The Social Impact Producer – Behind the scenes

When creating film and media that has a social impact, producers will need to consider factual information and the impact on those involved with the film making.  Firstly, all information needs to be well researched and facts checked carefully, as incorrect content could risk the legitimacy of the film.  Therefore, research will be a major element of the production, perhaps compared to fictional films.  As these films will often deal with real people and their stories, we need to consider ethical behaviour, presenting their stories honestly and fairly.  One of the challenges we faced presenting a genuine story was working with usual production requirements such as budgets and locations.  For example, we hoped to film within the Melbourne Gaol to show issued faced by prisoners of conscience, however, they quoted a large fee for access.  We also need to understand the risks of broadcasting this information to the filmmakers and any participants, although the intention is to make a positive social change, could there be a risk to the safety of those involved by telling the truth and presenting sensitive subject matter.  Similar to the curator Cheryl Haines of Ai Wei Wei’s exhibition, they needed to consider if the exhibition itself would put the artist and any of the prisoners mentioned at risk by telling their stories and calling attention to the issue.  Taking into account the considerations of well-researched facts, ethical behaviours and risk assessment, we aligned our call to action content with Amnesty International, which will help to provide legitimacy to our films due to their wide recognition as human rights campaigners.  It also allows us to present a range of issues that are both local and global, which will hopefully encourage a wider impact.

“Ai Weiwei: Yours Truly” focuses on an exhibition the artist presented at Alcatraz Island (courtesy of SF Film Festival).

The Social Impact Producer – The Audience

Producers of socially impactful films and media need to strike the balance between factual information and a call to action for the audience with sensorial elements of film.  Due to the nature of the content, information needs to factual and accurate but presented to the audience in way that encourages them to take action on the issue.  The topics presented in our film are confronting, therefore we want to present the severity but with enough positivity that the audience feels empowered to make a change rather than overwhelmed.  Linking our films with Amnesty International, will help give the audience practical ways of making a change, so we will develop our call to action from this.  We can further encourage our audience to take action by engaging them with elements of film.  Similar to fictional media, we can use sensorial elements like visuals, sound, music, graphics and editing to hook the audience on the issue.  Rather than present a list of facts, we can tell a story with film that has an emotional response for the audience that encourages them to take action.  Similar to the postcards sent to prisoners as part of Ai Wei Wei’s exhibition, these were visual, artistic elements of the exhibition based around native flowers and animals that attracted the participant.  The initial hook was they imagery of the flowers, but then they were encouraged to send a postcard message to the prisoners presented in the exhibition and highlight the issues they face.  Our intention is to engage our audience with an emotional narrative style.

Yours Truly postcards completed by visitors to @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz; photo: Nina Dietzel

Reference

Ai Wei Wei, Your Truly 2019, streaming video, FOR-SITE foundation, San Francisco, viewed 5 March 2020 <https://vimeo.com/289589810>