Today has reinforced this frustration that's been building since the new year: After decades pursuing this, I'm tired of being "rogue"; I lack any recourse due to my continuing freelance status. Not a clue how to proceed towards a semblance of legitimacy.
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Long shot, but maybe contact the Paley Center. Maybe they can give you some kind of umbrella. It's not the route they usually take, but since you've worked with and provided footage to so many former staff members and to Zinoman, they'll understand the archival value.
That is, I'm living in a cocoon and have no idea how "known" I am out there in reality. I'll occasionally hear some surprising anecdotes, but then I'll just fall on my face when someone says, "huh?"