Over the years, I’ve heard a variety of documentary ethics conversations. One of the issues that always comes up is paying subjects and the topic is still very much alive, as evidenced by a recent NY Times article:

“I paid the ‘bad apples’ because they asked to be paid, and they would not have been interviewed otherwise,” [Errol Morris] said in a statement. In a brief interview after the screening of the film at the Tribeca Film Festival in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday night, Mr. Morris would not say which of the soldiers he paid, or how much. Read the entire article>>

The article discusses the long-held belief by journalists that paying subjects can alter the story they tell. And while no one writes or says that documentary is journalism, by discussing that standard in journalism  in context of a film like Errol Morris’ Standard Operating Procedure, there is definitely a linking of the two traditions. But documentary isn’t journalism, even if ancillary products like books and articles are produced in conjunction with the film.

A filmmaker can spend anywhere from hours to years intruding on the lives of subjects. Frequently, the filmmaker is an economically advantaged person sporting expensive equipment, flights to and from the subjects home, and probably a paid crew. It’s difficult for people outside of the industry to understand that the majority of docs don’t make money. Errol Morris and few select others aside, even those that appear on television or in theaters often make back about as much as they did to produce. Even so, most filmmakers understand the disparity in their relationship with subjects and will walk this line about paying subjects by sometimes offering assistance in one form or another. Some are hardliners, while others, like Morris, believe the ends of telling their stories justify the means.

She’s tall and thin, that Manhattan, but she can be cruel. In the winter, the winds whip through the spaces between the tall buildings that block out the sun, leaving only slivers of light to melt the snow. The summer air can be stifling, and filth and poverty are lurking on every corner. But it is also the lights of Times Square and hordes of people flowing like rivers as they move from place to place. Time can be suspended on a beautiful day, hanging out in the empty fountain at Washington Square or along a ruddy lake in Central Park. There are fine stores, and rooftop parties and movies. My favorite thing about New York is the people–from long time friends to the new folks you meet on any given night out and about. To this, goes Matt Dentler. As I’ve heard several times this week, his star is on the rise and indeed, he is leaving SXSW and Austin to join the throngs of NYC. I’m sad to hear the news but I’ll grin and bear it, like so many others here in Austin, as he has been unfailingly supportive to me. I’d like to wish Matt bon voyage and all luck and happiness in his new endeavors.

A friend told me when I moved back to the New York area from my stint in DC, to let New York take me by the hand and lead me. I found it to be helpful advice. If you feel like you are swimming upstream, take a deep breath and let the city be your guide.