Filmmaker Gordon Quinn is in town at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival not only to celebrate a 20th anniversary screening of the hit film “Hoop Dreams,” which he co-produced, but to also present a masterclass on ethics in documentary filmmaking. Book 3: (Ethical framework and Theories) Why is it so important to be ethical in business? She was ambivalent, and Quinn captures that in an interesting way. Is it true that most marine science jobs that involve conducting research will require an advanced degree? “I think in your choice lies your talent, and our choice was to always retain Glenn’s dignity and at the same time to not back away from the authenticity of the disease. Conducting research is necessary for many reasons. We just sort of found ourselves starting to follow this story.”, But at the end of the day, Keach said, “We set lots of limits. As one can imagine, the subject of morality often came up as Mohr was making his film. "Would we hurt them in the future by showing their uninformed homophobic reactions? You put a lot of research into this. Creativity is essential for developing new and exciting ways to interpret scripts. Ecofriendly fashion brands are incorporating multiple components in the entire fashion cycle. Why is Ethical Fashion Important. "Sometimes I would explain why I thought it was important to the story, and they'd decide it was okay, but sometimes they were adamant and I wouldn't push because I didn't want to hurt them. Awesome, Melbel! When I'm editing, I can sit back and put myself in a more objective place to watch what is unfolding. By saying this i mean for example if a customer comes in your business and if you behave… At the center of documentary production is the association among filmmaker and subjects that usually lacks equal equilibrium. She had said on camera that she would not give permission. As a filmmaker, it is important to realize the subjective nature of interpretation and re-presentation of information. It is our means of deciding a course of action. I will also share where my ethical views originated from and why ethics is important to me. How close to a subject is too close? All Rights Reserved. At the heart of documentary production is the relationship between filmmaker and subjects--not often an equal balance of power. They must stay organized and multitask as they keep cameramen, lighting technicians, actors and other professionals on track. Importance and Focus of Business Ethics Discuss in detail: 1 Generally speaking, why is business ethics important? But, you are somebody who has always emphasized on the importance of education. In a painful and fraught scene where she meets a Polish cousin from childhood, she refuses to acknowledge him and asks him to leave the room. As we grow older, the question of morality with respect to ethics changes. Known for tough, issue-driven documentaries, Kartemquin is particularly devoted to fostering, as it states on its website, "the growth of emerging filmmaking voices passionate about social issues and media policy." Should the moral and ethical guidelines of documentary and mockumentary filmmaking be strictly adhered to if they impede on the overall artistic vision and message of the film? Ethical porn director/indie adult filmmaker Erika Lust has just released a brand new adult movie that was shot during lockdown - and you can watch it for free, right now.. It also draws on analogy: documentary filmmakers should have the same kind of access to copyrighted materials that is enjoyed by cultural and historical critics who work in print media and by news broadcasters. By not having moral principles within the business world then the economy would function less efficiently and essentially become another Enron or Great Depression. What to shoot and what not to shoot? In your post of 150 to 175 words, consider the following questions: Why is it important to be ethical? 15. Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! For more ideas, see Robert W. Gregg's book International Relations on Film (1998), which includes a very comprehensive movie list. An ethical marketing strategy is fundamental for promoting your product now and selling it in the long run. The first step towards becoming a filmmaker is to earn a bachelor's degree. Without longitude and latitude coordinates would not exist and without this is would make the ocean too big and you wouldn't be able to locate one specific location. So what happens when subjects are not around to either defend themselves or support the film? The filmmakers deliberately avoided any graphic representations of violence, feeling that would be a distraction from what they wanted to show. Studies must now undergo an extensive review by an institutional review board (US) or ethics committee (UK) before they are implemented. They embedded themselves with a platoon of US soldiers and spent 14 months, beginning in May 2007, in the Korangal Valley of Afghanistan. Most people not involved in filmmaking are not entirely aware of the power of the camera and editing to structure events in ways they would never expect. Why is it important to be ethical. You explain so well why ethnography is an important topic to all of us, even on a personal level. But no one is completely able to do that, so it's helpful to have colleagues look at it and talk out reactions to the people in the film. It is not only ethical, it can be very rewarding if you are good at it. Renov (2004) suggests that documentary film is an important tool for a filmmaker "I tore my Achilles and Tim went back, and then he broke his leg and I went back," Junger recalls. “We did not have sex, OK?” he stated unprompted at the film’s premiere at IDFA. We’re going to try to convince you that we need you in this movie; that it’s important for the story that it’s good for society in general to tell this story, and why your part of it is so important. “But, we did have to cover the fact that hey, these mugshots do contain heinous criminals.”. He insisted on calling the film “Living Cinema,” a collaborative effort where the boundaries between subject and filmmaker and art and life are collapsed.”, “What do I say to people who think I crossed a line – overstepped boundaries?” Corra replied, “That’s a line created by you asking the question, I think. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Can you be a leader without integrity and morals? On the flip-side. The Effect of the Film on its Actors Quinn recently completed Prisoner of Her Past, a film about a childhood Holocaust survivor who is suffering from Late Onset Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, obviously a topic requiring sensitive and delicate handling. These are questions that documentary filmmakers should be asking themselves when they set out to record a true story. Wanda Bershen is a consultant on fundraising, festivals and distribution. Since those being filmed open up their lives to the filmmaker, the filmmaker has the responsibility to consider how the film will impact those in it. That was about very careful editing. “The mission is noble,” wrote our critic when he saw the film last year, “but the final, scrappy product contains an ethical dubiousness that slips between Nicholson’s apparent intentions and those of the much older man with whom she spent her dying days. Let salient be salient. In this context the relationship filmmaker-participant involves a vital dimension of ethics. Why is Ethics important? Why is integrity important in leadership?. ", Another tricky situation occurred when the Qatar kids came to Washington for the final competition. Even those who disagree will prolong your influence by speaking poorly of you. Ethics are individual’s moral judgements about what is right and what is wrong. List one “archetype for grown ups” and explain the kind of moral lesson it tends to explore. So there is a more profound relationship, not a journalistic two or three hours.'". Filmmaking is an excellent way to raise awareness and draw attention to a certain topic or issue. © 2021 International Documentary Association. The approaches are as follow: Ethics and Filmmaking in Developing Countries. "Anthropological researchers have primary obligations to the people, species, and materials they study and to the people with whom they work. The statement is informed both by experience and ethical principles. “Mugshot” examines the cultural significance of the criminal mugshot and asks whether the older of the photos (those whose subjects had long ago died) can now be considered art. The only way in which ethics can be achieved in a business is if you know what ethics is. Sometimes lines are crossed, and sometimes boundaries are set beforehand. He uses the accepted styles to cross the documentary/narrative threshold combining the two. filmmaker can be an explorer, reporter, painter, advocate, bugler, prosecutor, poet, chronicler, promoter, observer, catalyst, and guerilla depending on his or her role in the filmmaking process and the topic of the documentary. I learnt it very early that professional qualification is very important in … Why is ethical behavior important to business? As one filmmaker noted, ‘I am in their life for a whole year. Ethical behavior and corporation can bring in a significant benefit to the business. If a filmmaker is working in a foreign country or culture (or subculture), how to represent people with dignity and sensitivity to that place, time and experience? OK, this topic is too important to let drop just yet. “Mugshot” director Dennis Mohr faced quite a different conundrum, as many of his subjects were no longer even alive. “The glib version is don’t fuck the talent,” Quinn said. Ethics in Business is important because it influences your reputation and integrity as a business. The filmmakers followed the men into many battles and recorded the terrible fear and tension, never knowing what would happen next. Media ethics is the best division of applied ethics dealing with the specific ethical principles and standards of media, including broadcast media, film, theatre, the arts, print media and the internet. What are three major elements of product costs in a manufacturing company? What is ethical relativism? Documentary clients have included Sonia, Power Trip, Afghan Women, Trembling Before G*D and Blacks & Jews. This Article is related to: Features and tagged Farewell to Hollywood, Filmmaker Toolkit: Documentaries, Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me, Hoop Dreams, Toolkit. Production and Post-Production Grants Application Guidelines, IDA Truth to Power Award: A Conversation with Rappler Reporters, Essential Doc Reads: Week of January 3, 2021, 'The Dissident': Giving Voice to the Silenced, Amicus Award: Regina K. Scully, Supporting Filmmakers Who Dare to Go Deeper, Frozen In Time: When Our Subjects Become Objects, How Do You Keep the Real in Reality? The principle of consent is an important part of medical ethics and international human rights law. Being ethical in business is important for many reasons and it also has many benefits such as the ability to attract more customers, employees and investors. A very complicated emotional and cultural clash had to be reduced to a four-minute scene, and that's never easy. We asked several documentarians about their experience on recent projects and how they handled a variety of ethical issues that occurred. There are those who question the worth of creative products and projects, claiming design and art are something anyone can do, regardless of training, experience, or any inherent ability. Critical thinking skills help filmmakers identify problems and weaknesses, and figure out effective ways to fix them. Before completing this assignment, please read the attached document, Expectations for Short Papers. The 2006 film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Natio… However, before creating a film, there are many ethical issues which must be considered. You might be wondering why happiness is considered such an important aspect of life, as there are many components of a meaningful life. Three Ways How To Become A Filmmaker. “We as documentary filmmakers, I feel, have a responsibility towards ethics,” said Quinn. One of the key points in the report is the assertion that there is a major difference between the work of documentary filmmakers and that of news reporters. 1. This is a great example of how Ethics works in the world of doc film… In many ways, this is the most important part of the process. Art is supposed to be boundless and limitless. To answer the question of why it is important to be ethical in business, you must firstly understand what it means by the term "business ethics. “Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do” – Potter Stewart To be ethical in business is so important because it shows what kind of person you are also what your ethical thoughts are on running a business. Pass the hat. Glenn did not want to back away from it either so it’s a balancing act.”, “Then it was a question of, how far do we go? 1. The limitations that we set were, and still remain, Glenn’s dignity and what his family would want and what his children would want.”. It is behaving what the society accepts. They made longitude and latitude and this made it easier for sailors to uses maps and navigate on there on. And your question is the most sententious I have crossed in a while. Titled "Honest Truths: Documentary Filmmakers on Ethical Challenges in Their Work," it has generated considerable discussion in the film community. Mermin decided not to shoot this despite its potential interest. Each spent about a month at a time and then switched off with the other, sometimes overlapping for periods of time. She felt that the most effective way of building trust with her subjects was to share her own story on camera with them, which enables viewers to see how that relationship between filmmaker and subjects evolves over time. The films in the Full Review section include an overview, ethical issues and discussion questions, and related resources, while the rest are synopses only. Thought must be given to what to publish, how to release findings and via which media. Documentarians then must set their own rules, maintain their conscientiously established boundaries and avoid crossing lines set by both themselves and their subjects. As the founder of Kartemquin Films in Chicago in 1966, Gordon Quinn has many years of experience with documentary production. In staying a lawsuit, the judge finds testimony from David Siegel, the subject of the praised documentary, to be "inconsistent and incredible and thus lacking weight." Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. This character raises an important ethical, ecological question about nature being trampled upon and its spirit being distorted, but the filmmaker does not address it,” he says. They provide the creative flair and edge that sets the movie apart. Ethics … In the last shot of the film, she turns to the camera and says, "Goodnight, ladies and gentlemen," before heading off to her room. Why is a code of ethics important? “You owe your audience to tell the truth, to get to the bottom of the story, to be accurate in what you’re presenting.”. JOIN OUR WAITING LIST & BE THE FIRST TO KNOW While the film is extremely powerful the film itself is presented in a false manner, violating the preconceived rules between filmmaker and audience. It’s where the ideas of a film are translated into a kind of game plan, both from an artistic angle (casting, shot selection, style, color schemes, etc.) Junger and Hethrington regard their work on the film as journalistic; their primary concern was to counter many representations of war on film that are "limited and can't quite reveal the humor, boredom and confusion inherent in combat. Some of the more notable photographers from the early days, Dorothea Lange for example, are known for capturing marginalized peoples with dignity. outcomes: Introduce ethical theory through film; introduce ethical analysis as a stream of film criticism; ground students in the social responsibilities of the filmmaker and artist; demonstrate how ethical conflict and resolution enhance character development in … Being ethical and empathetic is extremely important in life. Keeping some of these ethical and moral principles are very important … It is no longer acceptable for a business to operate in an entirely self-interested manner, having no regard to the impact it has on the local community. It brings viewers into the minds of mass murderers, illuminates a horrific piece of recent history that few know anything about, and could end up ushering in a new era in Indonesian politics and identity. The ocean is a very complicated system with many variables. As creatives, a deterioration of intellectual property rights is a dangerous possibility. It goes without saying that reputation is one of… Documentary filmmakers, Quinn said, need to have a sense of the ethical questions or concerns that will affect their work. How to portray the subjects of the film? The trend of ethical fashion is on the rise. Documentary filmmakers, Quinn said, need to have a sense of the ethical questions or concerns that will affect their work. As one filmmaker noted, ‘I am in their life for a whole year. (b) Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC): for non routine research. Relationships are important, in art and film — just like in all other aspects of life. It is no longer only about the black and the white. He brought up an instance on one of his films when a particular subject no longer wanted to be involved. 3. Dorothea used discernment to depict her subjects conditions and highlight their immense strength in the depths of hardship and poverty. Nevertheless, she allowed filming and at several points addresses the camera directly. For that reason, when we assess the values involved in any decision that we make, the ethical component is very important. For Kartemquin's recent film In the Family, about predicting breast and ovarian cancer and how women live with the risk, director Joanna Rudnick was having a difficult time finding  a woman who shared the BRCA gene that she had. "Would we get the girls in trouble with conservative friends and family by showing that they were at the event at all?" Both were well aware they would be working in one of the most dangerous regions--far from any military bases and accessible only by helicopter. Quinn then went on to explain that the rules that apply to an average person, might not apply to someone who is already famous. "The kids from Qatar trusted us and didn't care, but the other kids didn't know us, didn't want cameras in their personal time and didn't want to be extras in someone else's film. "The fact that we kept coming back gave us a lot of credibility with the soldiers. It is a life behavior which are criterion and standard for each people. The American Anthropological Association's ethical guidelines also parallel Ruby's belief that the filmmaker/researcher's most important ethical responsibility is to the subject. They got to meet students from Latin America and Israel, went out for ice cream and hung around in their hotel rooms. He hadn’t yet watched “Farewell to Hollywood,” but assured that sometimes filmmakers and subjects fall into unethical relationships or the filmmakers themselves make morally questionable decisions. What makes ethical fashion important comes down to basic fundamentals that have been lost during the mantra of profit at all cost. 2. 2 What should be the primary focus of business ethics, and why is this so? Good business: Why placing ethics over profits pays off . Director Liz Mermin had a different set of concerns with her recent film, Team Qatar, about five high school students from Qatar training for the World Debate Championship in Washington, DC. How to disseminate findings is also an ethical concern. Ethics is all about the wrong and rights one person does whether it is in a business organization or if it is in public. Ethics is important to business because ethics keeps the economy running. Deborah Neyens from Iowa on November 05, 2013: Wow. How to edit so that the film is true to its topic and subjects, yet also works as a compelling story for the audiences? “They felt that that’s not something they wanted,” Morh said. We have seen many entrepreneurs doing well in their careers despite the lack of formal education. At a time when there is unprecedented financial pressure on makers to lower costs and increase productivity, filmmakers reported that they routinely found themselves in situations where they needed to balance ethical responsibilities against practical considerations. The Need for a Documentary Code of Ethics. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Mermin needed to balance what would work well for the film with concerns for her subjects in the long term. You're so dang smart--and you write so well! "The presence of the camera would have made it artificial," she notes. Now you know why its important, find out how to become an ethical consumer Subscribe to Ethical Consumer All the information and inspiration you need to join thousands of others and revolutionise the way you shop, save and live. This paper will talk about my views on ethics. There would be no way to work towards a goal because there would be no way to pick between a limitless number of goals. “We want to get the facts right of course, and if it’s really something that bothers you or that you’re not happy with, you’re going to be listened to. she reflects. And for the most part, it is the filmmaker who determines how that will be managed. Why it is important for the leaders to be ethical? ", Each of these filmmakers' stories serves to underline one of the best descriptions--by film scholar Bill Nichols in an essay that appeared in the March-April 2006 Documentary--of how filmmakers must grapple with the ethics of documentary: "These questions boil down to questions of trust--a quality that cannot be legislated, proposed or promised in the abstract so much as demonstrated, earned and granted in negotiated, contingent, concrete relationships in the here and how.". There are two approaches to ethics, rule and consequentialist and within these two frameworks there are again different approaches that can be used to respond to a situation in an ethical manner. What defines each person’s’ ethics – can 2 people be in the same position in a professional environment and have different ethical standards?. A key scene occurs when the Qatar kids, particularly religious Muslim girls, react to the London Gay Pride parade, which provokes an intense debate. Ethics on Film: Discussion of "The Act of Killing" Alex Woodson, Carnegie Council It is not hyperbole to call this documentary an epochal film. And both directors were wounded while covering the battles. One of these ethical issues is the directors of the documentary films may have tendency to eliminate some inappropriate or parts of … “I think the question about following somebody with a degenerative disease, when we started we had no idea where we were headed. Ethical policies are guidelines, steps and procedures of a work place place that govern employees by instructing them on do's and don'ts of the workplace. Employee Filmmaker (indie producer works at a production company): An employee filmmaker is someone who gets a job at a production company.The employee shows up each day, on time. It's something we felt was important to represent.". Restrepo focuses on the experience of soldiers in combat in all its difficult and draining aspects: the constant danger, the loss of comrades, the discomforts of living for weeks and months in a distant outpost in Afghanistan, and even the boredom between battles. It may not seem like it is that essential; however without ethics problems arise within the workforce. For the bases of this thesis I have chosen to answer this question through a discussion of the ethics of cinema vrit and the documentary/mockumentary style genre. The filmmaker and the critics have represented this piece to the public as "unprecedented" and described their own bewilderment over dealing with the ethical … Here are 3 ways how to become a filmmaker. Production Though they also must acknowledge that there may always be an audience member who questions whether or not something should have been filmed and deems it unethical. 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