Post-Production : Stock footage? by Courtney Camerota

Courtney Camerota

Producer, Screenwriter

posted in Post-Production Sign in to subscribe

11 years ago

Stock footage?

Hi All, How do you feel about using high quality stock footage for some of the B-roll in a feature film opposed to adding an additional day of shooting in post? I'm leaning towards stock footage because there are shots (aerials, time lapses, etc.) that we wouldn't be able to get in an additional day of shooting with the budget and time frame we have. Thoughts?

Ami Brown

1
1 person likes this
- Courtney Camerota
11 years ago

I think stock footage can work ok when it is seamless and has the same lighting, look and feel of the rest of the movie. Out of place stock footage can really cheapen a film.

Adrian Graham-Smith

1
1 person likes this
- Courtney Camerota
11 years ago

What Ami said. It's also worth bearing in mind that stock footage is usually compressed H264, so you could struggle to grade it to match everything else you've shot without it falling apart. It'll also likely suffer more during the compression of your final output compared to your shot-to-order footage- again because it was compressed before you got your hands on it. Hope that helps.

Eric Lau

1
1 person likes this
- Courtney Camerota
11 years ago

I would go for stock footage if I am in your position. It's a lot cheaper and easier to get your hands on. Of course there is the H264 issue, but try websites like dissolve or pond5 where they have their footage in prores or even raw. At the end of the day, it is up to the colorist to even out the shots. I do this every single day :)