ABSTRACT
How do you make your way through the labyrinth of commercial archives, online images, and databases of stills and motion picture footage? How do you take advantage of known search strategies and techniques, and at the same time discover material that’s fresh and can make your fi lm unique? In this chapter we offer some basic information about how and where to start looking, either as a fi rst step in doing your own research or in preparation for your work with a professional. (Please also see the book’s website for a more detailed list of resources.)
Finding Existing Films on Your Subject For many, if not most, fi lmmakers, a fi rst step in visuals research is to ask, “What other fi lms exist on this or a closely related topic?” This information can be useful for a couple of reasons.
