As our documentary is focused on an emotional and impactful topic, we have to consider ways we can ethically make this documentary in concerns to Tristan and everyone else involved. Here are some of the points we have come up with for out ethics charter:
- Treat emotionally distressing topics with delicacy during interviews
- Be aware of the emotional impact the subject matter will have on the subjects
- Explicitly make it known to subjects when they are, and are not being filmed and recorded
- Make an open-minded attempt to empathise with all subjects and see things from their perspective
- Facilitate a discussion with subjects about our motivations and goals for the documentary
- Show subjects the edited documentary before it’s released for public viewership- mentally note their feedback
- Avoid entering interviews with an agenda
- Be open-minded about the direction of interviews and to avoid steering them in a forced or unnatural trajectory
- Be ready and willing to answers all questions subjects may have about the documentary
- Contact the Tristan’s health practitioner ahead of time and request permission to shoot at his the premises
- Give subjects an estimated time schedule in which the documentary will be edited
- Edit the documentary in a considered and appropriate time frame, inform subjects if there is a delay to the process
- Inform subjects they have the right to pause or exit interviews at any given time
- Show respect to subjects, both socially and in the editing process
- Be as transparent as possible about our motivations for the documentary
- Retrieve explicit consent to use Tristan’s music in the documentary
- Conduct research on Tristan’s disorder before interviewing him (and his doctor) in relation to it
- Present a release form to all subjects
