The reading on the ethics of documentary filmmaking was interesting because it discusses how much to tell the subjects that are being filmed. I feel that it would be ideal to tell them as little as possible and also spend as much time shooting as possible. More specifically I mean to make it clear what you want but maybe leave part of the truth out depending on what you are trying to cover. I remember in the movie The Fighter, there is a film crew following Christian Bale's character because he is an ex-pro boxer. When the documentary premieres it turns out they were filming him because he has become a cocaine and heroin addict and that is what the documentary is about instead of his return to fighting. I realize this is a narrative film but it is still relevant given that this could easily be a documentary someone could make in the real world.
When they talk about having the footage that could be used in court, I think that is phenomenal footage because that is a person broken down to their very core. Granted they might not get in fights or do drug deals every single day but we see the kind of person they can be instead of them smiling in front of a camera. I equate it to getting a new job, the first few weeks you are on good behavior, watching language, feeling uncomfortable, as you relax around your coworkers (like the subject around a camera eventually) then you begin to be more and more like yourself once the honeymoon stage has worn off. That relationship exists with a crew and subjects too I believe.
I believe the best way to do a documentary would be to pick someone/something you are already familiar with on a personal level or get to a personal level before a camera ever comes out. I don't mean one pre-interview either, really spend time with the person/people and let them get to know you and then when you reveal the camera in a few months maybe, you are going to get a more organic reaction must faster than if they aren't familiar with you.
I read a book over Christmas break called "Down and Dirty Documentary Filmmaking" and it was for the documentarian on a budget with usable and affordable advice and one of the things he recommended when shooting was when going into a neighborhood that is ethnically different than the majority of the crew, you will get much different reactions than if you get have more of the crew of that certain race or if the filmmaker gets in good with one of the "elders" of the neighborhood so that the crew can be trusted and respected. Again, this goes along with taking steps to get in with the subjects being filmed and again, you can't always tell them exactly what you are doing.
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