Introduction

Filmmakers tell stories-about the past, the present, even the future. Some stories are invented, while others are drawn in part or entirely from real life. In many cases, this storytelling is bolstered by the use of archival materials-motion picture, stills (including artwork and graphics as well as photographs), sounds, and music-that were created by someone other than the fi lmmaker. These archival (or “third-partyowned”) materials may be amateur or professional in origin. Under this defi nition, a commercially-recorded song used in a fi lm’s soundtrack, a home movie found in the attic of the fi lmmaker’s grandfather, or a photograph obtained from the local historical society would all be considered “archival.”