On this page I have conducted research regarding ethical, copyright, Ofcom rules and standard to be adhered and understood with in the documentary film making community. This will hopefully broaden my knowledge and film making practice and I will then be able to apply it when in the production phase next semester.
Ofcom Codes To Follow
This is a list of codes from the Ofcom Website that I feel would stand out when doing a documentary and apply to our own idea as well.
Section One: Protecting the Under-Eighteens
Scheduling and content Information
Due to the circumstances regarding the festival this does not apply to us as people are volunteering to see this. This rule only applies to broadcasts because people can accidentally watch the material which they can get offended by.
The coverage of sexual and other offences in the UK involving under-eighteens
We will be filming people in our cabs. So we might get underage people performing sexual activity in the back of a cab. It is unlikely however if we get footage of the such we will have to adhere to the rule. This can also include any racist remarks given to our cab driver which can be possible because of his origins from Pakistan.
Drugs, smoking, solvents and alcohol
This may be quite likely to be in our filming as we are filming cabdrivers at a taxi rank who maybe on their break and socialising. We will have to be careful not to infringe on the rules that Ofcom have laid in this case.
Violence and dangerous behaviour
Does not apply due to the regulations regarding festival.
Offensive Language
Does not apply due to the regulations regarding festival.
Sexual material
Will not apply, due to the subject of our documentary.
Nudity
Will not apply, due to the subject of our documentary.
Exorcism, the occult and the paranormal
Will not apply, due to the subject of our documentary.
The involvment of people under eighteen in programmes
We will have a child release form and an adult release form to be signed and as a backup we will have the camera if the the child's parent is around to ask them if we can film their child. If none of this is present we will not show it in our documentary.
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/831190/section1.pdf
Section Two: Harm and Offence
Generally Accepted Standards
Due to us making a programme designed to be able to tell the 'truth' we will have to employ this rule and make sure that all that is stated is that of factual evidence and state that any views or opinions do not represent our production house.
Violence, dangerous behaviour, and suicide
Footage of any dangerous driving will not be included in the documentary if there will be any footage of such activity. This can also include people getting in to the taxi.
Exorcism the occult and the paranormal
Will not apply, due to the subject of our documentary.
Hypnotic and other techniques, simulated news and photosensitive epilepsy
The use of taking pictures from passengers may have to be taken out as the risk to cause epilepsy may be a factour. If so we will either not use the footage or have a warning before the showing.
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/831190/section2.pdf
Section Three: Crime
Rules
We can not pay for any information regarding criminal conviction. We can not show crime unless justified.
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/831190/section3.pdf
Section Four: Religion
Rules
This will apply in how we represent our primaries religion for he is Hindu. We will have to be careful in how we represent it. We can not promote it either but respect his religion as well.
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/831190/section4.pdf
Section Five: Due Impartiality and Due Accuracy and Undue Prominence of View and Opinions
Due impartiality and due accuracy in news
If we ever need to reference to a news clip. First we will only be allowed to show 30 seconds of it and no more. As well as this we are not allowed to use the clip out of context otherwise we would be breaking the rules.
We will have views and opinions relating to racism, immigration and religion so will have to remain impartial throughout and will have to be paramount.
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/831190/section5.pdf
Section 6: Elections and Referendums
N/A
Section 7 and 8: Fairness + Privacy
Dealing fairly with contributors and obtaining informed consent/deception, set ups and 'wind-up' calls
When we are wanting to film individuals who get in to the cab we will need to ask their permission before doing so. If we were to have bullet cams in the cab, then we will have to prevent their anonymity and possibly change their voices slightly. However we can get the cab driver to get them to fill in our release form to get permission to film them. If they say yes then we will switch on the cameras. I have done a bit more further research in this matter and have found that regarding experiments in psychology here in the official national ethical guidelines http://www.psy.herts.ac.uk/EthicalGuidelines.html
However i think that we will have to go down the route of getting our release forms or if the subject is unable to sign them we will have the cab driver or for us in the cab when filming from the front seat to ask them on camera to get permission to film them. However this will create social desirability ( http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/social_desirability.htm ) which will change how they will act and will effect the aim by which we are trying to get the truth when these actions that we will be recording not necessary ones that reflect it.
The use of camera in Taxi's are used in some areas where their employer thinks it is nesseary for their employees safety, here is an example of one such case http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8559595.stm using this example we can be allowed to use the footage for evidence in our documentary if the people in the taxi have their face blurred etc and their identity to not be revealed in anyway. This then with our primary's permission use what the camera films in to a documentary as it is a public place.
Further to this if we get footage of people and their opinions we have to treat it fairly and not distort it in anyway.
Section 10: Commercial References in Television Programming
If placement of products happen to be in the documentary they would have to be blurred or edited out of the final sequence unless they were put in there on purpose otherwise we would put a symbol in the top left hand corner of the screen to say that there will be product placement in the programme.
Audience Phychographics
These can include:
What their: interests are, hobbies, magazines they read, background, what kind of food they like.
We use this information to taylor our production phase and thus we need to find out and establish our target audience in order to be able to create a documentary that will appeal to them on a profound level that will win them over when it comes to voting the best.
Audience Demographics
These are statistical information about your target audience like: Age, location, gender, income.
Income is further Split in to these sections
A - The upper class (high up manergerial roles, professional, doctors etc, high income)
B - Middle Class (middle management, medium income - £45,000 anual average)
C1 - Lower middle class (lower management, supervisory roles low to average income level)
C2 - Skilled working class (teachers, blacksmiths, people who are skilled at a particular job)
D - Semi unskilled manual workers
E - Those of the lowest income or no income at all. (mostly teenagers -13 to 19 years old)
