Workshop: Practical and Ethical Considerations for
Working with Film Participants

Practical and Ethical Considerations for Working with Film Participants

Thu, September 22, 2022 | 3:30pm - 5:00pm PT

Virtual Workshop

Co-Presented by Filmmakers Collaborative SF and Re-Present Media

What happens if participants don't feel the documentary honestly represents their experience?

What if they don't want the attention the film brings or experience personal danger because of it?

What if they want compensation for participating?

With theatrical releases, streaming services, and the ever-growing need to fill more screen time, documentaries are having a moment like never before. In an era where "content is king," exploring these questions has become imperative for independent filmmakers.

This practical workshop aims to tackle documentary ethics and accountability by highlighting existing tools and resources to help filmmakers, funders, and participants address challenges that arise during the filmmaking process. It will focus on financial impacts and benefits, ownership, content review rights, and the film's impact on participants. It will also explore who is developing and promoting standards across the industry.

Through this workshop, attendees will learn about best practices and standards regarding working with participants to create a positive, ethical, and transparent experience. It will help attendees navigate ethical concerns that impact the filmmaker-participant relationship.

Facilitated by Jennifer Crystal Chien.

Cost: Free for Filmmakers Collaborative SF members or sliding scale (pay what you can)

ABOUT JENNIFER & KEVIN

Jennifer Crystal Chien is a documentary filmmaker with a focus on personal storytelling from immigrants and people of color. In 2017, she co-founded Re-Present Media, a grassroots nonprofit that advocates for personal storytelling in documentary film and nonfiction media. In addition to presenting films with community dialogues by established filmmakers, Re-Present Media also offers professional development for emerging filmmakers and coordinates field-wide advocacy campaigns to support and elevate voices from underrepresented communities. Jennifer is the Board President of Filmmakers Collaborative SF.

Kevin White is an award-winning documentary filmmaker with a focus on environmental and social issues. He has more than a dozen films that are in distribution, including his most recent film, Wilder than Wild: Fire, Forests and the Future, which has had 450+ community screenings and more than 850 broadcasts on PBS, plus educational distribution with Video Project. Kevin is the Co-Founder and Executive Director for Filmmakers Collaborative SF, and frequently consults with filmmakers on story approach, fundraising, and distribution. He is also on the Board of several media nonprofits.