What if there really was Free Stock Video

[ThomasTyndan]

Hey guys, I have recently created a site that offers a chance for the digital filmmaking and video productions community to get together and share their stock video. Right now I am not going to post a link to it, because I do not want to seem like I am advertising something. What I do want to know is: If there were a site that offered you an opportunity to download free cost, and royalty free video, but in order for the site to be successful you, like everyone else, would need to help contribute to the stock video library (also stock SFX and music). Would you participate in such a site.

So to restate the questions: Would you submit stock video content that you recorded, and allow that video to be public domain so that everyone could use it in their own productions without cost to them or you? And in return you would be able to download the stock video from other people and use it in your productions.

Please fill out the poll honestly. I need to know if it is worth maintaining such a website. I also need to know that people would be willing to take the first steps to help get this site off the ground. If you want I can post a link to the site, but I want forum members to tell me to post the link. So you guys do not feel like I am spamming you.

Thank you for your time. If there is interest in this site, which I hope there is, then I think this will be hugely beneficial to everyone.

 

[Jockomo]

The term " you get what you pay for" comes to mind.

Unless you plan to have a bunch of useful stuff up there already, in order to persuade people to bother to upload their own stuff, I would think you would have a hard time getting it started.

Also how will you know if what people are uploading isn't already offered in another royalty free stock package, which typically says the only thing you can't use the media for is to create another stock collection. You'd probably be legally responsible for making sure the copyright is cleared.

That being said, who knows, it could turn out to be the next best thing to istockphoto. Just be careful.

 

[Capt Quirk]

Around boards like this, the subject comes up, and people offer to get stock footage for others or swap. But nothing has ever come from it. I think it could be a great resource for the small guys, and if nothing else, help elevate the quality of some of these productions.

 

[bilgami]

All i shoot is weddings but if i can get generic music or anamations i dont mind putting something i think people would use.

 

[Capt Quirk]

For instance- I've been looking for some stock footage of Animals and Landscape in Africa, but nothing yet.

 

[ThomasTyndan]

Alright guys, here is the site: http://www.opendv.com

Please let me know what you think of the site. Comments and Criticisms are more than welcome.


I'll try to respond to this thread in order:

You'd probably be legally responsible for making sure the copyright is cleared.

I do not host the videos on my site. They are linked to, my site acts as a single place to gather the free stock together. On submission to MY website you have to affirm the video is yours and not copyrighted. I suggest people post their video on veoh.com because they do not compress the video and the originals can be uploaded/downloaded for free. Veoh also has copyright agreements. That is 2 layers of legal security for me. The worst thing that could happen to me is I am asked to take down a link. Which I would gladly do. I did think that through.

Around boards like this, the subject comes up, and people offer to get stock footage for others or swap. But nothing has ever come from it. I think it could be a great resource for the small guys, and if nothing else, help elevate the quality of some of these productions.

I hope so no one wants to pay for stock video.

All i shoot is weddings but if i can get generic music or anamations i dont mind putting something i think people would use.

People can submit music and animations to the site, right now there isn;t any really.

For instance- I've been looking for some stock footage of Animals and Landscape in Africa, but nothing yet.

All it takes is for someone who went to Africa and filmed some stuff to post it.

So here is the thing, I am not saying I am supplying the stock video. I am supplying the means by which the community as a whole can share. So what video becomes available is entirely dependent on who submits what. And remember some of this is very much based on where you live:

I you live in New York, and someone lives in SouthAfrica, they want video of the Statue of Liberty and you want vidoe of giraffs. As long as both of you make an effort to post good stock video. Then everyone wins.

I can say personally I will do may part. I will post all the stock video I film. But i cannot do this alone. As a side note I have posted similar topics in different video related forums and the interest is high. If everyone can spread the word as much as possible and submit videos as much as possible we can get this off the ground.

Thanks guys.

 

[bilgami]

Do you save them to qt mov's also for download?

 

[ThomasTyndan]

That just depends on what the users submit them as. There are only really 3 options: MPG, AVI, or MOV

Most if not all NLEs should be able to use thse formats. Are you unable to use other formats?

 

[bilgami]

what if there really was free stock video

what if there really was free stock video

That just depends on what the users submit them as. There are only really 3 options: MPG, AVI, or MOV

Most if not all NLEs should be able to use thse formats. Are you unable to use other formats?

those are fine i was curious cuz all i use is mov's but i can use avi and mpg also. what still pics will they be submitted as well?

:dankk2:

 

[ThomasTyndan]

I added a Matte section. Thanks for the idea.

 

[bilgami]

are there any pics or video of close up of candles?

 

[Texanite]

The term " you get what you pay for" comes to mind.

Unless you plan to have a bunch of useful stuff up there already, in order to persuade people to bother to upload their own stuff, I would think you would have a hard time getting it started.

I dont think either of those things are necessarily true, if you've ever used freesound.iua.upf.edu you'll see that a lot of people in the creative commons community are more than willing to upload all kinds of stuff a lot of which is very good and very useful.

I haven't checked out your site Thomas, but I think the creative commons licenses are a good way to go because it allows shooters to retain some kind of copyright control if they so desire which could entice people to share without feeling like they're giving away the farm. Also, there's already a sharing community in place with those who are participating in creative commons sites already which could help the site get off the ground more quickly than just starting from scratch.

I think it's a good idea, BTW and would love to see it work out.