Digital & Content Ethics

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE MAKING

You have a lot of creative freedom in these classes, and I want you to make work that reflects your own ideas, interests and experiences. With that freedom comes some responsibility for how you represent other people and the stories you choose to tell.

Your work cannot be racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist or otherwise demeaning to people or groups. Serious and difficult subjects are absolutely possible, but think carefully about why you are including something and how it will affect an audience.

CONSENT & PRIVACY

Always get permission before filming or recording someone. Being in a hallway or another public area of the school does not automatically mean someone has agreed to be in your film.

Respect people’s privacy, and if someone does not want to be filmed, don’t film them.

COPYRIGHT & YOUR AUDIENCE

Film is made for an audience. We screen our major projects together as a class, and some work may also be hosted on the Dream Big Vimeo channel, screened for the school community or submitted to film festivals. You should expect other people to see the work you make here.

Because we share our films publicly, you need to pay attention to copyright from the beginning of a project. Music, photographs, artwork, video clips and other material you find online usually belong to someone. Use your own material or make sure you have the right to use and publicly share anything you include in your film.

AI & CREATIVE WORK

We do not use AI to write scripts, generate ideas or do the creative work for you. An important part of these classes is developing your own ideas, voice and creative skills. Besides - AI scripts are boring!

There may occasionally be specific technical or research uses for AI, and I will let you know when that is appropriate. It should not replace your own writing, storytelling, design or filmmaking.