Documentary Producers Set Up Best Practices for Using Generative AI

A group of documentary filmmakers, producers, and archivists has written a series of guidelines on how they believe filmmakers should — and should not — use generative AI in their documentary movies.

While the AI guidelines for many entertainment folks may go something like this: “never, ever, a billion times no,” the reality is that generative AI has already crept into documentary filmmaking and is likely here to stay. An organization called the Archival Producers Alliance has outlined its best practices for filmmakers when it comes to handling consent, being transparent, and preserving history and truth.

“We recognize that AI is here, and it is here to stay. And we recognize that it brings with it potential for amazing creative opportunities,” APA co-founder Jennifer Petrucelli (“Crip Camp”) said at the IDA’s Getting Real event on Wednesday. “At the same time, we want to really encourage people to take a collective breath and move forward with thoughtfulness and intention as we begin to navigate this new and rapidly changing landscape.”

The initial guidelines — a nine-page document obtained by IndieWire — are just a draft at this point, with the group intending to formally publish them in June. And by no means will any of these practices be binding for people across the documentary field. (The APA will be soliciting more feedback on the proposals in the meantime.)

The proposals advocate for the use of original images and…