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This film will focus around a subject, whose involved within sports media, a presenter that covers the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Using the subject as the narrator and also on screen at times, will help the filmmakers idea of understanding how racial issues, have affected major sports organisations such as the NBA, but also the given opportunities that young black people have within media. So the film will incorporate the background to the subject, being a successful black member in sports media, with the issues presented to a sports league like the NBA due to racial issues.

This film will use the presenting and narration skills the subject has to gain further understanding behind them, but also to create a widened perspective on how they feel towards racism in a general sense.

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The 6 Most Important Ethical Considerations

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The 6 Most Important Ethical Considerations

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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE

Filmmaker's and their subjects

When using a subject for a documentary, the film-maker must consider that the subject, may not have representation from a media standpoint. This means that the film-maker becomes this for a short term, as they cannot misrepresent the subject, when showcasing them in a film. If the film-maker is not careful with this subject, then they are putting the subject at risk, of exploitation and harm. The film-maker can easily determine how the subject is portrayed by the viewers, they could  be looked at as a victim of abuse which becomes a major ethical issue.

Deception

A film-maker must be completely true to their word, when discussing all aspects to the story with the subject. The film-maker can't conceal their true motives, just for the better use of access, to the subjects life.  This notion becomes an ethical issue as it's a breach of honesty between the two parties.

Ethics Code

The integrity of the film is predicated on a few rules called, The Ethics Code
1. The director must not interfere with the life path of the subject.
2. The filmmakers cannot pay the subjects for their use in the film. 3. All parties involved with the film’s story must be given the opportunity to represent their self.

This is important not to violate in anyway, due to these being put in place, for the protection of all those involved. Breaching these rules becomes an ethical issue. This is significantly more important as the film cannot go ahead, if scenarios rise over payment for example, the film can then not be made at all.

Protecting the subject

It must become apparent before filming begins, that even if the films purpose is to highlight the difficulties of the subject, it cannot showcase them in only a poor manor. The viewers cannot just get a negative feel to the story. This becomes unethical as previously discussed before filming, the subject will be aware that the film may show hard scenes, but eventually an uplifting feeling will immerse within the the story. Failure to doing this leaves the subject unprotected to being critiqued, which becomes a very important ethical issue.

Misleading Footage and Half-Truths

Showing a film to the audience with scenes of wrongfully directed narrative, is highly unethical to the subject used, and to the viewers. A film-maker cannot interpret what film has been gathered and manipulate it to show what they want the audience to see. The film-maker must not leave out different angles to the story, just for the benefit of the films purpose or hook. This results in a mislead, untruthful and unforgiving style of documentary. Clever editing that highlights the subject or others involved, with a false narrative is highly unethical.

Image Ethics

The bases of image ethics starts with the understanding, between the documentary-maker and the subject. Depending on access, trust and honesty, the subject can then get an understanding to the images used in the film of their self, and how they will be interpreted. If the subject and the film-maker have a very limited relationship, with no real knowledge of each other, then the subject may feel uncomfortable with how the documentary-maker, may use the images gathered when filming. This becomes very important as using images in ways that were perhaps not previously discussed or due to the lack of understanding between both involved, becomes ethical issues.

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FB698 Ethics Form (400 Word Formative Writing Piece Draft- Week 7)

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FB698 Ethics Form (400 Word Formative Writing Piece Draft- Week 7)

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This documentary will revolve around the theme of racism and its effect on sports leagues  and media employability. With support, from a successful black presenter, narrating and answering the chosen topics will help shed light, on issues race has on major sports, and opportunities that black people get within media. There’s real value in the films narrative as it provides viewers a sense of education within a topic, that doesn’t receive the level of attention it deserves. Narration will help provide this valuable concept, discussing events that have become influential, in our perception of racism within sport. A main macro theme to this documentary, will obviously be tied to the discussion of racism within sport and media. However, the underlying micro theme that becomes linked to this, is the emotional traumas that come with racial issues, coming by way of the presenter’s opinions. Following the traditional narrative arc of an introduction, then rising action, to climax and finally conclusion will benefit, the ideas sought after by the filmmaker. It’s vital that the film, in a sense is structured around the presenter’s voice, due to them being the narrator of the story. The film will attract a young diverse viewership, aimed to educate them on their perception of racism.
This film will be structured through highlighting key events in relation to racial issues within sport, and opportunities of employment for black people. With this idea, the use of Poetic mode will be beneficial to turning this image into reality.
Respecting the rules of Ofcom and understand the severity, of coinciding within their regulations, is vital. Several rules in relation to harm and offence, hatred and abuse and fairness will be heavily leaned on to ensure that an ethically balanced and accepted film can be made.
Access, trust and the storytelling, all will be predicated on the relationship the filmmaker has with the protagonist. Discussion to location rights will also be discussed prior to resolve any issues. Third party rights regarding archive footage solely owned by the presenter’s employer, will be negotiated for use.
There will be no risk of misrepresentation for the subject in this film, however, that doesn’t mean they won’t be suspect to harm, due to the nature of the subjects they’re discussing.
The inclusion of a successful black presenter, will best fit the films goals of gaining a brighter perception, on a majorly important aspect, in today’s world.

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Semester Two (January/February 2021) Weeks 1-3 

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Semester Two (January/February 2021) Weeks 1-3 

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Following the completion of FB666 module in semester 2, my complete focus now turns to this module regarding the FB698 Practical Project/ Documentary,

The consistency surrounding my idea from it's first creation, has helped give myself confidence in achieving it as accurately as possible, subject to change due to COVID-19 restrictions.

With conversations with Mick about how I will be able to structure this documentary being made, going forward these coming weeks will be critical in figuring out and making a decision, on what option will best fit representing the subject's story.

I look to make a decision on whether I could still create a TV Documentary, whether constructing a Director's Commentary would be beneficial or as current frontrunner, a Radio Documentary.

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FB698 Documentary (150 Word Progress Report)

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FB698 Documentary (150 Word Progress Report)

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Currently with the restrictions on travel, access and safety protocols, the probability of this being filmed as a TV documentary becomes slimmer by the day. So, as of right now the plan moving forward is to cement what specific style I as the filmmaker, will stick to as we approach the crucial months towards completing this film. Currently, it makes most sense to approach this as a radio documentary but that doesn’t mean ruling out a TV documentary entirely and especially a director’s commentary. These options cannot be fully decided now, due to the changes in restrictions that could appear, within the next month. If this will be radio format, a master interview of the subject (yet to be confirmed), will best suit giving as much context to what I feel, will be diverse with its variety of topics covered. Filtered also by archive sound, voiceovers and relative guests who give value towards what the film is trying to portray. This is the current plan moving forward and from now until PR1 presentation, these ideas will only be strengthened by gaining concessive answers to what is at this stage, a blueprint of ideas.

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The beginning of March following the documentary proposal in late February, meant production became reality for this film.

I began scheduling interviews months prior to this point such as Jaydee Dyer but as stated in the evaluative essay, this didn't go as planned but not through luck I had other measures in place to make sure this did not become a problem.

I then altered my plans with a different guest to fill Jaydee's place in another Sky Sports Presenter that allowed me to remain within the narrative chosen, having Mo Mooncey. This interview and the others heard in the film all commenced in April.

What was conducted in March and prior to that was collecting all forms of B-Roll footage, archive and music that would feature in and around the main base of interviews.

I piled it together in the weeks of April, right through to the allowed time for submission in early May.

That gives a basic overview to how production manifested into the radio documentary submitted. However, their were many successes and challenges that popped up along the way that couldn't go unnoticed.

PROS

- The film itself amidst all problems faced, maintained its primary purpose throughout as the interviews, archive footage and everything else heard matched the narrative proposed by the filmmaker.

- The guests produced great insight and real value to the topic chosen regarding social justice, racial inequality and police brutality.

- The archive footage gathered through support of major media companies, provided a true base to the NBA and sport perspective of the film.

- The use of music matched the themes to this film very well and added to the sound quality.

- Shut Up and Dribble - Or What? showcased a meaningful film on very important and current societal issues.

- It's concept was more than just sport but that of societal, racial and cultural meaning which benefits the overall reach of audience gained.

- Overall, it was a topic of choice best suited to the filmmaker and one of which that's left a great feeling of pride in what's been produced.

CONS

- The film was a tall task in terms of getting the right people involved such as players, coaches and league representatives of the NBA. It made doubt creep in at times to thinking could this film be produced at all and would it be to a high quality?

- Didn't account for the lengthy process of scheduling, agreeing and conducting interviews with very committed and busy people.

- Doing interviews with guests virtually caused sound quality issues that couldn't be avoided due to Covid issues and travel restrictions.

- In truth film could've have more depth if the acquisition of a player/coach perspective was introduced. As stated in the evaluative essay, this was targeted and almost agreed without then the intervention of the PR department refusing to have such conversations recorded for film purposes.

- I feel having the first envisioned idea of using Jaydee in a narrative role would've better suited, as being self critical, the narration voice reduced the film from a professional sense.

Overall, this documentary produced was successful in the aims set out in the proposal stage. I feel confident in saying that what's been produced is equivalent to my best work within the required time allowed. I feel that for the countless hours I've worked on this assignment, that it's paid off in creating a very real, informative and uplifting piece regarding sports and culture.