Tv & Film Ethics Consultant
MICHELE AARON
What makes a great story inspire rather than alienate? What makes it garner critical acclaim rather than lead to controversy? How can something visionary avoid falling prey to the minefield of offence? How can we tell bold, even transformative, stories about the human condition without compromising the integrity of the work or the people who made it?
It’s a tricky business getting the balance right – between characters’ universal and stereotypical appeal, between star headliners and the diversity agenda, between any ‘agenda’ and the right thing. Eddie Redmayne may now regret his Oscar winning turn as a trans woman, but film and TV’s ‘best intentions’ fall short far too frequently. It doesn’t need to be this way.
I’m an award-winning author, with 25 years experience of teaching and talking about the ethics in film and television to students, independent filmmakers, artists and NGOs.
It’s my business to navigate this minefield. I will guide you on a considered path by asking the right questions.
What do I offer?
It’s hard to ask yourself the tough questions. It’s harder still to ask them of others. There isn’t always a definitive ‘right’ answer but if you ask the right questions and embrace the difficult discussion – if you can be braver about having these awkward conversations – a better product, and better professional relationships, will follow. I can help.
Script review
1) In relation to the more obvious issues of stereotype and histories of representation – how is the script dealing with gender, race, sexuality, and disability? How will the casting? How might these be navigated to avoid discrimination? But it’s not all about the obvious.
2) In relation to the less obvious/explicit issues – how is the story dealing with intimacy or vulnerability? Whose truth or pleasure or impoverishment is being foregrounded? How does it navigate consent or inhumanity? What is good or bad, right and wrong, about colour-blind casting?
Consulting
Difficult subjects are by their nature difficult to talk about. I have specialised in having these kinds of conversations about film and television, and can help you explore and resolve the potential issues that a script raises.
Contact me at: msaaron0@me.com
Tv & Film Ethics Consultant 