Documentary Asset Researcher & Archival Footage Producer for True Crime

Please read before applying: This is a research and archival footage sourcing role, not video editing. The selected freelancer must find original court and government sources, organize usable footage, provide exact timestamps and transcripts, and document source ownership and reuse risk. I am launching a long-form documentary true-crime YouTube channel called Cold Record. I need an experienced true-crime researcher and archival footage producer who can locate, verify, download where permitted, and organize the real footage and public records needed to produce professional 25–40 minute documentaries. This is not a general internet-research, scriptwriting, or video-editing role. The first potential documentary is based on the Kouri Richins case, but production will only proceed after the footage, source ownership, and usability are properly verified. There may be ongoing work for future cases if the first project is completed successfully. Main responsibility Build a production-ready research and footage package so the writer and editors do not need to search for missing clips themselves. You will be responsible for finding the original sources of: Court footage Police interrogation footage Bodycam footage Jail calls 911 audio Court exhibits Public records Trial testimony Verdict and sentencing footage Photographs and documents Relevant book, interview, or promotional material Other legally usable supporting assets Whenever possible, footage should come directly from the court, police department, government agency, public-record archive, or original rights holder. Do not submit footage taken from another true-crime documentary, YouTube creator, television-news compilation, Law&Crime edit, Court TV edit, or other secondary edited source when an original source is available. Required deliverables 1. Verified factual timeline Create a detailed chronological timeline of the case with sources for all major claims. For the Kouri Richins case, this should include: Kouri and Eric Richins’ relationship Financial and trust-related issues Alleged earlier poisoning incidents presented during the case Eric Richins’ death Toxicology and fentanyl evidence Investigation The children’s grief book Arrest and charges Trial testimony Jail calls and alleged witness-tampering activity Verdict and sentencing Current appeal status Primary sources such as court filings, exhibits, testimony, agency releases, and official records should be prioritized. 2. Original footage and audio Locate the cleanest available primary source for all important footage. For every asset, provide: Direct source URL Original owner or agency Full duration Exact useful timestamps Short description Downloaded file where permitted Required attribution Notes about restrictions or uncertainty 3. Complete source ledger Every asset must be logged in a spreadsheet containing: Clip ID Asset description Direct source URL Original owner or agency Date accessed File name Full duration Recommended in and out timestamps Rights category Reason it may be usable Required attribution Risk level Transcript link Additional notes Use these classifications: Green: Original government, court, agency, licensed, or clearly released source with documented provenance. Amber: Potentially usable with limited and transformative commentary, but requires further review. Red: Network-owned footage, another creator’s edit, unclear provenance, or material that should not be used. Do not classify something as public domain only because it is publicly viewable or part of a court proceeding. You are not being asked to provide legal advice. You are being asked to document the original source, ownership, restrictions, and risk accurately. 4. Organized footage package Where downloading is permitted, organize the source files using a clear structure such as: 01_Court_Footage 02_Jail_Calls 03_Witness_Testimony 04_Verdict_and_Sentencing 05_Court_Exhibits 06_Book_and_Promotion 07_Photographs 08_Documents 09_Transcripts 10_Thumbnail_Frames 11_Source_Ledger Every downloaded file must match an entry in the source ledger. 5. Searchable transcripts Provide transcripts for all important footage. Transcripts should include: Speaker identification where possible Sentence-level or word-level timestamps Correct names and locations Important pauses or reactions Clear reference to the original source file AI transcription may be used, but important names and statements must be manually checked. 6. Strongest moments and timestamps Identify at least: 20–30 strong usable clips Five possible cold-open moments Five major evidence or reveal moments Five emotionally important testimony or courtroom moments Three strong ending, verdict, or sentencing moments Two strong audio-only moments For each selection, include: File name Exact timestamp Description Why it matters Where it could fit in the documentary Risk classification 7. Thumbnail-frame candidates Export at least five high-resolution real frames that could potentially be used for the thumbnail. For each frame provide: Source Exact timestamp High-resolution image Why it creates curiosity Rights or risk classification Do not design the thumbnail. I will handle the final thumbnail separately. 8. Comparable YouTube research Find the strongest existing videos covering the same case. For each video provide: Channel name Video title Direct URL Upload date Current views Approximate subscriber count Video length Main angle Title strategy Thumbnail strategy What the video did well What could be improved Whether the video appears to use original or secondary footage Pay special attention to small or medium-sized channels whose videos significantly outperformed their usual views. 9. Missing-footage report At the end, clearly explain: What footage was successfully found What remains unavailable What may require a public-record request What exists only through copyrighted network sources What should not be used Whether there is enough footage for a strong 25–40 minute documentary Whether you recommend proceeding with this case Do not claim the sourcing is complete if important material is still missing. Important restrictions No footage ripped from another documentary creator No footage with removed watermarks No fabricated records, quotes, or dialogue No AI-generated reenactments No undisclosed network footage No unsupported claims that footage is “copyright-free” No scripting required No video editing required Applicant requirements You should have experience with some or all of the following: Documentary research Archival footage research True-crime research Court records Public records or FOIA CourtListener, PACER, state court portals, police or agency databases YouTube and archive research Footage provenance and source tracking Transcription and timestamping Copyright and licensing basics Excellent written English and strong organization are required. When applying Please include: Your fixed total quote for the complete project A breakdown of your price by deliverable Your expected turnaround time Any public-record, court, or archival fees that would be separate What portions of the project you can and cannot complete Your price for a small paid verification test Two examples of relevant documentary, true-crime, archival, or investigative research work The tools and databases you normally use How you distinguish public records, public-domain material, licensed footage, and copyrighted broadcast footage Whether you can download and organize footage files where permitted Please begin your proposal with the words: COLD RECORD RESEARCH This allows me to confirm that you read the full description. Do not begin work until the scope, price, milestones, and paid test are approved.