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Editor’s comments

On the opposite page is another request from a film maker seeking suitable
footage for a documentary. This is the second time in under a year that I have
received a request along those lines.
In the previous case, the group that utilised my home theatre for the filming of
their documentary, (see centre page report in December 216 RD) were after
material for research in the making of their documentary on the life of Austral-
ian film maker, Charles Herschell.
Both producers had sought to document the work of a significant Australian
person, and had hopes of the ABC accepting their effort for broadcast
However, the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) rates for access to
suitable footage comes at an unrealistic cost for any but professional produc-
ers.

In the case of those making the doco on Herschell, knowing that very little has
been written, let alone documented on film of Herschell’s life, I would have
thought that the film archive would have welcomed the group with open arms
and provided some concessions, taking into consideration their financial cir-
cumstances as film making students, perhaps, on the basis that NFSA would
control copyright or anther similar mechanism.

After all, most of NFSA’s holdings have been donated, and whilst recognising
the cost of restoration, storage, etc. NFSA seems to be like a black hole -
things go in, but never reappear.

Which brings me to another request received recently. The son of an elderly
man contacted me a couple of months back, asking if anyone might have a
copy of any of the early Dad and Dave films. He said he had contacted the
NFSA, and had been told that none were available, that they had been re-
leased on VHS tape some years ago, and there were no planes to release
them on DVD, sighting copyright issues.
His request was, did I know of anyone who might have a copy of any of the
films on any format. We did track down a VHS copy of one, which was self
recorded when they were screened on TV many years ago, which he was
pleased to get.
We have been told over the years that if film is not donated to the NFSA, it will
be lost forever. It seems to me that a large amount of Australia’s early film his-
tory has been donated, but for various reasons, it is still lost (to the public).

Mike

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