Frequently Asked Questions - click to read the answers

1. What is stock footage?
2. Do you have a catalog?
3. What's the difference between a custom viewing cassette and the Selects reel?
4. Can I order an image that I see on the Selects reel or in the image gallery at the web site?
5. Is talent cleared?
6. If talent's not cleared how come you can license the footage?
7. How come I have to pay the license and lab fees up front?
8. Why do I have to return the masters? Don't I own them?
9. Why do you need a verification copy?
10. What's a kill fee?
11. What's a lift fee?
12. Is all of that paperwork really necessary?
13. Isn't this kind of expensive?
14. I've got some footage, can I work with SF.V?
15. If I use a lot of shots can I get any discount?

1. What is stock footage?

Stock footage is a collection of film images that have been previously shot, and are reused in commercials, TV shows, corporate productions, etc.. For example, if you need a sunrise on an empty beach, instead of shooting it, you call us up and we can show it to you.

2. Do you have a catalog?

No, we have over 5 million images in our library, and it is expanding daily. We'd be happy to send you our promo reel Selects Take 4. It will give you a good idea of the variety and quality of our images, and show you some of the creative ways our clients have used our footage.

3. What's the difference between a custom viewing cassette and the Selects reel?

The Selects reel - also sometimes called a Showcase Reel - is just a glimpse into our library, and there's no charge to send you one. A custom viewing cassette is a cassette compiled based on your requests, specially tailored to fit the needs of your project. You pay for the editing time it takes to put together the demo. Demo fees vary with how much we have to show you and how much you would like to see. We will always quote you the demo fee prior to putting it together.

4. Can I order an image that I see on the Selects reel or in the image gallery at the web site?

Yes, you can. Just give us a call and we'll be happy to work with you.

5. Is talent cleared?

90% of our current footage uses cleared talent. Some talent will require a talent fee, should you use the footage. This information is included with your demo tapes. Footage containing famous people or archival footage is not cleared. Who worried about talent fees in the 30's? If you would like to use footage containing Marilyn Monroe or some other celebrity, we can contact an agent that works with the estates and let you know how much that talent fee will be. SF.V does not indemnify talent. We will leave it up to you if you would like to use any footage that contains talent that is not cleared.

6. If talent's not cleared how come you can license the footage?

A lot of archival footage is considered public domain. The copyright has expired on the footage and no one owns the rights to the film, therefore we can license it. That doesn't mean the people used in the footage are cleared. They may be cleared, but in all likelihood any paperwork to back this up has been lost, so to err on the side of caution, we assume they are not.

7. How come I have to pay the license and lab fees up front?

SF.V has required all clients to pay the license and lab fees prior to the release of the master elements since Day One. We contract with our cinematographers to pay them within 15 - 20 days of licensing their footage. Standard PO and accounting procedures just don't work fast enough to meet our obligation to our cinematographers. We understand it is a bit of a hassle, but this arrangement with our cinematographers allows us to keep our rates low and our shooters happy. It also keeps us from spending a single minute dealing with collections.

8. Why do I have to return the masters? Don't I own them?

No, you don't own the masters. When you pay your license fee, you are paying for the right to use that shot in your production. All masters are considered the property of SF.V and must be returned. Our cinematographers trust us to keep track of their clean images at all times. There has been an occasion or two that a shot has been reused in a different production and the client was unaware that the second project required additional license fees. Returning the masters avoids any sticky situations.

9. Why do you need a verification copy?

We are always interested in what our clients are working on and how they work with stock footage. The creative ideas we see are endless, and never cease to impress us. A verification copy also helps us with question #11.

10. What's a kill fee?

We understand that clients can be indecisive, and that sometimes shots get ordered, paid for and never used for one reason or another. If you let us know within 20 days of sending you the masters, and return the masters to us along with a verification copy, we can most likely return 50% of your license fee to you. The decision to refund is the perogative of the cinematographer. We cannot refund the entire license fee; the cinematographer must be compensated for accessing the master element regardless of how the project turns out. Lab fees are never refunded, except in the very very rare case an error has been made at the lab and they cannot make good on the error.

11. What's a lift fee?

A lift fee is incurred when you use the shot more than once in your production. It is 50% of the license fee.

12. Is all of that paperwork really necessary?

Yes - it's called CYOA. The license agreements document that you have the rights to use our footage in the project specified should the question ever come up. They are also helpful when, a year later, we give you a call to let you know that your license is about to expire for the year, and to find out if you'd care to renew the license. If you have questions about the length of the license agreement, check out our rate sheet or give us a call at 813.884.5963.

13. Isn't this kind of expensive?

Well, it's not cheap, but it is certainly cheaper that hiring a crew and talent, renting equipment, traveling, shooting footage, developing the footage, reshooting in case it doesn't turn out right...

14. I've got some footage, can I work with SF.V?

Maybe, check out our cinematographer page, we'll be happy to talk with you.

15. If I use a lot of shots can I get any discount?

Of course. We can usually offer a discount on orders of three or more shots from one collection. We also have minute rates for projects that require lots of footage.

If we've missed something, let us know. We'll be happy to answer any questions you may have, although we do stay away from religion and politics.