Institutional standards and practices remain proprietary to the companies for which the filmmakers may be working and do not always reflect the terms they believe are appropriate to their craft. We consulted with [an] immigration attorney . . After I wrapped, I felt like a real shit for the rest of the day, felt like I manipulated him for my personal gain. Another argued that letting subjects, especially celebrities or other people with social power, have input would threaten the credibility of the final product: I dont think the film stays credible if subjects are approving their sound bites, said filmmaker Maggie Burnette Stogner. Documentary filmmakers typically are small business owners, selling their work to a range of distributors, mostly in television. I usually enter peoples lives at a time of crisis. The ethical tensions in the first relationship focused on how to maintain a humane working relationship with someone whose story they were telling. what would be the next number in the following series? While Silence and its companion film, The Act of Killing, are both generally categorized as documentary films (Silence was nominated for an Academy Award in that category earlier this year), Oppenheimer dismisses that label, preferring the term nonfiction film" because he recognizes the cinematic elements of his films that have helped popularize the genre like re-enactments. Blackfish is what Dixon considers an advocacy film," even though the film spurred change that journalism may not, because of ethical considerations, have been able to achieve. That could be good or bad, depending on the story being told, Cross said. if the regular price od the book is $25, how many books could be bought at the sale price if a shopper spent $105? However, when filmmakers did not empathize with, understand, or agree with the subjects concern, or when they believed the subject had more social power than they did, they overrode it. When the filmmaker showed a scene of a handcuffed minor in juvenile halla crucial and pivotal sceneto the family, in spite of having releases, the mother objected. by working __________ the new employee hoped to prove that he could excel in his new position, the student offered information to his classmates under the _____________ of altruism, but in reality, the information was false, and he sought to ______________ their grades, the author has been criticized for the __________ views expressed in his book; while his words may have once been met with agreement; they are now met with disappointment. As an authority in a particular area or topic, they are uniquely qualified to provide guidance and strategy. At its face value, colorblindness seems like a good thingreally taking MLK seriously on his call to judge people on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. They spoke of making a fair film and a truthful film, not necessarily one that would, for instance, make their subjects happy or their networks richer. Many even see themselves as executors of a higher truth, framed within a narrative. But for us to inflict pain to get a better shot was the wrong thing to do. I feel like I approached the subject differently. In a certain sense there is something deceptive about that. This report reveals profound ethical conflicts informing the daily work of documentarians. if the cost per dozen eggs rises to $1.80, how much more will the restaurant have to pay for eggs per week, based on the ______________ behavior and _________________ toward service staff exhibited by the job applicant before his interview, the hiring manager decided not to move forward with his application. In one extreme case, for instance, the filmmaker did not protect a subject who implied that he had committed a murder. A.253m2B.25m2C.103m2D.53m2\begin{array} { l } {A. Hopefully you do it in a way that ultimately, with the finished product that I had a clear conscience. Filmmakers also face pressure to inflate drama or character conflict and to create drama where no natural drama exists. . 25 \sqrt { 3 }\ m ^ { 2 } } \\ {B. One filmmaker, for instance, created archival material to use in her documentary and was asked to take it out by thebroadcaster when they found out it wasnt real. Most subjects signed releases allowing the makers complete editorial control and ownership of the footage for every use early on during the production process. With the Holocaust, you really dont want to show anything other than the exact day or place. . In relation to subjects, they often did not feel obliged to protect subjects who they believed had themselves done harm or who had independent access to media, such as celebrities or corporate executives with their own public relations arms. The opening . You have to condense, but you cant manipulate., Dixon used the popular documentary Blackfish, about the quality of life of SeaWorld orcas, as another example. Then, its got our companys name on it. Advertisement. The ethical tensions in the second focused on ways to maintain a viewers faith in the accuracy and integrity of the work. the more fundamental questions are related to matters of life and death. Another featured uniformed guardsa one-time, exceptional moment. The interview pool consisted of 41 directors or producer-directors who had released at least two productions at a national level and who have authorial control. As one said, I dont want to make films where people feel like they are being trashed . That was really helpful to me. Then she was OK.. Its too misleading to the audience. They also respected broadcasters fact-checking departments, and some found that people in those departments were willing to push back against network pressures to fudge facts or artificially enhance drama. Their communities are far-flung, virtual, and sporadically rallied at film festivals and on listservs. Its one of those areas where our responsibility to our audience and our responsibility to our subjects can be at odds. In this case, they worked for a good-faith relationship that would not put their subjects at risk or cause them to be worse off than they were before the relationship began. Click hereto view or download a PDF of this report. In one case, a filmmaker lacked exciting enough pictures of a particular animal from a shoot, and the executive producer substituted animals from another country. We will show the film before it is finished. how many hours will it take to produce 3000 cars? In the end, if I cant convince you then well take it out., Some also believed that seeing material in advance helped make their subjects more comfortable with the exposure they would encounter, thus avoiding problems in the future. But if you want to really explore it, you have to shape and bend. Documentary filmmakers, whether they were producing histories for public television, nature programs for cable, or independent political documentaries, found themselves facing not only economic pressure but also close scrutiny for the ethics of their practices. AfterHoop Dreamsbecame wildly successful, noted Gordon Quinn, Kartemquin Films shared profits (based on screen time) with everyone who had a speaking role in the film. They typically assert that an independent media is a bulwark of democracy, and that the trustof both audience and subjectis essential. Oppenheimers film (currently streaming on Netflix and airing on PBS June 27) examines the fallout from a world that wasnt paying attention in the mid-1960s when thousands of people were killed in the Indonesian genocide many of the perpetrators and unapologetic murderers remain significant community members and political leaders in Indonesia today. a bookstore has a sale where all hardcore books are sold at a discount of 40%. Shes a real person and you cant imply something about her that never happened. , However, filmmakers balanced this concern with the need to resell their footage to make a living and considered appropriate decision making part of maintaining their professional reputations. In one of the most intense moments of director Joshua Oppenheimers acclaimed film, The Look of Silence, viewers are treated to an unflinching, discomfiting shot that gives the film its title: A former militiaman and mass murderer, now elderly, stares into the camera, his eyes eerily magnified by optometrists testing lenses as he searches, with the audience, for an answer to his horrendous crimes, the silence as penetrating as his gaze. His promotion of the term has been criticized, by scholar Brian Winston, among others, for allowing ethical choices to go unexamined. But this is an excuse to keep the budget down., At the same time, filmmakers sought to assess situations informally on a case-by-case basis. They had fewer qualms about lying to public officials or to representatives of institutions than about lying to subjects. He justified it by the result: Ultimately there is a story to be told, you may have to make these compromises. Documentary filmmakers need a larger, more sustained and public discussion of ethics, and they also need safe zones to share questions and to report concerns. Who is it and how they are using it is also important, because as a small independent [filmmaker] you are personally accountable. Filmmakers repeatedly referenced problems with using historical materials, which document specific people, places, and times, as generic references or in service to a particular and perhaps unrelated point. This distinction accords with filmmakers sensitivity to the power differential in the relationship. "Zappa" gives its subject his well-earned due within the rock firmament. I felt that my obligation was fulfilled. In another case, a director decided not to show footage to a subject who wanted approval over material used, because he feared the subject would refuse to permit use. This survey demonstrated that filmmakers generally are acutely aware of moral dimensions of their craft, and of the economic and social pressures that affect them. Treatment of archival materials (especially still and motion photographic materials) was widely recognized as a site of ethical challenges, but there was a wide range of responses. Were no longer seen as an institution thats fair and balanced. In both these cases, the choices not to honor the subjects requests reflected the fact that the subjectsboth experts, not less-powerful subjectsattempted to exert control over the films outcome that differed from that of the filmmakers. Where before a small number of players dominated the category, now it is extraordinarily . (Documentaries) can offer in-depth, detailed looks at what the news media will only superficially cover, but theyre more and more opinion based and less fact based, said Wheeler Winston Dixon, Ryan professor of film studies at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. The question of whether to pay subjects was of great concern to filmmakers. The process of film editingcollapsing actual time into screen time while shaping a film storyinvolves choices that filmmakers often consider in ethical terms. In London, people expect fees for interviews, etc., anytime you take up someones time. Here are the best documentary films of all time. Everyone raised their hands. Filmmakers need to develop a more broadly shared understanding of the nature of their problems and to evolve a common understanding of fair ways to balance their various obligations. time of the drinks were $1 each and the rest $3 each. It appears to justify the overall goal of communicating the important themes, processes, or messages within the (required) entertaining narrative frame, while still permitting the necessary distortions to fit within that frame and the flexibility to deal with production exigencies. In journalistic practice, payment is usually forbidden for fear of tainting the information garnered. They also lacked support for ethical deliberation under typical work pressures. to figure out which of those statements could put the character at risk. The filmmaker removed an incriminating line, while keeping the general information and preserving the filmmakers interests as a creator. Anonymity was important to many, especially to those working directly and currently for large organizations. The whole truth is always more complex than whats on newsprint or celluloid. Filmmakers were asked to speak about their own experiences, focusing on the recent past, rather than generalizing about the field. The growth of commercial opportunities and the prominence of politics as a documentary subject also produced tensions. In one case, for instance, a filmmaker was on location shooting a wildlife film, trying to capture one animal hunting another: We tried to shoot a few, and missed both of them. . We make the films we make because of these relationships we build. For example, any kind of romantic relationship would be unacceptable. In one case, Sam Pollard asked a subject to redo an interview in order to get a more emotionally rich version of a painful moment when he had been abused by police in prison. Even producers working for large outlets, such as Discovery, National Geographic, and PBS, are typically independent contractors. [Our subject] had one for radio; we used the audio and made a commercial [to go with the audio]. Its not meant to be consumed the day its produced.. What were seeing now is a democratization of storytelling in a way that gives John Q. They were much happier, I was much happier, and the film was better because of it.. . I had to do it. While some said that they would never lie to a subject about what they were doing in the film, many believed that the decision needed to be taken on a case-by-case basis, considering the goal of the film and the relationship with the viewer. But part of this subject matter is the graphic depiction of the attitude of the youths as they beat the man; they are represented as enjoying their act of brutality. The movie's lesson is brutal, sad, and inescapable: Elvis Presley was a man who gave joy to a great many people but felt very little of his own, because he became addicted and stayed addicted until the day it killed him. Viewers are also reticent to call Oppenheimer's work pure documentary, given how Oppenheimer utilizes certain cinematic techniques. The documentary became public due to its subject matter, it dealt with a sensitive topic but indicated the information in a plateable way. The minute you start to pick and choose facts, youre making fiction. By not including a perspective sympathetic or understanding of SeaWorld's position even perhaps their attorneys, who could explain their side of legal cases included in the movie the film stops trying to tell the entire story. As documentary production becomes more generalized, and as public affairs become ever more participatory, the question of what ethical norms exist and can be shared is increasingly important. The journalistic approach is the news comes first and story second. I can sort of rationalize this, that it might be killed by a natural predator. The second time, he was crying, I was crying, we were all crying. And you want to be honorable. We consume news in very small bites now like on Twitter, but we naturally tend to want to be able to sink our teeth into something, whether 8,000-word magazine piece or big documentary, Woelfel said. That makes me uncomfortable; it puts them at risk.. They said it will be upsetting for children, and that the films point is solely to talk about material science. . we operate under a do-no-harm policy.. It depends on the project.. 1, 3, 7, 13, 21, ? A story of loving impossible loves and the torture of self-discovery in a world of demagogues and uncompromising hate, it has a tragic immediacy that makes it as contemporary as ever. But I feel like its important to get the big-picture truth of the situation on camera. A journalist wouldnt show you the footage. the cryptocurrency appreciates 200% in the first year and 150% in the next. So there is a more profound relationship, not a journalistic two or three hours., They were acutely aware of the power they have over their subjects. What I think makes a documentary is attempting to tell a story in a way that helps, but it doesnt always adhere to the rules of journalism, Cross said. Some of these outlets may ask filmmakers to observe standards and practices, and/or ethics codes derived from print journalism and broadcast news and developed in conjunction with journalism programs in higher education. If you're in tech, you might have subject matter experts for web-hosting, agile methodology, and more. the politicians earlier association with the student communist movement ________________ his reputation with some in his party, who feared his history would hurt his chances of being elected, the documentary became popular due to its subject matter, it dealt with sensitive topic but ____________ the information in a palatable way. He most often refers to his work as art rather than journalism. Filmmakers also try to prevent material featuring their subjects from being reused by other filmmakers in ways that might misrepresent them in new contexts. To look at a homicide that happened seven years ago, and look at who did itits good entertainment. Indeed, any subjects withdrawal of affection may result in denial of access to material in which the filmmakers have invested heavily. . Their goal was to tell the story honestly, to try to keep as emotionally truthful as possible. They strove to represent the truth of who [the subjects] are or of what the story is. They take you to places that you will never see in the so-called mainstream media. But they can also be manipulated.. it would have been a betrayal to not listen to her. Ross Kaufman noted that the subjects disagreed with the coda at the end of one of his films, saying that it did not ring true to them . In one case, a filmmaker decided to withhold information about a public figures drug addiction in order to create the strongest cinematic experience. DidMighty Times: The Childrens Marchmisrepresent civil rights history through its use of both fabricated and repurposed archival evidence? I want you to sign the release, but we will really listen to you. Filmmakers felt frustrated that stations did not always honor the agreements they had made with their subjects. Jon Else said: For years I never paid anyone for an interview. I used it, and Im sure 99 percent of the people who watched the film thought it was him and his family. Despite its detours, this doc about the alleged 1948 massacre of a Palestinian village clicks into a sobering portrait of collective memory. . . A.253m2B.25m2C.103m2D.53m2, How to calculate the 424242nd term of the arithmetic sequence. Breyer pointed to witness footage of police killings of black men like Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Walter Scott over the past two years as an example. what is the value of the cryptocurrency after 2 years, a restaurant buys 1500 eggs per week, at $1.50 per dozen. Great journalism shouldnt, either., Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. Filmmakers identified challenges in two kinds of relationships that raised ethical questions: with subjects and with viewers. I wanted to learn more about why she did the awful things . In both situations, they used deception to keep someone with the power to stop the project from doing so, and they regarded it as entirely ethical because of an ends-justifies-the-means argument. . Breyer urges people to inject diversity into what they watch and read. . A new mini documentary, released Thursday on YouTube by crypto consulting firm Emfarsis and gaming company Yield Guild Games called "Play-to-Earn," follows several Filipino people who play the . Also included were four executive producers in national television programming organizations. Center for Media & Social ImpactSchool of Communication,American University4400 Massachusetts Ave NW Gallup reports that just 40 percent of Americans trust media outlets to report the news fully, accurately and fairly. Amid dwindling trust in the press, documentaries with strong, emotional points of view can feel more authentic by comparison. Adi Rukun, left, questions Commander Amir Siahaan, one of the death squad leaders responsible for his brothers death during the Indonesian genocide, in Joshua Oppenheimers documentary The Look of Silence. Courtesy of Drafthouse Films and Participant Media. Narrative structure sometimes mandates manipulation, which they often but not always found uncomfortable. The population spanned three generations. She said she was trained to think of archival this way, to think that as a filmmaker, you put it out there as truth. If you abuse this, then you wont get access to people for the next project.. Our code of ethics is very different. In that part, friendship wasnt helpful in making the film, even though it is during the production phase., Filmmakers accepted significant manipulation of the situation in filming without regarding it as a betrayal of viewer expectations. What is the difference? A cable TV producer argued that the ethical thing to do would be to pay subjects. inaccurately, for mood or tone, . The film becomes a historical document. Observational Documentaries Observational documentaries aim to observe the world around them. to prove that other sresidents considered the new billboard to be a _______ on the neighborhood, he conducted a survey in hopes of documentary his neighbors negative reaction to it. The terms of these releases are usually dictated by insurers, whose insurance is required for most television airing and theatrical distribution. When (filmmakers) feel we have to pick up the ball dropped by the news media, that means we will not prioritize being artists anymore. This higher truth or a sociological truth inadvertently invoked documentary pioneer John Griersons description of documentary as a creative treatment of actuality. Grierson used this flexible term to permit a wide range of actions and approaches ranging from re-enactment to highly selective storytellingindeed, even outright government propaganda. The ethical conflicts they face loom large precisely because nonfiction filmmakers believe that they carry large responsibilities. They daily felt the lack of clarity and standards in ethical practice. if the regular price od the book is $25, how many books could be bought at the sale price if a shopper spent $105? Most of those makers had experience both with nonprofit outlets, such as public TV, and with cable or commercial network television. Experts say that it's no coincidence that documentary films are enjoying boosted popularity at a time when trust in the media is at an all-time low. within last week 6 students have dropped out of the basketball team and 2 students have dropped out of the debate tryouts. March of the Penguins (2005) Dir. She has organized programs with the Human Rights Film Festival, Brooklyn Museum and Film Society of Lincoln Center and currently teaches arts management at CUNY Baruch. what percentage of the remaining students are trying out of the basketball team, raul is half the age of his brother and 60% younger than his sister. . Filmmakers were drawn into criticism of their peers, while lacking common standards of reference. Filmmakers surveyed contrasted notions of a higher truth with concern for factual accuracy of discrete data, which they also valued but often regarded as a lower-level standard to meet. The larger truth is that this conversation is going to happen in this city, at some point, and so it doesnt matter that it doesnt happen at this moment. Thats irrefutable evidence of the injustice thats going on and it wasnt the mainstream media that provided it, although it used it, Breyer said. Another filmmaker said that while she would not show subjects the current work, she would show previous films she had made, as a way of gaining their trust. How much do their own reasoning processes correlate with existing journalism codes? . March of the Penguins March of the Penguins Official Trailer #1 - (2005) HD Watch on Not only was March of the Penguins a legitimate cultural. And Im not sure thats a bad thing.. If there's a lawyer on your company's payroll, they're the subject matter expert for anything legal. One director recalled, I knew personal information about one of the [subjects] that I thought would make the film richer, but she was confiding to me in person, not as a filmmaker . . This second relationship became primary in the postfilming part of the production process. But that doesnt mean that I dont bend the truth. . Professor of Law, American University Washington College of Law. And it wasnt, so we had to take it out. However, what I will call the content of a film often contains something further. Its important to lift up people who tell their stories, as opposed to making them victims. A June 2020 article in The New York Times reviewed the political documentary And She Could Be Next, directed by Grace Lee and Marjan Safinia. Filmmakers also asserted a primary relationship to viewers, which they phrased as a professional one: an ethical obligation to deliver accurate and honestly told stories.