Navigating the Gray Areas:
Ethical Dilemmas in Documentary Filmmaking
Emory Ethics and the Arts, the Documentary Accountability Working Group, and DOC NYC present Navigating the Gray Areas: Ethical Dilemmas in Documentary Filmmaking, a two-day in-person workshop on Friday, April 12th and Saturday, April 13th 2024 at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Do you wonder about what responsibility documentary filmmakers have to their participants throughout the filmmaking process and beyond? Should filmmakers compensate participants? What if a filmmaker doubts the integrity of their protagonist?
As documentary filmmakers, it’s essential to understand your role and obligations towards the participants involved in your projects. In this interactive learning experience, we’ll explore the nuances and complexities of ethical responsibility in filmmaking. While there are often no concrete answers to ethical dilemmas, discussing case studies with other filmmakers will provide guidance as you wrestle with dilemmas from your own projects. Join us in an event geared towards doc filmmakers at all stages of their careers.
WHAT TO EXPECT
DAY 1: FRIDAY, APRIL 12
We will learn two ethical frameworks from The Documentary Accountability Working Group (DAWG) and Markkula Center of Applied Ethics. Next, filmmakers Daresha Kyi (Mama Bears) and Matthew Hashiguchi (The Only Doctor) will present on the ethical challenges they faced while making their documentaries.
DAY 2: SATURDAY, APRIL 13
Bo McGuire (Socks on Fire) and Andy Sarjahani (The Smallest Power) will present ethical dilemmas from their films. In the second half of the day, attendees will break into small facilitated groups to workshop their own films based on pre-selected dilemmas (see below).
We ask guests to bring a compassionate and open mind as we explore these sensitive and complex case studies.
WHEN:
Friday, April 12, 2024 – 10am – 6pm
Saturday, April 13, 2024 – 10am – 4pm
WHERE:
Miller-Ward Alumni House
815 Houston Mill Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329
Registration ends April 5th
Tickets are free for Emory and Spelman students and faculty.
Email Janice Rounds janice.rounds@emory.edu from your school email address for your promo code.
FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2024
10:00 – 10:30
WELCOME
Join Malikkah Rollins and Laura Asherman as we open the workshop with a welcome, community agreements about how we’ll work together throughout the day, and an overview of ethics in the documentary industry.
Director of Industry and Education at DOC NYC
Director of Ethics and the Arts at Emory University
10:30 – 12:30
ETHICAL FRAMEWORKS EXAMPLES
Hear from Natalie Bullock Brown, Molly Murphy and Sarah Rachael Wainio as they present two ethical frameworks which will be used throughout the day to explore the dilemmas.
12:30 – 1:30
LUNCH
Catered lunch served at the event venue. Vegetarian and vegan options will be provided. If you have a food allergy please plan to provide your own meal.
1:30 – 2:30
PARTICIPANT INVOLVEMENT AND UNEXPECTED TWISTS
What happens when a key participant drops out of your film? How do you pivot and adapt to keep your project on track?
Narrative and Documentary Filmmaker
2:45 – 3:45
CONSENT
How can we ensure an informed consent process, particularly with vulnerable individuals? What are the best practices for navigating consent when filming with patients in clinical settings? How do we approach portraying individuals who may not feel comfortable on camera?
Documentary Filmmaker
4:00 – 4:30
CLOSING REFLECTIONS
Malikkah and Laura will lead the audience through a reflection and next steps activity.
4:30 – 6:00
DRINKS & CONVERSATION
Join us for a free drink at the venue after the event!
SATURDAY, APRIL 13th
10:00 – 10:15
WELCOME
Malikkah and Laura will lead the audience through a reflection and next steps activity.
Director of Industry and Education at DOC NYC
Director of Ethics and the Arts at Emory University
10:30 – 11:30
NAVIGATING PARTICIPANT PROTECTION AND STORYTELLING IMPACT
How do we navigate the delicate balance between sharing what I perceive as a crucial story and ensuring the participant’s well-being throughout the process? It prompts reflection on the potential impact on the participant’s privacy, dignity, and emotional well-being, while also considering the importance of transparency and the public’s right to know.
11:45 – 12:45
PARTICIPANT SUPPORT: NAVIGATING THE SPOTLIGHT
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? What are the ethical considerations and practical tips for supporting participants throughout their journey in the public eye?
Documentary Filmmaker
12:45 – 1:45
LUNCH
Catered lunch served at the event venue. Vegetarian and vegan options will be provided. If you have a food allergy please plan to provide your own meal.
1:45 -3:15
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION
Participants will engage in facilitated small group discussions with fellow filmmakers led by Malikkah Rollins, Laura Asherman, Sarah Rachael Wainio, Margie Ratliff, Anjanette Levert, Natalie Bullock Brown, and Molly Murphy.
Topics to be Explored:
- Participant Compensation
- Transparency and Consent with Participants
- Impact Strategy and Distribution
- Authorship and Representation in Storytelling
- Caring for and Empowering Documentary Participants
- The Ethics of AI and Storytelling
3:30-4:00
CLOSING REMARKS
Thank you to our Partners
