EditStock: Footage for editing practice (and a new way for indie filmmakers to make money)

EditStock

A new start-up is marketing complete footage from indie short films, including production scripts and even project files, as teaching tools for schools and anyone who's interested in learning editing and building a reel. And there's a financial incentive for the short makers, too.

Often times, those that make short films don't really expect any money directly back from the project. It's either a passion project or a calling card or just the first cinematic expressions of someone learning the craft. But for those looking to market their creations, there are avenues for makers of short films to turn a buck (or at least break even), especially in pre-sales through a crowdfunding platform. But it doesn't hurt to have other options to monetize the short, if for no other reason than to produce seed money for the next film.

Anyone who has ever taken an editing class knows that the practice footage you're given is often less than stellar. While some of us may have been lucky enough to cut footage from actual television shows on air, most of us didn't have that luxury and made do with whatever our schools or classes would provide.

New company EditStock aims to help both indie short makers and beginning editors through its stock footage marketplace. Instead of limited footage from random scenes, EditStock differentiates itself by offering more comprehensive footage packs from entire short films. For much of the content, there are two license levels available for purchase, 'Individual' and 'Educational'. All footage is in HD. The 'Individual' option is cheaper. The 'Educational' option includes access to raw files (eg RED raw), project files in Avid, FCPX, FCP 7, or Premiere, scripts and more. There's even the option to get the camera original files, but this involves mailing a hard drive and obviously comes at an added expense.

While you can't use the footage in projects of your own, it's perfectly suitable for building a reel, as the licenses allow this use. EditStock even offers the option for uploading your edit of the stock footage and having an editor critique your work for a small fee.

Short makers are encouraged to submit their projects to EditStock and can expect to make between 30% to 50% of net sales, depending on EditStock's determination of the quality of the production and need for its library.

EditStock's appeal in the future will depend on how large of a library it can assemble and how successfully it can market that library. But it's a very interesting attempt to build a business by fulfilling the needs of budding editors and filmmakers.