Re: Taking control of the documentary situation, an immodest proposal

[david maas <david@brainpets.com>]

I agree - and I'm not a scientist, but an animator.
as I mentioned at svpow, these might be some valid ways to concretely 
design leverage within such an effort:

1) Inform yourself. Note the companies that work in dodgy ways. And more 
importantly, note the companies that work conscientiously (I can 
recommend mdtv). Refuse to work with the former, do work with the latter.

2) Demand conditional release contracts. A publisher must have your 
written consent before using interview material. These are always 
written up and signed in advance of the interview. If the company you 
are working with isn’t on one of the lists above, demand a clause that 
gives you release rights – ie. at least one edit review session. After 
which you can refuse specific segments if you feel they misrepresent 
you. Be prepared and willing to be turned down.

4) Make your own films.This is not as crazy as it sounds. If papers 
supply there own visuals in the form of illustrations and animations - 
as did the one on /Quetzalcoatlus -/ the media will incorporate those 
and the public will be innundated. There are artistic ample resources 
out there - artists such as those at ArtEvolved, universities, cg 
institutes and animators such as myself. Financial structures can be 
developed.... and there is an expenditure in educating that artist to 
the point where the artwork is meaningful. But the expenditure is in 
your hands, and as such is subject to your design.

David Maas

(sorry - missed the format button)