Footage.net is an online aggregator of stock footage databases, providing footage researchers to search over 35 stock footage archives (with nearly 10 million records in 2014) simultaneously. The Solr search engine is deployed to enhance the search functionality, a.o. to deliver fast search results, to offer faceted search (to filter search results by keywords, categories, dates and content partners), key word highlighting and geospatial search. The option to preview clips is available.The motion content includes news, wildlife, adventure sports, exotic location shots as well as historical footage. Tools like “My Clip Bin” and “My History” tools enable users to save searches, communicate with content owners, access previous searches and keep their project on track. The user must login to access these features.The aggregator does not sell footage directly. To buy stock video clips, the user has to contact the owner to discuss prices and usage options. Apart from searching the database one self, the user can also send his search terms to all content suppliers at once with the Zap Request tool. The partners (a.o. CNN, WGBH and INA) will review the request and contact the researcher if they have stock footage that meets these requirements.Footage.net partners with existing footage companies, but is open to host new content if this concerns a fully cataloged stock footage collection and the AV archive is looking to expose its stock footage video content to the global production community.
Useful tool for footage researchers and creators of new AV content. Also an example for AV archives of the way they might offer online access to their content. As the aggregator does not sell the clips directly, there is no information provided on the costs or the usage terms of the footage. The info request form is the way to ask for this information, given the production type, license term, distribution type, priority, territory and screening format that is applicable.