by Tiffany LaTrice
Documentary filmmaking is a powerful medium for storytelling, often involving real people and their lived experiences. I had the pleasure of attending Navigating the Gray Areas: Ethical Dilemmas in Documentary Filmmaking hosted by Emory University Center for Ethics in partnership with DOC NYC, Documentary Accountability Working Group, Spelman College and Peace is Loud. The two-day immersive experience invited documentary filmmakers to present case-studies on how to navigate consent, participant involvement, and participant protection. They showed the delicate balance that is required in order to protect individuals’ rights while ensuring the integrity of the filmmaking process.
The conversation was rich, enlightening, and informative. I want to share three takeaways that emerged from listening to the filmmakers present their documentaries and how they navigated various ethical dilemmas in their filmmaking process. I left the conference empowered about the work that Peace is Loud is doing to shift the industry by equipping documentary filmmakers with free resources to ensure ethical practices in their process.
Step 1: Obtain Informed Consent
Filmmaker Matthew Hashiguchi (The Only Doctor) presented his approach to informed consent in making his documentary. The question that we considered & discussed was:
How can we ensure an informed consent process, particularly with vulnerable individuals?
Informed consent is a fundamental ethical principle in documentary filmmaking. It’s required, not optional. Consent should be voluntary, without any coercion or undue influence from the filmmaker. I learned that there are various ways to obtain consent. Filmmakers can do this by: Providing participants with written materials, such as consent forms or information sheets, which can further reinforce understanding and ensure that they are fully informed before giving their consent. Beyond obtaining agreement, it’s even more important to explain how the footage will be used, the plan for public dissemination and to outline the potential risks or benefits of participation. With support from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Peace is Loud is creating a Consent Calendar that enables filmmakers to address consent in their process.
Step 2: Ensure Participant Protection and Autonomy
Filmmaker, Andy Sarjahani (The Smallest Power) discussed the measures that he took to ensure the safety of the vulnerable participants in his recent film. The question that we considered & discussed was:
How do we navigate the delicate balance between sharing what we perceive as a crucial story and ensuring the participant’s well-being throughout the process?
Respecting participants’ autonomy and ensuring privacy is crucial throughout the filmmaking process.
It is imperative to prioritize the well-being of participants, especially when crafting a documentary that could potentially place the participant’s life in jeopardy. Andy Sarjahani outlined ways in which he protected his protagonist by opting for an animated film in order to obscure sensitive locations. He protected his participant’s identity by changing the octave levels of her voice and not identifying her name. Understanding the measures that Andy took and his defiance to protect the participant illuminated the creativity that can be explored when producing a film that is urgent or necessary to be told.
Step 3: Implement Safeguards & Support for Participants
Bo McGuire presented on how he helped the participants in his recent documentary Socks on Fire navigate the notoriety they received through the production of his film. The question that we considered & discussed was:
How can we equip participants to manage personal details that may emerge from their portrayal? What strategies can we employ to navigate the challenges of public exposure while preserving privacy and dignity?
Participant support is paramount in documentary filmmaking, especially when addressing sensitive topics such as gender and sexuality that were explored in Bo’s film. Socks on Fire is a cinematic love letter to his grandmother as his homophobic aunt and drag queen uncle wage war over her estate in Hokes Bluff, Alabama. Bo shared his process about how he had to seek out legal assistance for himself in order to dismantle his family’s resistance to supporting the film. He addressed how he had to establish clear protocols for handling confidential information and sensitive footage, ensuring that participants’ privacy rights are respected at all times. The outcome was creative, endearing and a beautiful narrative about intergenerational trauma, healing and acceptance.
Navigating consent and participant care in documentary filmmaking requires careful planning, clear communication, and a commitment to upholding ethical principles. While the industry is evolving, it’s important to remain curious and steadfast in caring for and respecting participant’s livelihoods when considering producing a documentary film. I am excited that the topics of ethics, care and representation are at the heart of documentary filmmaking and am looking forward to how this necessary conversation continues to evolve.