ABSTRACT
As many of you already know, fi nding, using, and negotiating archival materials can be very complicated. Depending on how much material you need to use, what the source of that material is, and what use you plan to make of it, you may want to seek professional assistance. (A quick scan of the credits of recent award-winning fi lms will reveal that many fi lmmakers use archival specialists.) There is a range of experts available whose knowledge of stills, footage, archival sound, and music can enrich your fi lm and streamline the research and licensing process. This chapter offers advice for how to get the most out of your work with these professionals, especially visuals researchers, and strategies that should prove to be useful even if you take on some or all of this work yourself.
