Abstract

This research-creation explores my interest in documentary-making and the ethical dilemmas that filmmakers face in the process. Though research reveals two main themes related to ethics in filmmaking, truth in documentary films and protocols, there are no adequate pre-made standardized ethical tools to guide protocols and explore the various approaches that filmmakers take to address these dilemmas, such as using guidelines, manifestos, and other more organic approaches. Through self-reflection, critical research, creative video and virtual reality productions, I analysed and approached them. A research-creation process led to the creation of two final interactive video installations: “Shadows of Reality,” a 360 Virtual Reality video, and “Documentary Tools,” a 3D stereoscopic video installation. These works speak to the ethical challenges in documentary filmmaking and provide a practical self-reflection tool for the independent documentary filmmaking community.