The Training Week is designed for those already working in the area of footage but who need a broader perspective and rounding off of their knowledge base. The training schedule covered topics such as: the history of film and tape formats and the technical production processes involving footage, together with hands-on experience of film handling, lacing up machines, splicing and joining up footage. Visits to various well known footage libraries and the bfi's National Film and Television John Paul Getty Conservation Archive Centre gave an introduction to film and tape storage, preservation and cataloguing. The basics of footage research, principles of rights clearance and international Copyright Law affecting the footage industry were also covered, rounding off with the producer's perspective on using archive footage and the misuse of footage in factual documentaries.

(Above) Under the watchful eye of David Walsh of the Imperial War Museum, delegate Lemuel Lyes learns to lace up a steenbeck.

The Technical Management of Archive Film and Video presented by experts at the Imperial War Museum was the perfect starting point for the week's training. Delegates were given a detailed history of film, video and sound formats and a chance to handle some of the materials introduced.

(Above) Maria Elena Cheng from CLIPTV Spain

Through a series of hands-on sessions they were then guided through the basics of how to lace up a Steenbeck, how to identify different formats and how to splice and join up film. If there was one criticism it was that there was too much information to take in!

Barry Florin, MD British Movietonews (above), stands amongst the cobwebs in his nitrate vault, in stark contrast to sitting in front of his new 'state of the art' digital online search and delivery system (below).

Media lawyer Hubert Best of Best & Soames (below) brilliantly covered the latest rights issues and exploitation opportunities when using footage across all media platforms, including the subtle differences between claiming Fair Use in the USA and Fair Dealing in the UK.

Archive producer Jerry Kuehl had the final word as he illustrated The Misuse of Footage with a series of "howlers", though admittedly the authenticity and misuse of many of the clips that were shown would have passed by many an untrained eye!

The Producer's Perspective was presented by Steve Humphries, award winning producer/director from Testimony Films. He is passionate about people’s life stories and seeks to record them, preserve them and use them creatively in television programmes, illustrated with lots of archive footage. Steve's infectious enthusiasm for his subject as portrayed in programmes such as Forbidden Britain (BBC2), Green and Pleasant Land (Channel 4), A Secret World of Sex (BBC2) plus a host of 9/11 and World War programmes, gave a fascinating incite into how a documentary, heavy in archive footage, comes together from concept to delivery.

Every year the course is designed to co-incide with FOCAL International summer networking event which this year was held at Inn the Park, St James Park London. Click here for PHOTOS

Overall comments on the week:

Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable training week.

I loved every minute of it and learnt a lot. I thought the week gave a good overview of the subject of archive footage.

I was very impressed with all the guest speakers and very busy people who shared their time & expertise with us, particularly at IWM & NFTVA. Please thank them on my behalf.

A BIG thank you for organising such a wonderful week in London, learning all about archive, from the hands-on preservation to sales structures of the big players. You can be sure you'll have a very enthusiastic advocate of the course here!

I honestly didn't expect to take so much away from this week so cannot thank FOCAL International enough for organising such a fantastic course. Educational, entertaining, informative and inspirational - and I've been lucky enough to meet some new and wonderful people as well!

The FOCAL managers couldn't have made me feel more at home.

Very well organised.

I have found this course to be thoroughly interesting and enjoyable. Many thanks!

This was a packed and fascinating week, it filled a lot of gaps in my knowledge and gave a lot of good opportunities for networking.

Very professional and I have learned so much.

Excellent historical and technical basis for the days to follow.

Absolutley great opportunity to see the archives and preservation techniques and to ask questions.

Very valuable information, especially the complexity of copyright.

I enjoyed the researchers panel style open discussion and hearing of the variety of different shows they had worked on.

Excellent week, varied and well managed.

This course is a unique opportunity, really excellent!