FAQs

How do I view AAHMA’s film collection?

Our film collection is available to view via our muse.ai video library. You can find this link by visiting our website → selecting “Menu” → and selecting “AAHMA Film Collection.”

Do I have to pay in order to view AAHMA’s film collection?

Yes. AAHMA’s film collection is hosted by muse.ai and costs $2.00 USD per month. This modest fee helps support the behind scenes work that makes this collection possible.

You will be required to create a muse.ai user account and enter your payment information (muse.ai uses Stripe). You can cancel your subscription at anytime.

Can I hire AAHMA to conduct archival research for me/my production?

No. AAHMA does not provide “archival research” as a service.

I have a question about one of the film collections listed in AAHMA’s “Black Home Movie Index.”

Each film collection listed has contact information in the “Contact” column so you can reach out to the archive that is responsible for that collection. Please contact them directly with any questions or licensing inquiries. AAHMA merely maintains the list as a place to begin researching Black home movie collections.

One of the links in AAHMA’s “Black Home Movie Index” is dead 💀!

Please contact us (select “Contact Us” from the “Menu” at AAHMA.org) and we will fix it as soon as we can! AAHMA goes through the list every year in effort to update dead URLs and update contact information etc.

I have a Black home movie collection, or know of one, that is not listed in AAHMA’s “Black Home Movie Index.”

Please contact us (select “Contact Us” from the “Menu” at AAHMA.org) and tell us about it—We would love to add it to our index 😊!

How do I license footage from AAHMA?

Start by reading the entire FAQs page. Then, when you are ready to move forward with licensing footage from AAHMA, feel free to contact us (select “Contact Us” from the “Menu” at AAHMA.org) with:

  1. Your first & last name.

  2. Your email address.

  3. A brief description of your project: Film, Documentary, Music Video, Exhibition (online or in-person), etc.

  4. Intended use: Theatrical release, Broadcast, Streaming, Museum exhibit, etc.

  5. What AAHMA film(s) you are inquiring about? This should use our file naming convention, not your own. Our films are titled: 004_AAHMA or 036_AAHMA etc. Please revisit our muse.ai video library if you do not have the correct identifying titles.

  6. Any questions not already addressed by the FAQs page.

AAHMA will reach out to you to gather specific IN and OUT timecodes for the footage you’re requesting. *These timecodes should match the original film sourced from our muse.ai video library. If you or your editor have trimmed the original source video or did not retain that information, you will need to revisit our muse.ai video library and locate the specific IN and OUT timecodes for each clip you are requesting a license for. It is not AAHMA’s responsibility to visually match up clips and discern timecodes for clients.

Your final invoice will also list the timecodes for each licensed clipped and have the signed license agreement attached to it, so you can retain it for your records.

Can I view AAHMA’s license agreement ahead of time?

Yes. Select “Contact Us” from the “Menu” at AAHMA.org and click on “AAHMA License Agreement.” The license agreement is updated every single year.

On the license agreement, you will see:

  • The cost to license footage: $45 per second.

  • A clear copyright statement explaining that AAHMA does NOT own the copyright for home movies in its collection.

    • Licensee does not acquire any right, title or interest in or to the footage, and will not make, authorize or permit any use of the footage other than as specified herein.

    • AAHMA assumes no copyright over the content of its collections. The licensee is responsible for exercising a good faith, reasonably diligent search for the copyright owner. Nor does this authorization by AAHMA remove the author’s and publisher’s responsibility to guard against the infringement of rights that may be held by others.

  • Home movies in the AAHMA Film Collection are orphan works—meaning, they have been abandoned by their owner or copyright holder. If you’re unfamiliar with “orphan works” in reference to motion picture film, you can read more about it here:

How do you accept payment?

If you have decided to license footage from AAHMA, you agree to make all invoice payments exclusively through Square. This is non-negotiable, as it provides a secure and verified professional payment record for both parties.

We do NOT accept bank wire transfers, physical checks, or any other forms of payment other than what is listed as being accepted by Square via the Square invoice that all clients are provided during the licensing process.

What are your payment terms?

Payment is required in full before delivery of any footage or download links, or use of AAHMA footage in broadcast, theatrical releases, on streaming platforms, exhibitions, etc.

While we understand the nature of media production, we ask that you do not sign the AAHMA license agreement and request an invoice from us until you are ready to submit payment.

All invoices will have a grace period of 5 business days before they are canceled.

Can I pay after we receive the footage?

No. Footage is licensed upon payment. Delivery before payment would constitute an unlicensed transfer of rights, which is not permitted under our terms.

When will I receive my footage?

Once payment has cleared through Square, you’ll receive a download link within 24-48 hours (often sooner).

What if I use additional home movie footage without clearing it with AAHMA?

Licensees are only permitted to use footage cleared during the licensing process and thus sent to them directly from AAHMA.

Additionally, AAHMA does not permit the use of screen recordings or access copies of AAHMA home movie footage in the final release of any project (in broadcast, theatrical releases, on streaming platforms, exhibitions, etc.). While those may be used as placeholders during the editing process, they are not cleared for use in any final release.

What usage rights come with my license?

Usage rights are clearly stated at the bottom of Pg. 2 of AAHMA’s license agreement.

  • One-time fee for global use of content for the titled project below. Agreement grants non exclusive rights to footage. Footage can only be used in the contracted project.

  • I hereby request authorization to publish or to use in facsimile reproduction the material(s) identified below from the African American Home Movie Archive (AAHMA). The permission granted is for a one-time use of the material(s) in one product (a publication, exhibit, or other medium), one edition, in all media in perpetuity with worldwide distribution rights. Subsequent use of the material(s), including new versions of a work, requires a separate request for permission to publish.

Meaning, once you license the use of AAHMA footage for your production— the final work (film, documentary, music video, etc.) is cleared in all media in perpetuity with worldwide distribution rights. In the future, should the final work be used/sourced in a new work that is not identical to the original work— a new license will be required.

Can I get a refund if I change my mind?

You can request a refund before the requested footage has been delivered.

Refunds are not available once footage has been delivered.