Guerilla Documentary: Anonymity Part 1 of 2

By:  Shane  Burley  

In   the   fields   of   guerilla   documentary   freedom   is   the   keyword,   and   removing  

your   name   from   the   credits   may   do   just   that.   Disclaimer:   This   article   does   not  
intend  to  endorse  or  condone  any  illegal  activity,  whether  state  or  federal.  

 
A  Socio-­‐Political  Weapon  

Filmmaking  is  a  tool  whose  function  has  a  range  of  diversity  equal  to  that  of  
the  artist.  It  can  exist  as  internal  reflection,  social  commentary  and  activism,  
and  with  the  possibility  of  transforming  the  world  one  audience  member  at  a  
time.  The  means  of  distribution,  and  often  production,  tend  to  be  in  the  hands  
of   a   few   members   of   the   large   corporate   media   system.   This   puts   limits   on  
people   who   attempt   documentary   filmmaking   with   revolutionary   goals,  
mostly   because   it   may   challenge   the   very   foundations   these   systems   are  
resting   on.   The   underground   may   be   the   place   for   these   digital   video  
anarchists,   where   the   rules   are   different   and   the   dangers   are   more   vivid.  
Guerilla   filmmaking,   especially   with   non-­‐fiction,   is   reproducing   at   rapid   rates  
these   days   because   of   internet   self-­‐distribution   and   it   is   easy   for   truly  
independent  filmmakers  to  get  their  work  seen.  If  someone  is  attempting  to  
by   pass   the   normal   flow   of   film   distribution   and   ownership   laws   they   may  
attempt   to   go   anonymous,   leaving   the   film   to   speak   for   itself   without   credit  
given  to  them  explicitly.  

Copyright  

Once  you  take  your  name  off  of  the  credits,  or  anyone’s  name  for  that  matter,  
you   open   yourself   up   to   do   things   that   you   normally   could   not   get   away   with.  
Copyright  law  is  difficult  for  even  the  most  seasoned  film  veteran  to  interpret,  
and   usually   you   are   not   going   to   be   liable   unless   you   are   taking   a   financial  
reward.  If  you  are  looking  for  purely  anonymous  distribution  on  websites  like  
MySpace   or   YouTube   any   copyright   laws   can   be   forgotten   completely.   This  
means  that  you  should  feel  free  to  use  any  film  footage,  news  real,  or  music  
that   you   would   like   to   further   enhance   your   work.   Since   there   would   be   no  
one  to  pursue  for  infringement  on  intellectual  property  rights  you  are  in  the  
free  and  clear  to  use  all  media  you  feel  fit.  You  should  still  be  cautious  if  you  
intend   on   using   large   segments   of   copyrighted   work   because   the   hosting  
websites   may   remove   it,   but   if   you   use   small   segments   to   augment   your   work  
or  as  a  creative  palette  for  your  own  remix  then  your  work  will  be  free  to  be  
seen   without   liability.   There   are   a   number   of   programs   available   free   online  
for   use   in   capturing   audio   files   or   videos,   either   from   websites   or   physical  
home   viewing   formats.   When   trying   to   simply   download   media   there   is   a  
number   of   person-­‐to-­‐person(P2P)   formats   available,   including   SoulSeek   and  
all  types  of  Bit  Torrent  downloads.  

Trespass  

Likewise,   any   methods   that   you   used   to   acquire   footage   in   your   normal  
production  process  will  not  be  subject  to  any  legal  questioning.  For  example,  if  
you  are  working  on  a  film  that  challenges  a  certain  government  or  corporate  
institution  you  may  want  to  breach  trespassing  laws  to  acquire  footage.  This  is  
illegal,   and   the   footage   in   your   film   would   be   a  self-­‐incriminating   document.  
Employing   complete   anonymity   would   then   take   away   the   ability   for  
authorities  to  identify  you  personally  for  the  legal  violation.  This  opens  you  up  
to   take   a   new   ethical   perspective,   where   the   importance   of   your   work  
becomes  primary  over  the  possibility  of  retaliation  against  you.  

Libel  

Libel   and   slander   laws   are   commonly   pressed   against   independent   and  
alternative  journalists.  Much  of  it  is  valid  because  it  is  common  in  the  internet  
age   for   journalists   to   ignore   common   fact   checking   and   ethical   procedures.  
Unfortunately,  this  is  also  mixed  with  false  charges  that  are  pressed  by  larger  
corporate   or   governmental   organizations   that   have   the   legal   and   financial  
resources   to   go   after   renegades   that   challenge   them.   In   your   filmmaking  
process  you  will  be  under  similar  scrutiny,  however,  if  your  film  maintains  no  
author  then  there  is  really  no  person  to  serve  with  a  lawsuit.  

 
Guerilla  Documentary  
The  truth  does  not  always  live  in  the  open,  so  many  documentarians  head  to  
the  underground.  Learn  about  some  techniques  used  in  guerilla  documentary  
production.  
• 1.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Anonymity  Part  1  of  2  
• 2.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Anonymity  Part  2  of  2  
• 3.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Clandestine  Footage  
• 4.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Hidden  Field  Cameras  
• 5.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Filming  Without  a  Permit  
• 6.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Wireless  Microphone  
• 7.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Using  Still  Photography  
• 8.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Using  Your  Mobile  Phone  
• 9.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Entering  and  Exiting  the  Premises  
• 10.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Usable  Stock  Visuals  
• 11.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Getting  Your  Releases  Early  
• 12.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Forget  High  Definition  
• 13.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Hidden  Costs  
• 14.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Small  &  Light  Cameras  
• 15.  Guerilla  Documentary:Videotaping  News  Crews  
• 16.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Making  a  Studio  in  Your  Apartment  
• 17.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Don't  Turn  Off  Your  Camera  
• 18.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Chasing  Your  Subject  
• 19.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Prison  Interviews  
• 20.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Group  Interviews  
• 21.  Guerilla  Documentary:  Using  Newspaper  Clippings  
 
 
Read  more:  
http://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/video/articles/11332.aspx#ixzz0tbIk9
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