Frequently Asked Questions
I am interested in Titles X, Y, and Z, how much are they?
Call us or fill out the Pre-Order Form. Prices depend on format. Make sure to specify the format you require for each title.
What is the turn around time?
Usually 2-3 business days, but can vary with the size of the order.
What formats are available?
All standard broadcast video tape formats are available in both NTSC and PAL standards. We can deliver any high quality digital format you wish including
Apple Quicktime ProRes or Quicktime with other Code-ecs, MPEG2, MPEG4, or Flash (FLV)
BetaSp, Digibeta, DVCAM, DVCPRO,
Some titles are available in high definition.
Can you upload the files rather than ship something physical?
Yes, we can if the files are around four gigs or less. If the file size is larger, we need to put them on a hard drive to ship to you (or return a hard drive you have sent us)
How long does shipping take? What is the shipping cost?
If we ship a physical hard drive or if we ship broadcast tape masters, it usually takes 2-3 business days to turn around and then send via Federal Express.
Cost depends on the size of your order and is based on the Federal Express rates. In most cases, we prefer to bill your
company's Fed Ex account number.
What is the quality of the material?
In most cases, the source masters are high quality DigiBeta and BetaSp tapes transferred directly from the best available film prints making for
high broadcast quality features for your use. You will not find better any place else. The elements of certain rare archival footage are of varying degrees of condition and we always tell you up front what to expect.
How does a title fall into the public domain?
The work was either never registered with the United States Copyright Office or the renewal of the registration on the 28th year was not made.
How do we know that this material is really public domain?
All available titles have been researched with the U.S. Library of Congress and are public domain. As an international distributor, we could not sell them to you if they were not.
Many British, German, and French titles are only public domain inside the United States. If you are not familiar with how US copyright laws apply in your country please do your own due dilligence.
Titles list from the 1980's are referred to as "non-registered" titles, which means that they were never registered with the Copyright Office, and as a result, can
be distributed like public domain titles.
What about the music?
Except for in very rare instances, the music, if part of the original program, is free and clear to use when aired alongside the picture. RetroFilm sells only original versions of the programs (or original American versions of foreign titles).
Are there any restictions on the use of the materials?
Only two. You cannot, seperate the music and use in another production; or use a recognizable face to endorse a product. Otherwise, you are free
to do what you wish with the material.
Do you have __________ clip of xxx doing _____________?
Possibly. Though we often sell to those in need of footage for various projects, we do not do clip research. However, if your request is general such as "UFO's"
we know the library well enough to be able to help make suggestions.
The cost of an entire program is usually less than it would be to pay a stock footage house for a 2-3 minute clip of the same material.
With a purchase from The RetroFilm vault, you can have the footage you want and a master to keep which can be used at any time, now or in the future, with no extra costs or licensing fees.
You may use the second search box on our search page to type in a specific subject like the word "Irish."
What payment methods are available?
We accept check, money order, wire transfer, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
Checks are made payable to RetroFilm.
Contact Us for Price Quotes
Call: 323.497.1225
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 AM-6 PM Pacific
retro@retrofilmvault.com
