Ethics and Storytelling

1. There are some ethical dilemmas faced by both filmakers when shooting these documentaries. After watching these documentaries I was unable to tell whether the people in the film knew that they were being filmed, or if they even consented to be in this documentary. If they did not, there are many ethical problems associated with these documentaries, such as exploiting their personal lives. Another ethical dilemma focuses on the issue of concealment and decievement. If the people in this film knew they were being filmed, were they aware of the purpose of the film or were they told that they were being filmed for other reasons? My overall analysis after watching these documentaries is that the people in these films were not in the right mental state and therefore could not completely consent to the realease of the documentaries, therefore violating journalism ethics.

2. If the filmakers released the documentaries without having consent, then censoring the footage will not make it ethical. Therefore, the filmamkers might as well use all of the footage to try and relate the lives of the people shown in these documentaries. However, if the filmakers did have consent to show these documentaries then I believe they should also show all of the footage. Seeing raw and uncensored footage makes more of an impact on the audience then showing censored information. Portraying the lives of these people without editing will have a more emotional effect on the audience.

3. If I were the journalist in this situation, I would first get consent of these people to show the documentary. To avoid any unethical dilemmas, I would explain to them as clearly as possible why the documentary is important, and why I am filming it. The people in these documentaries, clearly are not in the right state of mind so I would try and be as repectful as possible when portraying them in my documentary. Even though the "Titicut Follies" video was very raw and at times difficult to watch because of it's harsh content, it made an impact on me and I was able to understand the inflictions of these people. It made me have a better understanding of the pain that they are in, and the challenges they have faced. It emotionally touched me and I felt more compassion for these people. I would like to get across the same emotional effect, while complying to all the ethical codes.