How do I sell video?
April 17, 2011 6:55 PM Subscribe
How do I sell footage of a celebrity from before they were famous?
I've got video footage of an early performance by a (currently) Very Famous Person from when VFP was a teenager - well before VFP's fame. I'm not really down on celebrity news stuff, but I assume that there are websites and "news" sources that would pay for this - it's interesting, and VFP's talent is obvious even at a fairly young age.
I'd like to make some money off this, if possible.
What places might pay for it? How do I inquire and negotiate? Are there any things I should think about carefully, any issues I should anticipate?
I'm thinking, in particular, of proving what I have is legit without giving up the whole thing. Basically, how ought I let a potential buyer "taste the product," such as it is?
And how much money can I expect for 90minute video of a production in which VFP has a lead role?
Thanks, MeFi. Throwaway email for any potential followup: guesswhoiknow@gmail.com
I've got video footage of an early performance by a (currently) Very Famous Person from when VFP was a teenager - well before VFP's fame. I'm not really down on celebrity news stuff, but I assume that there are websites and "news" sources that would pay for this - it's interesting, and VFP's talent is obvious even at a fairly young age.
I'd like to make some money off this, if possible.
What places might pay for it? How do I inquire and negotiate? Are there any things I should think about carefully, any issues I should anticipate?
I'm thinking, in particular, of proving what I have is legit without giving up the whole thing. Basically, how ought I let a potential buyer "taste the product," such as it is?
And how much money can I expect for 90minute video of a production in which VFP has a lead role?
Thanks, MeFi. Throwaway email for any potential followup: guesswhoiknow@gmail.com
Did you shoot the footage yourself? If you didn't then you probably have no right to it.
posted by mareli at 7:24 PM on April 17, 2011
posted by mareli at 7:24 PM on April 17, 2011
Getty will license your footage, as will Corbis or AP. But you'll get the best rate at Getty.
posted by Ideefixe at 7:48 PM on April 17, 2011
posted by Ideefixe at 7:48 PM on April 17, 2011
Probably not the norm, but I was working for a semi-famous musician when someone found the first-ever footage of him playing a highschool dance. Black and white, no sound 8mm. The owner notified us he had it, then put it on eBay. Quite savvy--he knew that since it was short without sound it wasn't going to be worth that much (and there was probably not much licensing potential), but he knew we wanted it in our hands.
If you want a one-time payout and less hassle, this might be the way to go, so long as your ownership of the footage is clear. Once you sell it, it will be off your desk and VFP can fight/deal/pay/legally engage with the buyer if they don't buy it him/herself.
posted by quarterframer at 8:29 PM on April 17, 2011
If you want a one-time payout and less hassle, this might be the way to go, so long as your ownership of the footage is clear. Once you sell it, it will be off your desk and VFP can fight/deal/pay/legally engage with the buyer if they don't buy it him/herself.
posted by quarterframer at 8:29 PM on April 17, 2011
Bideo.com exists for this very reason
posted by luckyme793 at 8:37 PM on April 17, 2011
posted by luckyme793 at 8:37 PM on April 17, 2011
I don't know if they pay or how it works, but maybe tmz.com?
posted by Sweetmag at 10:02 PM on April 17, 2011
posted by Sweetmag at 10:02 PM on April 17, 2011
Gawker pays tipsters in certain cases. Depends on who your artist is.
posted by availablelight at 10:35 PM on April 17, 2011
posted by availablelight at 10:35 PM on April 17, 2011
I like quarterframer's approach. Giving the VFP him/herself the first chance at it may be the best way to go. VFP may have some ideas for using it that would not be available to anyone else.
posted by megatherium at 5:18 AM on April 18, 2011
posted by megatherium at 5:18 AM on April 18, 2011
Depends who it is. If it's the kind of celebrity who is already the stuff of both trashy and legit TV documentaries (e.g., Michael Jackson) then you're better off holding on to it, and getting a smart lawyer to help you market it to the kinds of places that buy such footage. But be prepared for headaches.
If it's something else, especially if you're not sure this person will be famous in 5-10 years, then you should just try and sell it for whatever you can get. Usually you can only sell it once, which is a boon, since all legal headaches accrue to the new owners. (Everyone who wants to use it in the future will then purchase it from whatever agency/program/network you sell it to.) Sounds crazy, but speaking as someone who has purchased this kind of footage in the past -- I'd suggest putting a snippet or stills up on a website and lard it up with searchable terms, so that when a PA at 60 Minutes or THS Googles for "secret Michael Jackson bris peformance footage" they'll come to your page, which includes a copyright notice and contact info. (The only time a legit outfit will "steal" your footage is if they truly can't find out who owns it. Lawsuits cost way more than paying up front.)
Youtube and Ebay are interesting choices, too, but there may be legal issues. And yeah, you can approach TMZ or any other buyer (E! et al) directly, too.
Talk to a lawyer, in any event. And all this presupposes that you (1) had permission to shoot the performance, and (2) shot it entirely yourself, using your own camera/film/whatever. Any other situation -- forget it!
(Personally I see no upside to offering it directly to the artist, as it's the easiest way to get ignored, or worse, put their attorneys/PR flacks on notice that you have wild footage.)
posted by turducken at 10:55 AM on April 18, 2011
If it's something else, especially if you're not sure this person will be famous in 5-10 years, then you should just try and sell it for whatever you can get. Usually you can only sell it once, which is a boon, since all legal headaches accrue to the new owners. (Everyone who wants to use it in the future will then purchase it from whatever agency/program/network you sell it to.) Sounds crazy, but speaking as someone who has purchased this kind of footage in the past -- I'd suggest putting a snippet or stills up on a website and lard it up with searchable terms, so that when a PA at 60 Minutes or THS Googles for "secret Michael Jackson bris peformance footage" they'll come to your page, which includes a copyright notice and contact info. (The only time a legit outfit will "steal" your footage is if they truly can't find out who owns it. Lawsuits cost way more than paying up front.)
Youtube and Ebay are interesting choices, too, but there may be legal issues. And yeah, you can approach TMZ or any other buyer (E! et al) directly, too.
Talk to a lawyer, in any event. And all this presupposes that you (1) had permission to shoot the performance, and (2) shot it entirely yourself, using your own camera/film/whatever. Any other situation -- forget it!
(Personally I see no upside to offering it directly to the artist, as it's the easiest way to get ignored, or worse, put their attorneys/PR flacks on notice that you have wild footage.)
posted by turducken at 10:55 AM on April 18, 2011
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posted by ZenMasterThis at 7:03 PM on April 17, 2011