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Zara
4 Minutes
As part of our mission to create a more ethical and dignified environment in charity film, our team has undergone Trauma Informed Training with One Small Thing. This training has shown us ways to create more safe and collaborative spaces and understanding trauma can play a big part in that.
Here’s how you can create a safe environment from the planning stages all the way through to your final edit!
Trauma informed practice serves to protect and empower those who may be in a vulnerable situation. Particularly in collaborative projects, being mindful of who you are working with, and their circumstances is essential to creating a safe environment. One key aspect to consider is how diverse backgrounds and factors such as race, religion, identity etc, can shape someone’s trauma. Creating a space for them to share their story can be invaluable for both them and you to learn from a new perspective and understand their needs.
Check-In with Contributors: During the initial stages of the process when you’re getting to know your contributors, reach out and ask if there’s anything that might trigger their trauma during the process. This isn’t just a checkbox; it’s about creating a genuine and open dialogue. A simple, “Is there anything specific you’d like us to be aware of?” can go a long way. It’s also useful for the Producer to join this conversation to make sure everything has been taken into account for shooting days.
For example, when shooting with Young Epilepsy UK, it was important to understand any triggers beforehand. This was to make sure the team was safe and elements such as lighting wouldn’t provoke a seizure. Throughout the shoot we also asked what they thought was important to share, whilst being respectful of their personal stories. This approach not only prioritises safety, but creates an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and understood.
You can read the full case study here.
What Would Like To Gain From The Experience?: Perhaps your contributor would like to gain a new skill, to share their story or maybe both? The best way to find out is to ask! During planning, ask what they hope to gain from the experience and then you can cater to their needs so they can feel empowered.
Meet Before the Shoot: Encourage the crew to meet with contributors ahead of time. This meet up can help to solidify everyone’s understanding of the process and the needs to be met. It can also be comforting for the contributor to have a familiar face when walking on-set!
On-Shoot Support: On a similar note, you could also ask contributors if they’d like a friend or carer with them on-set for additional support. It can be overwhelming sharing quite personal information with relative strangers, so having a trusted friend nearby can help them to feel safe and ease their nerves.
Respect and Empowerment: Contributors have the right to change their mind and withdraw any content they may have filmed. A simple question of “Are you happy with what you’ve shared today” can put their mind at ease and allow them to voice any concerns or adjustments.
Final Review: Once the shoot is complete, share the film with contributors to make sure they’re happy and comfortable with the final edit. This can be empowering for contributors to know that the content will only be distributed with their consent and they’re happy with the final film.
Overall, Trauma Informed Training is an excellent way to better serve the contributors you are representing. It shows that you care and are committed to creating a safe and empowering space for them to tell their story with the support they may need. Hopefully, the stories of your contributors can help inspire others to do the same. Together, we can make a positive impact, one story at a time.
For more on Trauma Informed Training, visit One Small Things website to find upcoming Trauma Informed Training Programmes and Workshops in 2025. You can also email emma@thesaltways.com to get started on your own ethical filmmaking project.
