I was contacted just after Christmas by Phil Stebbing, director and producer of a new documentary called The Deadline that investigates the issue of fishing piracy off the coast of Guinea. Independently produced, Phil has worked on the film between other jobs - most notably the excellent Afghan Star. He asked whether the club would be interested in screening the film so I said I'd take a look at a DVD.
I was sceptical at first, mainly because from the trailer it is obvious that Greenpeace has a strong presence in the film and as a policy the club steers clear of films that have a strong ngo backed campaign agenda. Not because we have an opinion on the rights or wrongs of the campaign but because, by definition, we are an independent journalism establishment.
Having watched the film I'm happy that my scepticism has been proved false. I found it an enthralling and at times appalling film that really documents one of the biggest ecological problems facing the planet today. It shows how the globalisation and mechanisation of the fishing industry to satisfy the insatiable appetites of developed countries is a problem that requires a real international consensus. It also highlights the impunity of pirate fishing crews who flout EU regulations and deceive the Guinean authorities, who are ill equipped to deal with the task of policing their shores.
Greenpeace of course are the ones keeping an eye on the pirate fishing vessels and reporting back to the Guinean authorities. They are in the film as protagonists and as far as I can discern did not offer any funding to the filmmakers.
I believe the film is all the more effective for raising awareness due to the fact that Greenpeace's agenda is not shoved in the face of the viewer, like I've found in many other films featuring NGOs. The film isn't 'about' Greenpeace and therefore I didn't feel like I was being sold a message - the viewer is treated with respect and allowed to judge for themselves. Too often we tune out of important messages because we feel preached at..
I believe this is something that other ngos could consider when funding their own campaign documentaries.
« back to Frontline Club on documentary films home
The Deadline - why I think 'campaign journalism' can learn from this documentary
on January 26, 2009 2:04 PM | 0
Frontline Club on documentary films
Calendar
Recent posts
- Frontline presents screenings of Burma VJ with Human Rights Watch Film Festival by Phil Brown on March 17, 2009 12:55 PM
- Iraqi director Mohamed Al Daradji by Phil Brown on January 29, 2009 12:34 PM
- More fish related viewing by Phil Brown on January 27, 2009 12:35 PM
Categories
- Add category
Archives
Our Bloggers
- Adam Blenford on Photojournalism
Last update on 22/07/09 - Alex Strick van Linschoten - a war reporter on the road
Last update on 16/12/09 - Ali S. Novruzov in Azerbaijan
Last update on 22/04/10 - Anastasia Moloney in Bogota
Last update on 23/12/08 - Anita Coulson in Africa
Last update on 04/04/08 - Ben Hammersley in the Philippines
Last update on 17/02/08 - Charlotte Cook on Documentary
Last update on 26/04/10 - Daniel Bennett - Reporting War
Last update on 01/06/10 - David Axe - Africa is Boring
Last update on 18/05/10 - David Gill in Afghanistan
Last update on 20/01/09 - Deborah Bonello in Mexico
Last update on 15/10/09 - Devjyot Ghoshal in India
Last update on 15/08/09 - Fred on the Democratic Republic of Congo
Last update on 30/10/08 - From War Zones to the Wilderness
Last update on 21/04/08 - Frontline Club on documentary films
Last update on 17/03/09 - Glenna Gordon in Liberia
Last update on 03/03/09 - Guy Degen in Germany
Last update on 01/06/10 - Heathcliff O'Malley - a photojournalist on the road
Last update on 03/02/09 - Hodan Yusuf-Pankhurst on Somalia
Last update on 18/04/10 - Isabelle Roughol about Cambodia
Last update on 26/10/09 - John Owen on international news reporting
Last update on 01/06/10 - Jonathan Gorvett in Borneo
Last update on 26/12/08 - Kevin German in Vietnam
Last update on 18/02/09 - Kyle MacRae on citizen journalism
Last update on 09/06/08 - Last week at the Frontline Club
Last update on 26/10/09 - Matthew Collin in Georgia
Last update on 23/05/10 - Michael O' Riordan in the United Arab Emirates
Last update on 10/12/08 - Mike Hills in Lebanon
Last update on 30/07/09 - Morten Hvaal a photojournalist on the road
Last update on 10/06/09 - Natalia Viana in Brazil
Last update on 15/09/09 - Olga Kravtsova on journalism and trauma
Last update on 05/02/10 - Oliver Balch in India
Last update on 30/01/10 - Onnik Krikorian in Armenia
Last update on 30/05/10 - Pete Chonka on Somaliland
Last update on 09/05/10 - Peter Moszynski on Sudan
Last update on 03/03/09 - Phyza Jameel in Pakistan
Last update on 08/12/09 - Rob Crilly - African Safari
Last update on 05/04/10 - Salam Pax in Baghdad
Last update on 11/03/09 - Sasa in Syria
Last update on 12/05/09 - The Forum - Journalism, insight and debate at the Frontline Club
Last update on 03/06/10 - Vaughan Smith in Afghanistan
Last update on 20/02/10 - Yawar Nazir and Abdul Mohamin Bhat in Kashmir
Last update on 15/05/09 - Zimbabaloola in Zimbabwe
Last update on 22/04/08
What do you think?