IMAGE: Citizen Reporting on the "Media Footprint" of Documentary Filmmakers
"IMAGE" is innovative in that it gives local citizens an opportunity to report on the ethical work of documentary filmmakers.
About You
About You
First Name
Lisa
Last Name
Russell
Twitter URL
Facebook URL
About Your Organization
Organization Name
Governess Films
Organization Website
Organization Country
United States, NY, Kings County
Country where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
For‐profit
How long has your organization been operating?
More than 5 years
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Innovation
Entry Form title
IMAGE: Citizen Reporting on the "Media Footprint" of Documentary Filmmakers
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Idea (you're poised to launch)
How long have you been in operation?
Still in idea phase, but looking to launch soon
THE NEED: Describe the need for your solution and the size/dynamic of the community (ies) you will engage
In my panel presentation at the 2010 UN Week Digital Media Lounge, entitled, “The Power of Film”, I posed the questions, “Who is entitled to tell someone's story? Am I qualified enough, do I know the nuances of a culture? Am I more credible than an Ethiopian filmmaker to discuss women's health in Ethiopia because of my audience and reach? What are my responsibilities in doing so?"
As an award-winning Western filmmaker that often travels to the African continent to make films for UN/NGO agencies, I often reflect on whether I’m doing more harm than good. Am I, purely by my socio-cultural upbringing contributing to the mass media’s perception of the African continent as one only of suffering, violence, poverty and disease? Or can I, with a Masters in Public Health and experience shooting in over 15 African nations, accurately engage audiences about the incredible people and important work being done by individuals on the ground?
In my opinion, this is a very important conversation that needs to take place about the responsibilities of documentary filmmakers in putting forth images of often the poor and marginalized. And it needs to take place with citizen oversight.
THE SOLUTION: Please explain what your solution offers and how it is innovative. How will you put your solution into the hands of users or beneficiaries? Be specific!
My entry “IMAGE: Citizen Reporting on the "Media Footprint" of Documentary Filmmakers" is an online citizen media project which intends to give local citizens an opportunity to report on filmmakers' processes on the use (or misuse) of images and storylines in documentary filmmaking. "IMAGE" will create a horizontal dialogue with filmmakers from around the world about the responsibilities, challenges and opportunities facing filmmakers from the North and the South. The interactive website includes an online conversation about the roles and responsiblities of documentary filmmakers. Through the conversation, "IMAGE" will create an informal code of ethics for international filmmaking. Once developed, it will be followed by a mapping project that will map filmmakers who can report on various film-related observations and opportunities. Local citizens can access this site, find filmmakers they have worked with or know about and can report on abuses, give "grades" to filmmakers based on the code of ethics, and post comments about their work ethics, their relationship with the communities, and their overall standing in the community.
Efforts will be made to reach filmmakers both online (through various social networks) as well as regional film festivals (such as FESPACO - Africa’s largest film festival, and the Toronto International Film Festival which attracts many global documentaries.) Given my strong connections with the UN/NGO community, I can leverage my relationships to reach more beneficiaries.
THE MODEL: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference through use of information technology and media
The “IMAGE” website will work as a global social networking and mapping site. Filmmakers will register and upload their information as well as their film experience, interests and links to their work which then will be mapped using an online mapping program and crowd sourcing tool such as Ushahidi. Over the course of one month, both registered and anonymous users will be asked to share their experiences, ideas, and concerns about the role of documentary filmmakers in covering international stories. An online moderator will engage users about the ethics of documentary filmmaking (including protecting subjects, preventing re-sale of images, and sharing decision making power.) The results of this conversation will help collate this into an informal code of ethics and suggestions on calculating and reducing one’s “media footprint” (ideas may include providing workshops to young filmmakers in-country, donating film equipment, providing internships, etc.) Filmmakers may use the site to connect with filmmakers in the country of the shoot to share opportunities, and find local crew for an international shoot.
THE MARKETPLACE: Who are your peers and competitors? What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
Other documentary sites and programs are making efforts to attract international filmmakers in film festivals and television broadcasts. For example, ITVS has an International Call and the Sundance Institute’s Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award selects filmmakers from four countries each year to fund, however these initiatives are purely increasing opportunities for filmmakers in country. They are not engaging filmmakers in any sort of dialogue about the process of their work, nor are they using it as an opportunity to match local filmmakers with international shoots.
Social Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
FOUNDING STORY: We want to hear about your “Aha!” moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution’s potential to change the world.
My “aha” moments come whenever I arrive in an African country as a one-person, female, American filmmaker. I undoubtedly get asked why I choose to make films about Africa and why, when American’s make films about Africa, they only show the bad parts of Africa. When I was asked to speak at the UN Digital Media Week on “The Power of Film”, I knew the expectations were that I would share my work on how my films have changed the world for the better. Instead I took it as an opportunity to pose critical but important questions and start a dialogue.
In my own professional work, I have managed to address my never-ending desire to do the right thing by providing a workshop training to young filmmakers in Uganda and Tanzania, and hiring filmmakers in South Africa, Tanzania, Singapore, Uganda and Sudan to shoot material that I then edited back in NYC. I'm giving them work, decreasing my carbon footprint by not flying all over the world, and overall feel like I'm having more of a collaborative process with people on the ground.
Specify both the depth and scale of your solution’s social impact to date
In my own professional work (perhaps considered the stepping stones for the development of "IMAGE"), I have managed to address my never-ending desire to do the "right thing" by leveling the power dynamic between myself and local filmmakers. I have done this by providing workshop trainings to young filmmakers in Uganda and Tanzania, and hiring local filmmakers in South Africa, Tanzania, Singapore, Uganda and Sudan to shoot material that I then edited back in NYC. I'm giving them work, decreasing my carbon footprint by not flying all over the world, and overall feel like I'm having more of a collaborative process with people on the ground.
What is your projected impact within the next 1-5 years? Is your idea replicable? If so, how?
My goal is by 2015 to elevate “IMAGE” as an integral aspect of the media and communications divisions in both the filmmaking and development communities through presentations at various film festivals, global health conferences and as reference tool for UN/NGO agencies who contract filmmakers for various projects. I want "IMAGE" to become the voice that constantly questions and challenges the role and responsibilities of filmmakers in the development arena.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and mark growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
My six month milestone is to have the beta site built and ready to pilot.
Six-Month Tasks
Task 1
Write business plan and raise seed funds.
Task 2
Create Advisory Committee that includes academics, technology experts, global health professionals and new media specialists.
Task 3
Conceptualize, brand and build IMAGE site.
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
My 12-month milestone is to launch the one-month conversation with at least 1,000 registrants.
12-Month Tasks
Task 1
Promote site extensively through various film and global health/development channels.
Task 2
Register at least 1,000 filmmakers from around the world.
Task 3
Launch moderated online discussion.
How many people have been impacted by your project?
Fewer than 100
How many people could be impacted by your project in the next three years?
1001‐10,000
Sustainability
Explain how your company, program, service or product is structured
Business
What barriers have hindered the success of your project to date? How do you plan to overcome these and other challenges as you grow your solution?
I have not had the means to take this idea to the next step. Given that I work as an independent filmmaker, my time is dedicated to producing and promoting my various film projects. In order to move forward on this idea, I would need seed money to create time for me to allocate to the project, as well as a hire a business plan writer and web developer.
How do you see the information-technology and media sectors shifting over the next decade? How will your solution adapt to and/or drive that changing environment?
I think, more and more, people will be accessing information and connecting through mobile phones, PDAs, etc. My hope is that “IMAGE” becomes more valuable as it adds more tools that can connect people and share resources while filmmakers are shooting in remote areas. I envision a mobile phone app for "IMAGE". I would also like to see a GPS element added to the “IMAGE” mobile application so that all footage and photographs taken of individuals can be mapped and shared with organizations serving various populations.
Failure is not always an option. If your solution fails to gain traction in the next two years, what other applications of the idea could you explore?
If “IMAGE” fails to gain traction in the next two years, my idea would be to make the site self-sustainable. User-generated content can be uploaded and shared and management of the site would be minimalized, and therefore less funds would be needed.
Expand on your selections, explaining how you will sustain funding
My funding for my film and new media projects often comes from the various UN/NGO agencies that I work with (UNFPA, UN Women, USAID, and others.) My hope would be to find sponsors to the project as well as receive foundation funding which I can access by identifying a fiscal sponsor for the project.
Tell us about your partnerships
In my previous work, I have partnered with some of the international communities leading agencies including UNFPA, UN Women, USAID, PEPFAR, Women Deliver, EngenderHealth, Ipas and the Global Health Council among others. For this project, I have not yet identified partners.
What type of team (staff, volunteers, etc.) will ensure that you achieve the growth milestones identified in the Social Impact section?
I hope to hire two full time staff and several freelancers to reach both the six and 12-month milestones. This includes a business plan writer, a web developer, a fundraiser, a PR specialist and administrative staff.
Changemakers is a collaborative and supportive space. Please specify any community resources you would need to grow and sustain your initiative. Select all that apply
Investment, Human resources or talent, Marketing or media, Research or information, Collaboration or networking, Pro-bono help (legal, financial, etc.), Innovation or ideas, Mentorship.
Specify any resources you might offer to support other initiatives. Select all that apply
Human resources or talent, Marketing or media, Mentorship.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren’t specified within the list
N/A
Summary
Define your company, program, service or product in 1-2 short sentences
Governess Films is an award-winning network of female filmmakers who make innovative documentary and narrative films.
Identify what is innovative about your solution in 1-2 short sentences
"IMAGE" is innovative in that it gives local citizens an opportunity to report on the ethical work of documentary filmmakers.
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| 294537_10150797237415697_515775696_20441629_221072856_n.jpg | 23.14 KB |
 | 36 weeks agoLisa Russell updated this Competition Entry. |
| 36 weeks agoLisa Russell submitted this idea. |
