Syzygy - 11:39 pm on Aug 8, 2005 (gmt 0)

I'm currently developing a movie news website, however, I'm wondering where and how I can legally obtain movie stills and celebrity photos.

1. Find the company responsible for making the film(s). Locate their Press/Media Relations Office and ask (on the phone). Get yourself added to their press mailing lists for new releases, films in production, etc. Be nice to them, but above all, get in and get out - quickly. These are busy people...(well, most of the time they like to think that they are ;-))

2. As an alternative; phone your favourite movie mag - or even your local newspaper if they carry reviews and stills. Speak to the Reviews Editor - ask that persons advice. Who supplies the stuff to them?

3. Investigate, closely, the websites of all the film studios. Your task: to seek the link to the Press Office. Hint: 9 times out of 10 it will not be on their 'consumer' sites. Try their corporate site instead. Many organisations appear to deliberately hide the links to their Press/Media Office - they don't want the general public emailing or phoning them all day long...

4. Most companies use PR Agencies - Studio's included. Find these too. Email them and, in a straightforward, no-nonsense fashion, ask that they add you to their PR/Media mailing lists.

Eventually you will have a constant stream of advance Press Releases - and accompanying movie stills - pouring in.

As an aside; on the wall in front of me - above my computer - are three framed b/w movie publicity shots from the 1950's - issued by the studios at the time. The three actors featured are (Sir) Michael Hordern, Jack "Dixon of Dock Green" Warner, and Broderick Crawford. :-)

Syzygy