STOCK SHOTS - LAURO'S TREASURES FORM FOOTAGE RESOURCE
Historic stock shots Lauro's treasures form footage resource Elvis
is alive and well in East Hampton, New York. At least he is in the
archives of Historic Films. The King came to town last year when
Joe Lauro and his A.R.I.Q. stock footage collection partnered with
documentarian Andrew Solt and his priceless Ed Sullivan archives
to form Historic Films.
1997's gross billings of $3 million confirmed Lauro's belief that
consolidation was necessary move to survive the competitive stock
footage market. Not yet reflected in those figures, Historic recently
signed a deal with six European stock footage houses to represent
its 40,000 hours of footage.
With over 30,000 performances copyright cleared and ready to roll,
Historic's reputation as the premier source for music footage is
difficult to dispute. That's the reason high-profile projects including
ABC¹s three-hour Motown retrospective, and Ken Burns' documentary
on the history of jazz, tapped Historic's archives throughout production.
Burns' project was invigorated when a search unearthed what is believed
to be the first known footage of seminal jazz pioneer. Buddy Bolden
performing in a Louisiana mental institution.
With commercials representing about 30% of Historic's overall
revenue, Lauro notes that much of that niche consists of direct
response spots and infomercials by Time/Life Records and other clients
marketing music compilation CDs. Solt's Sofa Productions is currently
creating a new television concept show "Virtual Ed" which will composite
footage of Sullivan from Historic's archives in a new variety show
live guests.
Historic's popular music archives compliments its vast collection
of historic, newsreel and lifestyle image. Lauro believes his staff
of 13 out services other stock footage sources since his researchers
are also the sales staff.
Lauro, who began his career in the '80s as the first employee
at Archive Films, comments. "Being an executive planning to conquer
the world isn't as important to me as finding great treasures of
historical significance and making them available to people. That
get my juices flowing more that dollar signs."
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