize that many of you are also selling your footage and might not want to give away your hard earned knowledge and contact information and I can understand that. But any advice on the types of companies that might be looking to purchase underwater footage (mostly fish and reef stuff) and how one might go about promoting oneself to them would be appreciated.

[CamDiver 5]

Hi Woz

This is always a point raised by shooters relatively new to underwater video. If you think five years is a long time read my posting on 'the rule of tens'!! in the general chat forum to give you an idea of the road ahead, Yikes!

 

So you have the footage you think is worth selling? The first thing is to edit the best hour or so onto a miniDV tape. From there look up stock agencies and get talking with the directors. Two that spring to mind are Ocean Footage

www.oceanfootage.com (very stringent and a high standard is definately required) and Oxford Scientific Films, not too sure of their web site. In order to determine the rate of commission charged by the representing stock agency they will ask whether or not you wish to appoint them as your sole Internet based representative therefore offering you a better commissioning fee or as a non-exclusive rep, you get charged more that way but it gives you the chance to 'spread your wares' and appoint multiple agents. What are you expecting to make? Rate wise it seems we make good money but the images as we all know are hard to come by take time to amass and are, to a certain extent, quite dear to us. Commissions are generally set at around 40 to 50% to the agent depending on how they are appointed. 40% if they are exclusive and 50% if they are non-exclusive. There are then certain categories of sale which dictate the pricing structure of your footage. From $25 per second up to $125 per second. That seems a lot but the quality must be excellent in order to get the sale. I use an agent in the U.S who also represents some of biggest names in underwater filming. Sales don't happen everyday!! So be prepared to wait between sales. Sitting back and watching the money roll in is not an option in this industry.

 

OR, you could develop your own web based stock library. That road is a long and hard one as it means that you would then have to do all of the research and networking with production companies. I tried to go that way before signing an agent. Believe me I was spending upwards of 75% of my time on-line making contacts. That took away the opportunity for me to do what I love doing, filming underwater.

 

So it's pretty much down to you. Look at the options and make your choice. Whichever way you choose to go I wish you the best of luck. It's not easy and excellence is rewarded.

 

Best,

Mark.[/i]