One of the most important ethical considerations that a documentary maker has to keep in mind while portraying someone’s life, is to make sure that the participant is giving informed consent. Strengthening the emphasis on informed consent procedures would be paramount. Ensuring that participants fully understand the nature of the project, its potential reach, and the ways their information and stories might be used or represented is crucial. This might involve clearer and more detailed consent forms, accompanied by thorough, accessible explanations of the potential implications of their involvement.

Another important aspect would be transparency and clarity in communication. Enhancing the communication process with participants about the project’s goals, methods, and potential impacts can build trust and a clearer understanding between the filmmaker and the participant. This could include being transparent about any potential risks or unintended consequences of their involvement and ensuring that participants have a clear understanding of their rights throughout the entire process.

Respect for dignity and privacy is also very vital in this matter. the guidelines around respecting the dignity and privacy of the participants is crucial. This could involve clearer protocols for handling sensitive information and ensuring that participants have the right to withdraw their involvement at any point without negative repercussions. Respecting cultural sensitivities and personal boundaries should be at the forefront of the Ethics Charter.

Another thing would be to give the participant representation and narrative control. Providing participants with more control over how their stories are portrayed can be empowering. Offering them the opportunity to review and provide feedback on their portrayal in the documentary can help ensure that their voices are accurately represented, and that the final product aligns with their intentions and self-perception. This process would involve ongoing communication and collaboration with the participants to ensure their agency and autonomy are respected throughout the project.

Also, something that would be good to have in bigger projects which have a greater audience, is implementing a system for continuous assessment of the long-term impacts of the documentary on the participants’ lives is crucial. This could involve periodic follow-ups with the participants to gauge how their involvement has affected them, both positively and negatively. Creating resources or support networks to assist participants in coping with any potential negative repercussions stemming from their involvement could be integrated into the Ethics Charter. Although this does not necessarily apply to our relatively small university project, but it can be helpful in greater projects in the future.

By reinforcing these aspects in the Ethics Charter, it is possible to foster a more respectful, transparent, and collaborative relationship between the filmmaker and the participants, thereby ensuring that documentary projects involving human subjects are conducted ethically and responsibly.