Quick Focus

There are so many times when you need some extra video for that finishing touch on a project. Now, with help from some of the bigger names in stock footage (as well as a broadband Internet connection), in many cases, you can get the footage by download.

Oceanfootage.com, for example, allows you to search through its entire catalog of marine-related footage online, and offers immediate downloads of its DV25-format footage. Of course, footage is still available on DVD-ROM and tape.

Artbeats offers some of its stock footage as downloads as well, with a wide assortment of topics ranging from military hardware to farm animals to specific cities. Artbeats also offers some high-definition footage.

Footage from Rocketclips is available on a download basis, as well as via DVD-ROM. Single clips were selling for $50 each at the time of this writing.

Yet another stock footage vendor with downloads is dvcuts.com, which has a large collection of QuickTime format clips available from a wide array of topics.

Calendar
The Ojai Film Festival 2004's theme is Enriching the Human Spirit through Film, and will be held October 21-24, 2004. The early entry deadline is June 1 and the late entry deadline is July 1. VHS and DVD are acceptable for preliminary screening. Entry fees are $35 for 35mm, $25 for videotape or DVD, or $20 for any student-produced work, with a $10 fee for submissions received after June 1. For more information, call (805) 640-1947 or visit www.filmfestival.ojai.net.

Outtake
"If it weren't for electricity, we'd all be watching television by candlelight." -- George Gobel