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Channel 4 2018 Alton Towers Documentary

It really won't be a Magic Factory, but it could still be good and they've been covering a lot for some time.

I also hope it doesn't become a vehicle for the same old cults of personality in the theme park circle either, to a certain extent some within Merlin but mostly those in the online fan community. Projects like this should be refreshing and insightful rather than ego-fuel. Most theme park media online today seems to be like that unfortunately?
 
How long do you think they'll be filming for? It would be great if they were still there when I go in a few weeks.
Also, will it be a series or a one-off?
 
skyscraper said:
How long do you think they'll be filming for? It would be great if they were still there when I go in a few weeks.
Also, will it be a series or a one-off?
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They have been filming throughout the construction of the ride and I would imagine this finished with filming on opening day. I guess there is a chance that they might return if they need some more footage.

I'd imagine it is a one off documentary but really have no idea.

:)
 
I'm dreading this coming out. Richard whom I was next to prior to the gates opening on Saturday was given a GoPro to film his run, never sprinted so fast in my life, got to Wicker Man and had numerous TV cameras in my face, whilst covered in sweat and snot haha They then followed us throughout the entire queueline, stopping at each corner to get us all in shot walking down, and then onto the ride!
 
Sam-Wise said:
I'm dreading this coming out. Richard whom I was next to prior to the gates opening on Saturday was given a GoPro to film his run, never sprinted so fast in my life, got to Wicker Man and had numerous TV cameras in my face, whilst covered in sweat and snot haha They then followed us throughout the entire queueline, stopping at each corner to get us all in shot walking down, and then onto the ride!
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The price you pay for wanting to be the first to ride! ;)

Although you could have told them that you do not wish to be filmed or featured, that would have really annoyed them!

:)
 
I received this a few days ago:

"I thought I would give you some more information about our film. We have been on site at Alton Towers since late November, following the build process behind Wicker Man for our documentary commissioned by Channel 4. The rest of our time there has been spent following the build up to ride launch and all the excitement of getting it ready.

As I mentioned to you, we are looking to use archive footage of Alton Towers to illustrate that the park has been loved for many many years and is Britain's most loved theme park.

Thank you again for agreeing to let us use some of your footage. I wondered if you would be able to send me the un-watermarked versions of the clips so that we can see which ones would be best to use and I can let you know which we use in the end?

I have attached a Materials Release Form which outlines your consent for us to use the clips as part of our film.

Thanks so much"

Obviously I have left the names out. Anyway, the correspondent has been very genuine. I tried sending the guy an un-waterrmarked version of a 70s vid but my email provider wasn't happening. Obviously then I realised that sending multiple vid's would be a major pain in the bum. I have politely informed the man that I havn't really got the time to send all of my vid's out over the internet just on the off chance that they may want to use a few segments. That's not how I roll, really. I have said that if they let me know exactly which bits they want I will try to sort it out. What I basically said at the end is, you should have contacted me a few months ago and I would have sorted out an absolutely mint segment for you if you wanted it. I'm still willing to help (not that they will be desperate for it), but I could smash a decent early park history if left alone for a couple of days.
 
Yes if you're going to be sitting there editing footage for them, ask them how they intend to compensate you.

They may say your compensation will be an acknowledgement in the credits, at that point then you can decide if it's worth it, but at least you'll then know where you stand. Also bear in mind that when you uploaded the watermarked footage to YouTube you granted YouTube a perpetual license to use or sell that material anyway they see fit, including letting Channel 4 use it as-is with just a small onscreen acknowledgement, the reason they have made the effort to contact you and ask, is they want it unwatermarked, so the ball is in your court so to speak.
 
Barry - rather than email can you upload to a cloud site for them to fetch themselves, or send them a CD of the unwatermarked clips and just let them do the editing
 
@BarryZola Don't let them have it for free!
Doco companies pay thousands for a few seconds of film from archive sites, don't let them rip you off. You don't have to charge a fortune but make sure they pay you something. Normal rates are around £35 - £50 per still image (I've had to buy some for my films from my local museum)

Regarding the sending of files then ask them to send you a hard drive in a self addressed envelope and then you can return it to them.

I'm not sure why they would ask for un watermarked footage now as there's no need until they do the final cut using the footage they have agreed upon.
 
Realistically as somone who works in the documentary business expect £25 to £80 a clip. Use wetransfer to send the files and ask for an acknowledgement in the credits. If you own the raw files id run over to pond5.com upload them set a price and advise them they can purchase the them there. You may find they will be more willing to pay if it comes of a legit royalty free site where they are used to the paperwork.
 
It may also be worthwhile uploading any historical clips where you are the owner and have permission to film to pond5.com as im sure they could sell.

If anyone has drone shots it would also be a great idea to upload them as then the police and caa can charge you on more fronts!!!

(Sorry but amature drone pilots who break the law make jobs like mine harder and expensive - i have a licence, insurance and legal paperwork, tom dick and harry who dont follow the law and saftey standards think thats fine, if any money is made even from advertising you need a certificate and qualifications)
 
Hahaha you read my mind, if we get all the hobbiests to upload their drone footage then the CAA can deal with them quick and we won't need new regulation to enforce existing rules.
 
To be honest, at this point, I'm probably not going to go forward with their request to use my footage. In my very first reply to them I requested payment for use of any clips and they said they weren't able to do so for whatever reason. They also havn't made it easy for me (even if I did agree to do it for free) by basically just saying "send us as much stuff as possible and we'll decide what we want to use". Not worth my time at all really under these conditions so I'm sure they'll be able to find some material somewhere else. A shame really as I wouldn't have minded helping too much but they've made it pretty much as hard as they could for me to do so. Nevermind :)
 
BarryZola said:
To be honest, at this point, I'm probably not going to go forward with their request to use my footage. In my very first reply to them I requested payment for use of any clips and they said they weren't able to do so for whatever reason. They also havn't made it easy for me (even if I did agree to do it for free) by basically just saying "send us as much stuff as possible and we'll decide what we want to use". Not worth my time at all really under these conditions so I'm sure they'll be able to find some material somewhere else. A shame really as I wouldn't have minded helping too much but they've made it pretty much as hard as they could for me to do so. Nevermind :)
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It’s their loss tbh.
 
There is a load of old park footage in the archives at Towers but it was all still in VHS format when we went in 2012. Surprised Towers don’t just get that digitised for the documentary.
 
BarryZola said:
They also havn't made it easy for me (even if I did agree to do it for free) by basically:) just saying "send us as much stuff as possible and we'll decide what we want to use". Not worth my time at all really under these conditions so I'm sure they'll be able to find some material somewhere else.
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To be fair to the company and the researcher representing them, this is pretty standard protocol in order for a production to decide how much (or more likely, how little), that they would eventually use. They're looking for a contributor, not an editor. On the other hand, they should definitely be paying you. It's a shame your archive won't be featured.
 
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