Release Forms

Release forms are essential in ensuring your media can be publically shown and potentially sold to a broadcaster. If release forms are not signed then anybody interviewed or visible in any footage have to right to prevent it from being shown. As DOP, release forms were essential in my role as I had to make sure who I photographed gave me permission to do so. I had to consider if they were seen aware, looking into the camera, in which case I would need a release form to grant their permission for the image to be used. However, if people were in the background of the image unaware of the unconcealed camera then a release form was not required. The event organisers also put posters at the entrance explaining that if anybody didn’t want to be photographed to come and see us. We were made clearly visible through the use of ‘University of Winchester’ lanyards with Red Cherry laminated  ID cards, posters on tables and an introduction by the event organisers. We did have 3 individuals who made it clear they didn’t want to appear in any footage which helped us avoid them. However, we still used release forms on individuals who we directly photographed or filmed.

 

 

Parental Consent Release Forms

 

When filming, we did interview a minor, and therefore had his mother sign a release form giving us permission to film him.

"Children under 16 must have a release form signed by a parent. People 17 and older are generally felt to be sufficiently adult to sign their own forms. Bearmind that young people may lie about their age to you in order to avoid telling their parents, so double check their date of birth." 

http://www.4docs.org.uk/wiki/index.php/Legals#Consents_and_Permissions

 

 

Fairness and Rights to Reply

 

When an accusation is made within a documentary, who the accusation is made against has the right to defend themselves and argue the case. As journalists, you are expected to contact who the allegation has been made against and ask for their side of the story.

 

 

Copyright

 

The current UK copyright laws have been in place since 1st August 1989 and covers creative work such as literary, musical and film based media. It is in place to give creators of original pieces the power to protect them from being reproduced under somebody else’s name. It also allows original artists the opportunity to make money from their work. The duration of protection varies for different types of media. The duration for a documentary's copyright lasts 50 years.

 

 

Fair Use

 

Fair use prevents copyrighted material from being out of reach and restricted from general use. For example, search engines are allowed to recite copyrighted information, as it is a resource. Also the education system has the ability to use copyrighted material to benefit itself. As long as the information is sourced and appropriately used, fair use prevents copyright from hindering free speech.

 

Ofcom

Ofcom are a communications regulator – regulating TV, radio, telecom services, postal and wireless devices. They are able to protect UK citizens from offensive material. Rather than censoring, they regulate which deals with complaints after it is available. We would have to consider our own morals and Ofcoms before we issue our media.

 

 

NUJ

 

The Union, National Union of Journalists, was founded in 1907 and represents many media professionals - acting as a voice for photojournalists. They look to improve pay and conditions for members and aim to maintain a fair deal for their skilled work.

 

 

Ethics

 

Our own ethics as a production company are particularly important. They deter how far we go to obtain what we want. We have to follow and consider the University of Winchester’s ethical code also. It has a lot of grey areas as to how to define them so is a very complicated subject area. Most documentary practitioners follow a rule of “do not harm” and “do not violate the humanity of your subject that would compromise the trust of your audience”.