How to Locate Free-to-Use Archival Footage

Using tools like youtube-dl, and sources including presidential libraries and Archive.org, Nick and Griffin explain how to locate and download historical news footage for documentaries. It’s the workflow behind Griffin’s weekly archival web series Rewind.

Download The Recount app on iOS or Android. Watch Rewind, Griffin’s weekly deep dive into the political video archives—including episode #12 Cuban Missile Crisis.

To download videos, Nick uses the free command-line tool youtube-dl. (Watch his short tutorial video.) Griffin uses a paid app, Uniconverter by Wondershare. Other video downloaders could contain adware, so if you download something suspicious, we recommend Malwarebytes to scan your computer.

Sources for archival footage:

• Archive.org has the last 10 years of U.S. television news, searchable by captions

• C-SPAN is a giant repository of U.S. government videos, including Senate sessions, presidential addresses.

• Presidential libraries like the Clinton Library and Kennedy Library have searchable digital collections.

• High-resolution scans from old newspapers at Newspapers.com (7-day free trial)

To see the new Mac Pro in the hands of professional music producers, watch Jonathan Morrison’s short film This 2019 Mac Pro Review is Different...

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I smashed my camera on the campaign trail

While covering the campaign trail in Iowa, Griffin accidentally broke his Panasonic GH5S camera, and busted a lens as well. How he managed to complete the video assignment regardless.

Watch Griffin’s short film for The Recount.
Download The Recount iOS app, and check out Griffin’s weekly deep dive into the video archives—on Rewind.

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Recreating this podcast look on a budget

For the video version of this podcast, Griffin and Nick use decent cameras, lighting, and a few filmmaking tricks. But can it be simplified, replicated for budget-conscious non-filmmakers to achieve the same look?

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Most of the gear I talk about in this episode is listed out at griffinhammond.com/gear. But I also mention several mobile phone-ready microphones I’m testing out:

• Shure MOTIV MV5

• Shure MOTIVE MV88 and MOTIVE MV88+

• IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2

• Blue Snowball iCE

Why does the new iPhone need 3 cameras?

Griffin is in Villenave-d’Ornon, France, and Nick explains why Apple added a third camera to their newly released iPhone 11 Pro.

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Below—a photo of an antique motion picture camera in Oviedo, Spain, featuring a turret lens system, and the beach in Zumaia, Spain. And Nick’s deconstructed Mac Mini, in which he upgraded the RAM from 8GB to 32GB.

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The lens that shot “Sriracha”

Griffin is selling a lens and a microphone! Email griffin@hey.film if you’re interested. Plus, your questions about ugly slow motion footage, what questions to ask in a documentary interview, and why that purple fringe creeps into your shot.

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Cleveland Sept. 13–14
I’m teaching two 3-hour filmmaking workshops at Pixel Photo Fest in downtown Cleveland—on the mornings of Friday, September 13 and Saturday, September 14. Pixel Photo Fest is a three-day Photo & Video conference, featuring all-day workshops, hands-on classes, events, photo walks, parties and more! I have four VIP 3-day passes to give away! Just email griffin@hey.film to let me know you’ll be in Cleveland that weekend, and you’re entered to win!

When GoPro shuts down your Kickstarter campaign

Ukranian filmmaker Artem Gavr marketed a spinning boomerang-like device for capturing “bullet-time” slow motion effects. Problem is, GoPro says he infringed on their trademarks.

I covered the WinGo story during July 10 and July 17 broadcasts of Indy News.

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The VR headset that goes anywhere

Griffin upgrades to the untethered Oculus Quest, a portable virtual reality headset that uses “inside-out tracking”—that is, four infrared cameras on the headset see the controllers and recognize the shape of your living room.

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Catch my weekly Indy News episodes on Indy Mogul—including this one about the new full-frame 6K camera, the Lumix S1H.

Would you spend $599 on a travel tripod?

In 10 days, Peak Design has already raised over $5 million for their new travel tripod. Nick is one of nearly 12,000 Kickstarter backers. But would you spend nearly $289 for a small aluminum tripod? Or $479 for lightweight carbon fiber? (Final retail price will be $599.)

Griffin has been testing out the Rapid Filter System by Alter—a quick way to flip an ND filter on and off your lens. Also available through Kickstarter.

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Panasonic tells me they’re planning a Lumix “product announcement” this Friday, May 31 from CineGear Expo in Los Angeles—but that’s all they’re telling me. It’s 12:30p PT, probably live-streamed as these things usually are. Check Lumix social media for more details.

This Thursday night, May 30, I’m running the Midnight Half Marathon—a crazy, live-streamed 13.1-mile race, with no set course. Just eight checkpoints throughout Brooklyn.

Can I make my own press pass?

I attempted to hire Vistaprint to create a plastic card with my name, face, and the word PRESS on it—a press pass that I designed. But the proof was rejected as “suspicious.”

A press pass is not a government-issued ID. It’s akin to a business card, something that honestly conveys what you do for a living, and something you have to make yourself if you’re a freelancer. A press pass is not the same as media credentials, which are created and granted by an event organizer. The freedom of the press extends to all U.S. citizens—anyone can do journalism.

Ultimately, I was able to print my design through Custom Lanyard.

So why would I want a press pass?
Delta Airlines, for example, will allow media organizations to check excess-weight bags for $50, instead of the usual $150 fee.

“Camera, film, video tape, lighting and sound equipment that is tendered by representatives of network or local television broadcasting companies or commercial film-making companies will be accepted as baggage at the fees noted below. Valid photo ID with company insignia is required.” (Delta Airlines)

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Here’s Nick’s finished video—a very short tutorial on fixing his speaker with a vacuum.

How long should freelancers save clients' video files?

If a client from six years ago emailed you, would you still have their wedding video? Nick and Griffin discuss their data retention policies for freelance clients.

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When it comes to pricing for client work, Nick recommends watching Mike Monteiro’s F*ck You, Pay Me.

After Nick expressed interest in piloting a plane, John Patrick Bishop shared his pilot video.

Solving the Audio Sample Rate Mismatch

Nick and Griffin each solve a couple technical issues plaguing their filmmaking processes this week.

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I created these intro titles with Pixelstick

Griffin uses a light-painting wand called Pixelstick to create the intro sequence for his new Indy Mogul show—Cheap Thing vs. Expensive Thing.

One-Day Documentaries with Griffin Hammond

Indy Mogul is back! This is first episode of The Indy Mogul Podcast, hosted by Ted Sim:

Today we catch up with fellow co-host Griffin Hammond about his work covering the 2016 Presidential election with Bloomberg News and the process of creating his festival darling documentary “Sriracha.” We also discuss the fundamentals of documentary filmmaking and how to film a documentary in one day.

Judge Denies My Request to Film in NYC Courtroom

Swiss tourist Paolo Prosetti was arrested after crashing his drone near Times Square in New York City. When Griffin attempted to film his court case, the judge denied his request.

Lots of exciting videos this week!

• Monday: Indy Mogul is Back!

• Yesterday: How to Film a Documentary in One Day

• Yesterday: “Dumpling Queen” – short doc shot in 1 day for Indy Mogul

• Friday, my short film about building lights premieres: “Argon”

• Friday is also the debut of my new show Cheap Thing vs. Expensive Thing on Indy Mogul.

Andy the cat is on Polish TV

Polish news program Fakty TVN featured one my most popular YouTube videos, Andy the cat climbing our Christmas tree. It’s a lesson in investing even in silly videos—you never know which work you create will resonate and lead to interesting opportunities.

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B&H Surprised Me With a Canon EOS-R + 24 105mm!

When B&H invited Griffin to an after-hours gift exchange, he wasn’t expecting to go home with a $3,400 camera kit. And he definitely wasn’t expecting Canon’s new mirrorless EOS R with 24-105mm lens!

Six other YouTubers walked away with excellent prizes as well: Steve Ronin, Armando Ferreira, Thunder E/Booredatwork, Jon Reyes, Jacklyn/NothingButTech88 and Brendan Miranda.

Thank you so much to Mendy Paul at B&H for inviting me! Happy holidays!

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals for Filmmakers
I’ve started tracking November deals for filmmakers at griffinhammond.com/november

How much should you pay yourself for a feature film?

A client wants a feature-length documentary, and offers to pay for travel, equipment and your freelance rate. So how much do you ask for? How much do you pay YOURSELF to shoot and edit a film?

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New Mac Mini - Good for Video Editors?

Apple has finally refreshed the MacBook Air and Mac Mini. What does that mean for video editors?

This week, Alex Ferrari launched Indie Film Hustle TV, which includes in its filmmaker-focused library my film Sriracha, as well as an additional hour of behind-the-scenes Sriracha content. Learn more at IFHTV.com.

If you’re near NYC, join me Thursday, November 8 at the B&H SuperStore for my workshop, Traveling Light While Filmmaking.

Episode 80: Do you need Full Frame? Lumix S Series

A full-frame camera from Panasonic sounds really exciting—but what will it mean for Griffin’s streamlined travel style? Plus, your questions about shooting telephoto on the iPhone, losing signal on the Mavic Air drone, and why you should avoid cheap step-up rings.

Nick and I discuss three short YouTube videos I produced in the last week:

• Yes, Panasonic’s First FULL-FRAME Mirrorless Cameras—Lumix S Series

• How I Pack 66 lbs. Of Camera Gear

• Filmmaking Workshops in Salt Lake City

Nick talked about selling his previous iPhones on Swappa, and responding to Matt’s question about camera bags, Nick recommends his Peak Design Everyday bag.

All of my gear is listed out at griffinhammond.com/gear, and to answer Austin’s question, I recommend buying slightly more expensive anodized aluminum step-up rings. These are less likely to warp, easier to use than the cheaper aluminum.

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Don’t let gear stop you from making your film

In this excerpt from his recent filmmaking workshop in Salt Lake City, Griffin explains why gear should never be the thing that that keeps you from making a film.