5 Tips for Ethical Video Storytelling by Rachel Jellinek
Key Takeaways:
- In a video shoot, there can be various power dynamics at play that are important to be aware of, especially in terms of how they might shape the storytelling.
- No one wants to be defined by the worst experiences of their lives.
- Being thoughtful in advance about what b-roll (non-talking head imagery) to use can be a key way to challenge stereotypes.
When people make themselves vulnerable by telling their personal stories for the benefit of others, we are receiving a huge gift of trust. Reflection Films feels strongly that there are certain steps we need to take to make sure that this gift and the people who share it are not being taken for granted and are not being exploited in any way. We want to respect them and their lived experience. It’s in this spirit that I want to share some lessons we’ve learned in our almost 20 years of business.
Tip #1: Avoid entering a video project with the intention of making people cry.
If tears are shed naturally due to the power of the stories being told, that’s understandable. We feel it’s problematic, though, if someone is cued in their interview to tell their story in a way that:
- Gives a very narrow view of who they are
- Reinforces stereotypes
- Reduces them to the worst experiences of their lives, or
- Centers an organization and its donors, by extension, coming in as heroes to save them.
Tip #2: Frame people from the perspective of their strengths, not from their perceived limitations or weaknesses.
One way to avoid the pitfalls of Tip #1 is to shine a light on people’s strengths. One question we always ask interviewees is, “What are some things about yourself that make you proud?” People always respond enthusiastically to being asked this question. Yes, the person is accessing or has accessed services, but that isn’t due to character flaws. In many cases, it’s due to discriminatory systems and structures beyond that person’s control. We enjoy acknowledging and celebrating people’s accomplishments.
Tip #3: Be intentional about inclusion.
Whose stories are being shared? How are those decisions made? Whose stories are not being heard? Who might be being marginalized? For example, are there storytellers within your community whose native language might not be English? Could they be interviewed in their native language and then you include their stories with translation/subtitles?
Also, in terms of inclusion, there are a variety of ways to broaden access to the videos you create. For example, in addition to subtitles or captions, you can incorporate audio descriptions and ASL interpretation.
Tip #4: Recognize that there are power dynamics at play.
It is very important to clearly communicate to all participants that they have agency in the telling of their stories. Clients who are accessing services or who have accessed them in the past may feel compelled to give answers they think you and your organization want to hear.
Our approach is that if there are any questions interviewees don’t want to answer, that’s totally fine. If time permits, we ask them if there are any questions we didn’t ask that they wish we had and want to answer. If they answer a question and then decide that they don’t want their answer to be used, that’s fine. We’ve had clients ask us years later to edit folks out of their videos, due to someone changing their mind. We understand and respect that.
Tip #5: Be mindful of the b-roll options (the non-talking head imagery) you use to enhance the stories you’re sharing.
Regarding visuals within videos, Mary Abeson from Women for Women International offers this idea: “Reconsider your assumptions of who is the helper and who is being helped. Use photos of people in action, learning, or exercising a skill, and depicts subjects who are confident.” Use imagery – whether it’s photos, video footage, animation – that positions people from a strengths-based lens.
I hope these tips are helpful to you. Through our work, we want to respect the interviewees and their lived experience.
Rachel Jellinek is the President of Reflection Films, a WBENC-certified, woman-owned video production company that does video storytelling and content creation, through filming and animation, for a variety of mission-driven organizations. In addition to her work at Reflection Films, Rachel volunteers on the board of Abilities Dance Boston; on the allocations committee of Boston Women’s Fund; and as a mentor at Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD). She studies American Sign Language (ASL) in her free time.