Ethics and Objectivity

Learn the difference between a subjective and objective approach to filmmaking, how to recognize bias, how to balance your own ethics and feelings in difficult situations, and ethical guidelines both in the field and in the editing room.

Ethics and Objectivity

Developed by Jason Tomaric, FilmSkills
ABOUT THIS LESSON
As a documentarian, you have a responsibility to both your subject and your audience.  Hundreds, thousands, even millions of people may see your movie, and the choices you make will have an effect on each and every one of those people. For this reason, it is important to know your own ethical boundaries and always conduct yourself with journalistic integrity.
 
In this module you will learn the difference between a subjective and objective approach to filmmaking, how to recognize bias, how to balance your own ethics and feelings in difficult situations, and ethical guidelines both in the field and in the editing room.
 
Know the guidelines to maintain a clear, unbiased approach so you remain truthful to both your subjects and the audience.
 
  • 23:19 video that explores the filmmaker's responsibility to ethics and objectivity
  • Illustrated companion guide
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
  • The difference between objective and subjective cinema
  • How to maintain journalistic integrity as a documentarian
  • About bias and how it influences the project
  • Ethics in the field
  • Ethics in the editing room

 

ABOUT THE LESSON AUTHOR
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Jason Tomaric

Jason Tomaric

Director, Cinematographer Los Angeles, California
Jason J. Tomaric is an Emmy, Telly, and CINE Award-winning director and cinematographer of four internationally-distributed feature films, dozens of national television commercials, music videos, and the largest film training content library in the world, published author of 8 books - used in many top universities, and creator of AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform. 
 
Jason has worked in Los Angeles and around the world in over 20 countries. His clients include Disney, NBC/Universal, National Geographic, McDonald’s, Toyota, Scion, Microsoft, and Paul Mitchell, with narrative work screened at Sundance, Slamdance, and South by Southwest film festivals as well as on Netflix and on all broadcast networks.
 
Jason has taught and/or guest lectured at some of the nation's most prestigious film schools including UCLA, Columbia College, John Carroll University, Kent State University, San Francisco State, University of Notre Dame, and numerous film festivals.
 
Jason has written eight industry-defining books, all sold in bookstores, and used in film schools around the world. The American Society of Cinematographers hails Jason's books - "There are no wasted words in Tomaric's tome, which concisely summarizes each facet of the director's craft.  It's difficult to think of a step in the process that Tomaric fails to address." 
 
Jason’s DVD training series on Hollywood film production have trained filmmakers in over 40 countries, with distributors in Europe, Hong Kong, New York and Australia.
 
In 2010, Jason launched FilmSkills, which combines the world’s largest film training video library with his proprietary learning management system.  Adopted by 47 universities within the first year, FilmSkills is now the leading industry-standard training solution for motion picture and television production.
 
In 2015, Jason launched AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform that bridges the gap between academia and industry.