Interviewing homeless/mentally ill

1. onedogdan
   Member

   

    Hi all,

    I'm seriously considering shooting a doc about mental illness.  How do you get a person who may not even have i.d. or be of completely sound mind to sign over their likenesses?  Video tape them reading the release?

    Thanks!

   -Dan

   Posted 9 months ago # Login to Send PM

2. robgrauert
   Member

   

    would they have a caretaker? their signature may be enough. 

   Robert J. Grauert, Jr
   http://www.robgrauert.com

   Posted 9 months ago # Login to Send PM

3. EarlC
   Moderator

   

    When I have interviewed "street people" in the past (never really developed into the documentary I wanted it to be) I usually only asked them to give me a verbal acceptance on tape (with or without their names - sometimes it was really challenging to get them to share their names/ages. Also most of them either mumble, speak very low, while the others yell, gesture and speak extremely loud and somewhat disconnected/incoherent, not always making much sense)

   Out of a few dozen "interviews" (the term used somewhat lightly), only one was willing to write/sign anything for me.

   Good luck with your efforts, it can be challenging but can also result in something very powerful. I hope you get from it what you are looking for. Keep us posted, if you will.

   Posted 9 months ago # Login to Send PM

4. D0n
   Member

   

    You can do the "Repeat After Me" routine, get on film.

   one little caveat to keep in mind....

   Mental health issues could also mean not competant  to give legal consent.

   If you make money with your project, your subjects, or more likely some relative of your subjects may show up with a lawyer wanting to get paid...

   Posted 9 months ago # Login to Send PM

5. grinner
   Member

   

   Skip the release. It'll only put em on edge and I think you can assume they have no lawyer on retainer. lol
   I went on a road trip with the infamous Beatle Bob. I knew he was homeless and assumed he was autistic. I wound up with a 90 minute feature and nobody in it, including the music legends sprinkled throughout cared about release forms. I hate em. I shoot reality. You can't get that after having folks sign a legal document. It's much easier for me to submit it to them for their approval first and nine times out of ten, that leads to gigs for them directly.
   you can watch it here, if you like:
   http://grinnerhester.com/BeatleBob.html

   Posted 2 months ago # Login to Send PM

6. oc6088
   Member

   

   My son is autistic and my husband and I are his legal guardians.  This is meant to protect him.  Keep in mind, even if he gave his consent for you to film him, his consent is null and void without the consent of his guardians.  The problem is, our son doesn't even understand that he can't make the decision.

   Most mentally ill people have guardians.  Talk to his caretakers and they should be able to point you in the correct direction.

   Posted 1 month ago # Login to Send PM

7. TheWildlifeStudio
   Member

   

    I have two autistic spectrum affected grandsons and, at the behest of their mother, am doing a doc regarding them. A number of officials in the local education departments are extremely interested in the outcome!

   Ian
   http://www.thewildlifestudio.com

   Posted 1 month ago # Login to Send PM

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