My Documentary Ethics

As an up and coming filmmaker, there are many ethical decisions and dilemmas that I might face when working on my documentary. Ethical actions are crucial part of being a good director and filmmaker; without these values you have nothing. I know that I will face many decisions and ethical problems during the course of my film. Three ethical situations that I think will be most prominent during this production will be: representing my subjects fairly, making sure that I give credit to the people who help me along the way without losing the power that comes with being a director, and, finally, maintain a honest attitude throughout the making of the film.

The biggest ethical situation I am going to deal with is going to be dealing with my subjects and making sure that they are represented the way that they should be. This project is going to be heavily focused around several subjects that are each going to have their own identity and that will show through in the finished project. I know that I want to show the interesting aspects of my subjects and the way that they interact, but I must be aware of the ethical aspects of what they are doing and not misrepresent them. I know that for this project I want my subjects to see the project before the finished project. Additionally, I will have a large group of subjects and it will be very important to handle it ethically and make sure that everyone fills out the paperwork required.

Working with my crew is going to be like working with a sports team; each member will bring their own strengths to the group and it will be important to make sure; that everyone gets credit for their contributions. Ideas will clash and it will be important to maintain a sense of leadership through the film; however, I want to work with my group to create a project we are all proud of. One way of doing this is to have member roles and to utilize all of our individual skills. Another way to deal with this issue ethically is to share ideas and be open to the rest of your crew’s ideas. This class and project is a learning experience for each member making it even more important for all of us to have an active role in the film making process. If one member is better than another at something then it might be good to have them help teach the other members.