Film/Media: Ethics in Documentary – Working with Real People in the Real World – Tutorial with Vincent Du from University of East Anglia

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In this Film/Media session, Vincent Du, Lecturer in Media Production in the School of Media, Language and Communication Studies at University of East Anglia, will run an interactive talk for students on Ethics in Documentary – Working with Real People in the Real World.

Documentaries deal with real people, real experiences and real consequences, making ethics central to every decision a filmmaker makes. This session will explore the responsibilities involved in telling true stories, such as building trust, navigating power dynamics and representing others fairly. Through thought-provoking examples, students will consider questions such as: Who has the right to tell a story? Can a documentary cause harm? What happens when reality changes during filming? This session is ideal for students interested in film, media, journalism or social issues, and encourages critical thinking about storytelling in the real world.

In addition to the details above, Vincent offers an introduction to the subject of Ethics in Documentary in this Headliner recorded video. This recording can be watched as a class activity or independently in preparation for the session.

The session is designed to support students’ current studies whilst offering an insight into university study.

Lecturer Profile: Vincent Du

Our events are designed so that a group of students can take part from a classroom or students and teachers can take part as individuals, either from school or from home. There is no charge to take part.

As a live, participative event, this session will not be recorded but slides and other resources will be shared after the event, where available.

Suitable for: Aged 16+ pre-university students studying, or with a possible interest in studying, Film, Media and related disciplines. Student groups as well as students and teachers joining individually are very welcome.

Preparation/Pre-Reading: Students are asked to watch the introductory Headliner recorded video and consider the issues raised. Students can also think about questions about studying at university level.

The IT Setup: The event will be run on Zoom and participants will be able to join using laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. If you are joining as a school group, we recommend connecting with one device and projecting on to a whiteboard. You will be able to interact with the speaker via typed comments and questions and/or via a microphone. Full details will be sent to those who have registered (see below) prior to the event.

Booking a Place: This is free for schools and colleges. If you would like to take part in this event, please register your interest using the link to the registration form below:

Register here