Legal and Ethical Issues

Copyright is a legal concept which gives the original creator of a piece of work exclusive rights to the work, usually for a limited time before it is placed in the public domain. Generally speaking it is the right to copy the work however it also gives the creator the right to be credited for their work and to choose who may perform the work, adapt it and financially gain from it.

Defamation (also known as calumny, vilification, traducement and slander) is the act of making a statement which may give an individual, group, company, product or religion a negative or inferior image. This can be also any disparaging statement made by one person about another, which is communicated or published, whether true or false, depending on legal state. 

Certification is the process of deciding what age group a TV show or film should be shown to. Examples of certificates are U, PG, 12, 15 and 18.

When making a TV show or film, the producers must take into account all of the potential issues they could face. For example,  The One Show, Doctor Who and High Crimes must make sure that there is no copyrighted material in the product. The most likely material to be copyrighted is music so they must make sure that they have permission to use a certain piece of music in the show/film. Any work must be original in order to receive copyright protection. Copyright can be placed on websites, written work (including software and databases),  theatre (dance and mime can get protection as well), Music, artistic work (including photos), spoken word and performers and TV & film. You must gain permission before using any of these mediums. Often, music will have multiple copyright protections. The composer will have the copyright to the song, the lyricist will own literary rights to the lyrics as they are considered to be literary work. The producer will own the copyright to the recorded track. 

As well as copyright, there are other, more specific, legal and ethical issues for film or TV producers to consider. The One Show would be affected by the representation of tribal people. If they were to film a tribe then they would have to make sure to gain the permission of the tribe and ensure that the tribe understand that they will be shown on TV. Another thing that the Producers must consider is accuracy. The BBC Editorial Guidelines state that where possible material should be gathered from first hand sources and that facts should be checked and then cross checked. The producers must not represent the tribe in a way that is nor true to their daily life which would in turn be misleading the audience. The One Show would also have to take care to be impartial when talking about subjects that could potentially be controversial. As Doctor Who is broadcast before 9pm (the watershed) and is aimed at people of all ages, the producers must take into consideration the level of violent and sexual content as well as any bad language. There is no legal constraints to enforce the watershed but they are in the BBC Editorial Guidelines and most television companies keep to the guidelines.

Although High Crimes is an American film, it is still subject to the BBFC (British Board of Film Compassion. The BBFC is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification and censorship of films within the UK. To be shown in the UK, High Crimes would have to be classified by the BBFC. The current guidelines of the BBFC identify certain areas of a film that must be considered when awarding a certificate or making cuts to a film. These include violence, sexual content, actions that can be easily imitated by children, horror/disturbing content, drugs and discrimination. High Crimes was certificated a 12. This is likely because of violence, profanities and sexual content. Some films, when released on DVD, receive a higher certificate because they include trailers of films with a higher certificate. The BBFC do not have any effect on the TV broadcast but they will give the DVD release a certification. With the exception of series 5, every full series DVD release of Doctor Who has been given a 12 certificate.

High Crimes Film Poster

High Crimes Film Trailer

Film Job Functions

stunts:

Unit Production Manager: The UPM is the title for an on-set executive responsible for the administration of a production; especially a film production. A UPM is usually hired by a film producer or television producer, and is responsible for managing the production and regulating the costs of delivering the expected film or television show on budget at the end of principal photography. The UPM does not have any direct responsibilities with the creative direction of the film's narrative. He or she is to support the director's artistic vision on a daily physical production level. Before principal photography begins both the producer and UPM work to secure as many of the production elements as possible, including a workable schedule and budget. Like nearly all members of a film crew, UPMs will typically remain on the shoot until the end of principal photography and can return if there are any reshoots. It is not atypical for a UPM to work 80-100 (or more) hours per week while a film is in production.

Art Director: An Art Director will work directly below the production designer in terms of the hierarchical structure of a film art department.  A large part of their duties include the administrative aspects of the art department. They are responsible for assigning tasks to personnel such as the Art Department Coordinator, and the Leadman, keeping track of the art department budget and scheduling (i.e. Prep/Wrap Schedule) as well as overall quality control.

Set Dressing Buyer: A Set Dressing Buyer will buy the furnishings, wallpaper, lighting fixtures, and many of the other objects that will be seen in the film.

Storyboard Artist: A Storyboard Artist specialises in creating storyboards for advertising agencies and film productions. A storyboard artist is able to visualize any stories using quick sketches on paper at any moment. Quick pencil drawings and marker renderings are two of the most common traditional techniques, although nowadays Flash, Photoshop, and other storyboard applications are gradually taking over. The digital camera is one of the latest techniques in creating storyboards. A storyboard artist is also known as an illustrator or visualizer. They are mostly freelance artists, typically hired by art directors and film directors. Some frequently used drawing applications are Corel Painter and Adobe Photoshop. Many storyboard artists nowadays begin and finish their work on computers using software and digital pencils like Wacom (Graphics tablet). In film, a storyboard artist is hired at the beginning of a project. When a storyboard artist is hired by a motion picture company, the artist must break down the scenes of the script into shots which can be filmed. This is done under the supervision of the film's director in order to ensure the director's vision from the start of the project. Therefore, it can be helpful for the storyboard artist to know the mechanics of filmmaking when assisting the director. As the production proceeds, the storyboards are presented to the cinematographer who is then responsible for bringing that vision to the screen. Film production companies may also hire a storyboard artist to create polished presentation-style storyboards (which might also include sound) which can be used by an executive producer to raise the money to create the film.

Steadicam Operator: Steadicam Operators are responsible for the technical set up of the Steadicam system and for balancing the camera on it. They liaise with director, director of photography (DoP) and actors to set up and perform the required shots. They also work with the 1st assistant camera to ensure that shots are in focus, and with the 1st assistant director to make sure that the choreography of the shot runs smoothly. Steadicam Operators are specialists within the camera department and may be hired on a daily basis to perform specific shots within a scene, or employed as camera operators who specialize in Steadicam.

Camera Loader: A Clapper Loader is part of a film crew, whose main functions are that of loading the raw film stock into camera magazines, operating the clapperboard (slate) at the beginning of each take, marking the actors as necessary, and maintaining all records and paperwork for the camera department.

Boom: A Boom operator is an assistant of the production sound mixer. The principal responsibility of the boom operator is microphone placement, usually using a boom pole with a microphone attached to the end, their aim being to hold the microphone as close to the actors or action as possible without allowing the microphone or boom to enter the camera's frame.

Script Supervisor: A script supervisor (also called continuity supervisor) is a member of a film crew responsible for maintaining the motion picture's internal continuity and for recording the production unit's daily progress in shooting the film's screenplay. The script supervisor is the editor's and writer's representative on set, as well as being the right hand aide to the director and the director of photography. It is the script supervisor's job to make sure that at the end of the day the film can be cut together. In that sense, they back up every department, monitor the script during shooting and make sure that errors in continuity do not occur that would prevent the film from being able to be compiled in the editing room.

Chief Lighting Technician: Lighting Technicians are involved with rigging stage and location sets and controlling artificial, electric lights for film production. In film productions lighting technicians work under the direction of the Gaffer or Chief Lighting Technician whom takes their direction from the cinematographer

Rigging Gaffer: The Rigging Gaffer is a member of the electrics or lighting department who works under the direction of the gaffer and the DP. They have a crew of set lighting technicians and set wiremen, including a best boy, and are generally responsible for pre-lighting on set. Ahead of principal photography on a new scene or location, the Rigging Gaffer arrives to survey the site and plan installation as per the gaffer’s instruction. This person supervises the crew in unloading the lighting truck and installing cable, rigging equipment, and lighting instruments according to the gaffer’s design. This is only preparatory work, as the primary lighting crew will follow to focus lights and refine the look, as will the grips install gobos and other accessories. Essentially, the Rigging Gaffer ensures that all gear is in working order, in place, and ready to be locked down upon arrival of the gaffer.

Best Boy: In a film crew there are two kinds of best boy. These are best boy electric and best boy grip. They are assistants to their department heads, the gaffer and the key grip, respectively.^[1] In short, the best boy acts as the foreman for his/her department. Best boys are responsible for the day-to-day operation of the lighting or grip department. Their many responsibilities include the hiring, scheduling, and management of crew; the ordering, inventory, and returning of equipment; overseeing workplace safety and maintaining discipline within their department; completing timecards and other paperwork; stocking of expendables; loading and unloading production trucks; planning and implementing the lighting or rigging of locations and/or sound stages; coordinating with rigging crews and additional photography units (if applicable); handling relations with the other production departments; overseeing the application of union rules (where relevant); and serving as the day-to-day representative of the department with the Unit Production Manager and Coordinator of the film.

Key Grip: The key grip is the head of the grip department and chief rigging technician on the set. Using light, the key grip is in charge of the shadows of light, the movement of the camera, the placing of cameras on any stationary, moving, flying, or floating surface. As a supervisor, the key grip directs the crew of grips, many with specialized skills such as dolly grips, crane operators, or special equipment operators.

High Crimes Notes

Narrative: Tom Kubik and his wife Claire move to Marin County and find their idyllic lifestyle. During a shopping spree, Tom is captured by the FBI and charged with the murder of 9 peasants. Claire then discovers that his real name is Ronald Chapman and that he was a covert military operative serving in the United States Marine Corps and has been on the run for the past fourteen years. She decides to defend her husband and hires Charlie Grimes (Morgan Freeman) as well. 

Representation: Claire is shown to be a strong, independent woman who deeply loves her husband and will go against the military in order to prove his innocence. Throughout the film she is usually dressed formally. This, as well as conversations talking about her being the best lawyer, emphasise these aspects of her. In contrast, after the car crash she is shown to be unable to move and distraught at the loss of her unborn baby. The next scene shows her wearing casual clothing, suggesting a loss of power. Tom/Ronald Chapman is represented in completely different ways throughout the film. He is portrayed as being innocent after his arrest and the way he acts towards Claire shows a very loving relationship between the two of them. After it is revealed that he is being accused of murders, he becomes a much darker character. This is shown in a scene when he is standing in the doorway behind Claire. Later he appears to be very unstable as he attacks Claire and his facial expressions as he is planning to kill her emphasise his psychotic nature. Charlie Grimes is represented very differently from the other characters in the film. He is not particularly well dressed and achieves his aims through unorthodox methods.

Camerawork: When someone is talking, close-ups are used to make sure that the audiences focuses on them. If someone is being watched then the audience see from the watchers persepctive. The camera follows the person so the audience know that they are being watched. When Claire has a car crash, there is a cut to a scene with her in the hospital. This is representative of what she would have seen so the audience are seeing things from her point of view. Another example of what the audience seeing representing how a character is feeling is when the man is being strangled and the screen becomes blurry. This relates to the fact that he is feeling disorientated. Long shots are used to allow the audience to see many things happening in one shot so there does not have to be lots of cuts between shots.

Mise en Scene: Many of the characters in the film wear military uniform. This is used to show authority and power. Suits are worn to give a character a sense of professionalism. Towards the start of the film, there is lots of bright lighting. However the lighting becomes darker throughout the film. This relates to the dark tone of the film.  

Sound: The film begins with slow, melodic music in order to disguise the darker nature of the plot. The music becomes faster to build up tension before a fight or action scene. This builds tension because it acts as a signifier for the audience. If a scene is emotional and upsetting, slower music is used in order to keep the audience focused on what is happening in the scene. 

Target Audience:The target audience of this film is likely to be adults from around the ages of 25 to 40. This is because it is more of a mystery thriller which, although younger people may enjoy, does not contain as much action as many younger people would like.