FFC Guiding Principles for Ethical Filmmaking 

Filmmakers for Conservation members are passionate about their commitment to the conservation of the natural world. One of the goals of FFC is to foster an ethical relationship between the filmmaker/videographer and the natural world. The "FFC Guiding Principles" are guidelines that each FFC member agrees to endorse.

FFC members recognise that the welfare of an animal is more important than the sequence; that they have a responsibility to ensure that nothing they do could reasonably be considered cruel; and that they should not have a detrimental effect on the ecological integrity of the ecosystem they are working in.

FFC members aim to portray authentic and accurate, natural behaviour in their work.

PRINCIPLES

1. Always place the welfare of the subject above all else.

2. Ensure that your subjects are not caused any physical harm, anxiety, consequential predation or lessened reproductive success by your activities.

3. Don’t do anything that will permanently alter the natural behaviour of your subject. Be aware that habituation, baiting, and feeding may place your subjects at risk and may be lethal.

4. It is unacceptable to restrict or restrain an animal by any means to attract a predator.

5. Subjects should never be drugged or restrained in order to alter their behaviour for the sole purpose of filming.

6. Be aware of and follow all local and national laws regarding wildlife where you are filming.

7. Be courteous to your contributors (give appropriate credit where it is due). Whenever possible give copies of the finished program, a copy of a long edit of an appropriate scene, and/or publicity photographs to the people who helped you.

8. Images or script that give an audience abnormal, false or misleading information about a subject or its behaviour should be avoided.

9. Always research your subject prior to filming.

GUIDELINES FOR WORKING IN THE FIELD

Restore all sites to their original state before you leave (for example: tie back rather than cut vegetation).

Be aware and take precautions, as some species will permanently quit a site just because of your odour.

Keep film, video equipment, and crewmembers at a distance sufficient to avoid site or subject disturbance.

Night shooting with artificial lights can require precautions to avoid making the subject vulnerable to predation.

Be prepared to meet unexpected conditions without damaging the environment or subject. Be especially prepared and deal with any people attracted by your activities as they could put the subject at risk.

Be aware that filming a den or nest site could attract predators.

The use of tame or captive animals should be acknowledged. If using tame or captive animals:

a. Ensure the subject receives proper care.

b. The subject’s trainer or custodian should always be present during filming.

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