[Frameworks] Asking for a friend

[Pip Chodorov]

Hi all,

Of course anything can happen in any domain, whether in a university 
or in a community film lab. No community is immune from people who 
use their position of authority inappropriately. I'm sure Fred is 
right about filmmakers exhibiting inappropriate behavior, and I'm 
sure filmmakers have had disturbing experiences with their subjects 
as Amanda relates. But Chuck's question compares our "industry" with 
entertainmeint, politics and academia, and I think there is a 
difference.

Of course when the subject matter of our films brings us into 
dangerous situations or into contact with people who cause 
harassment, yes and I guess that can be an even greater danger in 
documentary filmmaking, especially social documentary. I really 
wasn't thinking about the act of filming a subject, or in the 
relation of power or authority between filmer and filmee, but in the 
"business" side of experimental film. There are no "casting couches."

When I reflect on the panorama of experimental filmmaking there are 
fewer films about human subjects than in narrative or documentary 
filmmaking. So many films are about mountains or emulsion scratches 
or found images or old friends, and many of us work totally alone 
with printing machines or in a darkroom.

On the other hand many films do cross the line into sexual politics 
or sexuality in general, like Flaming Creatures. Not only the 
vulnerability of the filming situation but the potential of 
distribution and exhibition is affected by the subject matter. (In 
some cases film labs even refused to print explicit images).

I didn't mean to disrespect anybody in our community who has had bad 
experiences with bad actors, but to posit that in the narrow scope of 
avant-garde film, one's career as a filmmaker is less likely to be in 
jeapordy due to inappropriate sexual behavior, though other abuses of 
power are much more common.

Interesting debate, but I doubt it's made more interesting now 
because of the proliferation of news stories. It should have always 
been acceptable and rewarding to call out wrongdoing when it happened.

- Pip