A list of questions for those approached to be in a documentary, meant to be a starting point for a dialogue that will continue throughout the filmmaking process. The questions encourage transparency at every stage, so that one can make an informed decision about being filmed. The list is meant to be used creatively, and is not meant to discourage anyone from participating. The aim is to have both the person/ participant and the filmmaker leave the discussion feeling informed and empowered. A glossary of commonly used terms throughout the list is included.

Where can we turn to seek guidance on how to respond to the many ethical questions that continuously arise in our work? Where can we gather knowledge and educate ourselves to make the most informed ethical decisions and reduce the risk of harm?

These are some of the many catalyzing questions that led us to form the Ethics Resource Library, which we are proud to present to you today.

Our library is open to filmmakers of all experience levels, navigating any and all stages of production.
We cover a wide ranging swath of topics and questions including:

• accessibility
• authorship (who is telling your story & why)
• labor
• representation
• inclusion
• interviewing victims
• diversity
• distribution
• consent
• safety on set
• etc...

Importantly, our Ethics Resource Library is a living library that continues to evolve with our rapidly changing industry. The discussions around inclusivity and representation, for example, have changed dramatically over the last decade, and our library represents this living conversation with resources spanning the early aughts to the present day. 

What is included in the library…

• List of ethics-based resources organized by topic/keyword/tag and pre-vetted by our committee
• Resources include articles, editorials, video presentations, keynote addresses, guidelines, courses, podcasts, toolkits, essays, etc. 
• Short description of resource and why we recommended it for the library
• Link to resources

How to use the library...

We are not prescriptive and we aren’t seeking to be the definitive source to answer all your ethical questions, but rather the entry point to educate yourself, and arm yourself with the tools and sources you need to become the most ethical filmmaker you can be. We invite you to engage with our library, suggest and add resources to it, and become part of this living conversation. We recognize every ethical issue is unique with a unique set of factors. We are not seeking to dictate how issues should be handled, but rather to empower the filmmaker with the resource and knowledge to make the most informed decisions.

We’re excited to share these resources with you. Happy reading!

If you have any questions you can email the DPA Coordinator at info@documentaryproducersalliance.org

If you would like to suggest a resource to be included in the library, you can do so here.