Keyword of the Day

Stock footage can be called many things and used for many reasons. It is most commonly called archive footage. When movies are made, not all of the film used in the making of the movie becomes part of the final product. There are mistakes, bad takes or a myriad other things to account for literally miles of film shot. This extra film is stored in giant warehouses until it is one day needed.

This much film is needed for lots of reasons. First, filmmakers never know when they have enough, so they tend to shoot much more. It gives them lots of options to complete their artistic vision. Even after the film is completed, they like to keep all the extra around in case of the unplanned. Many movie channels also have sneak peeks at upcoming movies. This footage is used so the audience can see what is in store for a particular film without showing much of the actual film itself.

Archive footage is hugely important to DVD’s, since it is the bulk of a DVD’s special features section. Gag reels and cast interviews are nice for all viewers, but the hardcore fans of a movie tend to watch all of the special features to learn everything they can about the production.

Public domain footage is included in many films. There are many large moments in history that were taped and are available for people and filmmakers to use. The government maintains much of this footage. It makes it easy for filmmakers to find appropriate clips of their subjects or to include or research historical figures for their projects.

Some footage from actual movies can become public domain, too. Classic films are used over and over again, especially on televised movie countdowns and lists. Many of these show describe why a movie is ranked as it is, followed by a clip of the movie. It is helpful for the viewers at home. Some clips from classic films are used so frequently that one can’t help but think of them as stock footage.

Not all footage is very interesting. It is most commonly seen in movies when characters are driving or walking somewhere. Someone in real life video taped out of the back or side windows of a car and then had the images put on film outside the actor’s car, so it looks like they were really going somewhere, not just sitting in a studio.

Though this is not as provocative as other behind-the-scenes looks, the type of footage outside the car window can give clues to the quality of the movie or important scenes in the film. The small details of the footage can make or break a movie.

The stock video footage can also become very useful for shows with low budgets. If a similar action happens a couple of times in a film, the film makers can get away with showing the same high definition stock footage from an early part of the movie. Children’s shows do this constantly since kids tend not to notice.