FAQ

You may want to create an account first when you begin using the site. You can search and preview clips without an account. However, if you want to download a clip, or request a screener, or create a clip bin to save your clips, you will need to create an account. 1) Click “Sign Up” at the top right of your screen. This takes you to the page where you can create an account. Your email will be your login when you return to the site. 2) Email and Password are required to create an account. 3) After the account has been set up, you can update this information by clicking on “My account”.

You can do a simple search from the MPI SFA home page. Just type your terms in the search box and hit the search button (magnifying glass icon). This will take you to a results page with all of the clips that contain your term(s). If you get too many results, you can try an Advanced Search. You can narrow your search by decade, or only color clips, or only clips with audio or only clips that have a digitized screener on the web site for preview. You can also adjust your search by refining your search terms. The MPI SFA Web site search works with Boolean operators. For example:
  • car - Gives that exact term. It will not include "cars"
  • car dog - Both words must be present
  • car OR dog - Either word is present
  • "car dog" - Both word are present in exactly that order
  • car* - The sequence “car” is present. This would include cars, cart, cartoon, etc.
If you still are having trouble completing your search, on the left hand side of the screen is a button “Research Request”. Fill out this form and a MPI SFA staff member will perform a search for you and send you the results.

Once you have found a group of clips that match your search criteria, you may want to watch those clips. If a screener has already been digitized, you can just click play to watch the clip. If a screener has not been digitized, you can read the complete description by expanding that record to see the details. If you would now like to view that clip, you can sign into your account on the MPI SFA web site and click the “Request Screener” button on the bottom of the clip. This will send your request to MPI SFA and we will process your request the next business day. If you have requested a screener and you have placed it in a clip bin (see below), then MPI SFA will send you an email when your screener is in your bin. For average size orders, this is usually done by the next business day, large orders can take longer.

If you want to save a clip for later you can create a Clip Bin. You must be signed into your MPI SFA account to create a clip bin. On the left hand side of the screen click “New Clip Bin”. A pop up box will appear. You will need to give the clip bin a name. You can also add notes that apply to this bin for your future reference. Click “Save Changes”. A link will appear on the left hand side of the screen with the name you just created.
To add a clip to your bin, click the button “Clip Bin” which appears under each clip. A pop up will appear and you can select a clip bin for this clip. You can also add notes about this individual clip for your future reference. You could also create a new bin from this screen if necessary. Click “Add to Clip Bin” to save the clip in the bin.
If you now click on a bin on the left side of the screen, it will open and you can see any of the clips that you placed in that bin, plus any notes you added. You can also click “Copy” and send a copy of that clip into another clip bin you created.

You must be logged into your MPI SFA account to download a clip. If there is a Download button under the clip, it is available to download. To download a clip, click on the Download button. The preview clip will be downloaded to your computer.

Under each clip is a button called “Reel”. This will tell you how many clips are on the same reel. If there is more than 1 clip on that Reel, clicking the Reel button will show you the additional clips.

  1. Select the clip(s) that you wish to order.
  2. Select 'ADD TO ORDER.”
  3. Select MY ORDER on the right hand side of the screen.
  4. Under 'project setting,' the project name should match the working title of your project.
  5. Select 'project type.' For example: project for a documentary, feature film or advertising
  6. Select 'project term.' Do you need 1 year, 10 years, in perpetuity, (for the life of project) Advertising terms are 13 weeks, 26 weeks, 1 year
  7. Select 'file format.' If your desired format option is not available, contact sales@mpistockfootage.com.
  8. Complete Licensee information. This is name of the company licensing the footage.
  9. Accept 'terms of service.' This is the licensing agreement.
  10. Include any necessary project notes, if needed.
  11. Select the in and out time codes that you wish to license from the clip(s). Only select the in and out time codes from what you will be using in your final edit. You can select multiple in and out time codes from the same clip, if needed.
  12. Hit 'update item.'
  13. Select 'checkout.'

Broadcast material can be supplied either Apple Pro Res 422 (HQ) (720x 486) or Uncompressed Quicktime (720x486) Please email sales@mpistockfootage.com to discuss film scans to 4K or HD format

You may select your rights and terms under MY ORDER section of the website. You can also contact sales@mpistockfootage.com to discuss alternate pricing options.

You will need to review and accept the terms in order to proceed with licensing.

The MPI Stock Footage Archive fully owns or represents the copyright to its footage collection. In certain cases some additional clearances, such as music rights, may be necessary.

In most cases, master material can be delivered within 24 to 48 hours of completing your online request.