New Rules For Film Festival Panel Participation?
These are mine, what are yours?
I say no to most panel invites. I should confess though that I don’t like most panels. I don’t think they are a good way to deliver information. I far prefer moderated conversations or lectures.
But panels certainly have embedded themselves into film culture, haven’t they?
I have found that when I do say yes, I have to also need to make sure they have thought through their responsibility a bit yes. I have stating some rules for awhile now, although each time that I do, it often seems like I am among the first to ever do so. The coordinators generally thank me. It seems like this may need to come a bit more out into the open. And since I have this newsletter and like putting stuff “out into the open”, join me now, yeah?
Let’s start with what’s wrong with panels.
Part of the problem with panels is that require the effort of giving each participant equal time or attention, which often limits the sharing of knowledge and information. Then there is the undeniable fact that most panels devolve into free-for-alls of self-promotion. Or is that free falls…? Whatever, it leads them to be a waste of time for everyone, audience and participants alike.
The strength of panels is the diversity of perspectives they can offer in one single helping, and IMO that’s what they should lean into. Such diversity should very much include experience levels. The participants don’t have to be just “masters”; it will help the discussion.
So what do we do? First we should ask if there is a better way to share information. Do moderated conversations work better. Maybe not five people or even four. Maybe no more that three, including the moderator. Maybe the moderator is an equal participant?
These are my RBPs (Recommended Best Practices). Let me know what I left out.
15 Conditions For Panels That Will Make Our Film Ecosystem Better:
The panels are diversified in terms of representation. What this means will be consistently shifting but for now, they must be less than 50% identifying white male. Not sure what you do with an even number of participants…
No subject or opinion — other than hate speech — is off limits or not encouraged.
All participants receive the same compensation and support, if any.
The event must make transparent whom all their funders are, and no funders should be associated with the military industrial complex or in any way beholden to those that don’t support a broad support for human rights.
