The Doc Society's Impact Field Guide database is a collection of tools, organizations, trainings, case studies, templates, funding opportunities, and more to support your efforts to have an impact.
Documentary Participants Empowerment Alliance
Documentary Participants Empowerment Alliance
Bringing vital resources to all those who have appeared in or are considering appearing in documentary films
Topic: Participants
Organization
Website
Visit
When Cruelty is the Point, We Still Need a Trauma-Informed Process in Documentary Filmmaking
Documentary Accountability Working Group
Natalie Bullock Brown of the Documentary Accountability Working Group (DAWG) writes about what must be considered "when a filmmaker endeavors to tell…
Topic: Participants
Thought Piece
Website
Visit
Real People, Real Stories: Ensuring the Well-Being of Documentary Participants
Peace is Loud
Findings of worldwide film participant focus group
Topic: Participants
Report
PDF
View PDF
StoryShift
Working Films
Take-aways, advice, and lessons learned that can inform intentional accountability practices in documentary filmmaking
Topic: Participants
Case Study
Video
Watch
In the Spotlight: Crucial Questions for Documentary Participants
Peace is Loud
Tool to help filmmakers and participants create healthy dialogues about consent, compensation, creative rights, and other pressing issues (available…
Topic: Participants
Tool
PDF
View PDF
Beyond the Lens: The State of Participant Care in Documentary Film
Peace is Loud
Survey of the state of documentary participant care
Topic: Participants
Report
PDF
View PDF
Framework for Evaluating Disability Representation in Film and Media 2025
FWD-Doc
Detailed checklist of questions that evaluate disabled representation
Topic: Participants
Tool
PDF
Accessibility
View PDF
Documenting Protests and Demonstrations
Witness
Resource library to support the documentation of protests and demonstrations safely, effectively, and ethically
Topic: Participants
List/Database
Website
Human Rights
Visit
A Question of Ethics: The Relationship between Filmmaker and Subject
International Documentary Association
At the heart of documentary production is the relationship between filmmaker and subjects--not often an equal balance of power. And for the most part…
Topic: Participants
Thought Piece
Website
Visit
Holding Ourselves Accountable: A Consent Calendar Resource
Peace is Loud
Model for establishing informed, active consent throughout the filmmaking process (available in English and Spanish)
Topic: Participants
Tool
PDF
View PDF
Filmmaker-Participant Relationship Unpacked
ITVS
Large-scale study exploring the relationship between documentary filmmakers and participants
Topic: Participants
Report
PDF
View PDF
Modeling Care, Safety and Wellbeing in Your Impact Campaign
Global Impact Producers Alliance
Timely conversation about protagonist safety in dangerous times
Topic: Participants
Talk
Video
Watch