Social issue documentaries take on some of our most pressing global concerns and, at the same time, create major challenges for filmmakers in terms of ethics, authorship, and presenting stories as truthfully as possible. Learn how to navigate these waters in order to make your film the most authentic and impactful it can be. Join Emmy-nominated filmmaker Dawn Porter (Gideon’s Army, Trapped, John Lewis: Good Trouble) in this three-hour, online Master Class as she shares real-world examples and reveals a set of questions and tools to help you hone the story you are trying to tell and ensure that it meets the ethical standards necessary to give it credibility and meaning.
Resources:
Download the list of resources from Dawn Porter and Sundance Co//ab
Topics covered include:
00:00 - Welcome and Introductions from Sundance Co//ab
03:30 - Introduction with Dawn Porter
10:40 - What Do You Want to Say?
20:40 - Authorship: Am I the Person to Tell This Story?
32:30 - Q&A
54:30 - Making Ethical Choices During Development
01:10 - Q&A
01:23 - Collaborating and Communicating with Your Subjects
01:42 - Being Mindful of How to Portray Your Subjects
02:00 - Q&A
02:23 - Working Through Ethical Challenges During Production and Post-Production
02:34 - Q&A
02:47 - Closing Remarks
Photo credit: Protestors and police officers on Bloody Sunday, in JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE, a Magnolia Pictures release. © Spider Martin. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
