I find this so true, beautifully expressed, and helpful! When watching your films, I feel the meaningful moments along with participants, and I sense the trust and respect that’s necessary for such moments to be recorded.
A few years ago I finished a solo film with interview subjects who I only had fleeting contact with while traveling around the U.S. So this was very different from following the lives of participants over time. I felt protective of the people who spoke on camera, and have kept a promise that they can let me know if they prefer not to be part of my project and I will remove them. So far no one has asked to be removed, and I maintain peace of mind, but if I had funders, a distributor or insurers, this conditional arrangement wouldn’t be possible. Of course there’s a sizable downside to having no funders or distributors - few people see the work, and it’s not financially sustainable. But it’s been a valuable discovery for me to experience the weight and responsibility of presenting people on screen within a genre that sets expectations for truth.
thanks for sharing! Yes it's not always possible (or necessary) for every film to maintain year(s)-long relationships with participants. I do always feel a debt, either way. Like I get the better end of the deal. It's tough to navigate as it's not possible to stay in constant contact with so many folks (especially when you've been making films for a decade) but I try to check in with folks and see how they're doing several times a year (when I'm still 5 years out from finishing the film). I have never had anyone back out of a film, and when they bring things they don't like to my attention I hear them out and reconsider the value of the scene versus how it will impact their life.
I find this so true, beautifully expressed, and helpful! When watching your films, I feel the meaningful moments along with participants, and I sense the trust and respect that’s necessary for such moments to be recorded.
A few years ago I finished a solo film with interview subjects who I only had fleeting contact with while traveling around the U.S. So this was very different from following the lives of participants over time. I felt protective of the people who spoke on camera, and have kept a promise that they can let me know if they prefer not to be part of my project and I will remove them. So far no one has asked to be removed, and I maintain peace of mind, but if I had funders, a distributor or insurers, this conditional arrangement wouldn’t be possible. Of course there’s a sizable downside to having no funders or distributors - few people see the work, and it’s not financially sustainable. But it’s been a valuable discovery for me to experience the weight and responsibility of presenting people on screen within a genre that sets expectations for truth.
thanks for sharing! Yes it's not always possible (or necessary) for every film to maintain year(s)-long relationships with participants. I do always feel a debt, either way. Like I get the better end of the deal. It's tough to navigate as it's not possible to stay in constant contact with so many folks (especially when you've been making films for a decade) but I try to check in with folks and see how they're doing several times a year (when I'm still 5 years out from finishing the film). I have never had anyone back out of a film, and when they bring things they don't like to my attention I hear them out and reconsider the value of the scene versus how it will impact their life.