Pond5 👍
I do something most people don’t, (don’t panic, it’s not illegal), I watch the credits on almost any film or TV production when it’s finished, one name you’ll often see is Pond5 for stock footage, archive library film, video clips, still photos or music assets.
I’ve been aware of them for many years but, as I always seemed to be working on ‘inverse budget’ productions, I’d never been able to afford to use any of their assets, even less since I’ve retired and now only do pro-bono work.
I’ve been aware of them for many years but, as I always seemed to be working on ‘inverse budget’ productions, I’d never been able to afford to use any of their assets, even less since I’ve retired and now only do pro-bono work.
One recent project I’ve been working on, is a series of ‘Mini Sermons’ for a friend who goes to the same Chapel as I do, in later life he wanted to leave a legacy on YouTube of his thoughts on life, religion and Church - https://tinyurl.com/y8uzxcs6
His last mini sermon was entitled “A prayerful chat with God” (tinyurl.com/633nfjm7), in it he references the words of a poem by Carl Boberg, set to the tune of ‘How great thou art’ and he’d asked if it was possible to include the tune under his words as he spoke them.
As we all know, these days copyright is a hot topic (and financially profitable!) for lawsuits, over the years I’ve spent many hours looking for usable material without it violating copyright. Searching Google, the hymn and music for ‘How great thou art’ showed it was still very much in copyright until 2059 (howgreatthouarthymn.com/) so I knew it would be difficult to find anything affordable.
One Google link led me to Pond5 (www.pond5.com/), there were around 15 or so different versions of the tune, many sounding as if they’d been made using two fingers on a synthesiser which, for me were unsuitable, I did find one version I thought I could use, it came with an ‘Individual License’, reading the terms and conditions, it included use on YouTube, so I added it to the shopping cart at a cost of £19 plus VAT.
It worked perfectly with the edit and Peter was well pleased with the result when he watched it on YouTube. Checking with YouTube the next day, no claim had been made against it’s use, and the video would play without the usual YouTube adverts.
Pond5 also have a ‘Free Collection’ (www.pond5.com/free) where you can download and use assets for free, video footage, still photos and music, so long as a credit is given.
I’d not realised how good (and affordable) Pond5 were these days, I’ll certainly look at using them again if the need arises.
(Disclaimer - Pond5 offer a referral program, I am NOT part of it and I receive no remuneration of any kind from them)
