RISKY BUSINESS: LEGAL REVIEW AND DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING Conversations

As the overlap between independent documentary filmmaking and journalism continues to grow, we take an in-depth look at the process of pre-publication review, a critical but underexplored area of high-stakes journalism, and standard practice for news and broadcast organizations. Editors, lawyers, reporters and fact-checkers attempt to verify the facts and vet the implications of what is being presented onscreen. Independent documentary filmmakers, however, may lack the organizational support and resources for this process. In this timely panel discussion, we explore pre-publication review and do a deep dive into the legal review process with filmmaker Jenifer McShane, director of ERNIE & JOE, and lawyer Dale Cohen, who works with independent filmmakers and has vetted programs for the PBS investigative series FRONTLINE.