Field of Vision is hosting late April 2023 its Digital Security Clinic for Documentary Filmmakers, in partnership with the Freedom of the Press Foundation. This is the third iteration of the clinic, designed to provide essential pro-bono resources to documentary filmmakers. The Digital Security Clinic will cover high-priority concerns documentary filmmakers have voiced, as well as the strategies necessary to do the best overall risk assessments.
The Clinic will run for eight weeks starting April 27, featuring group trainings and private consultation slots with the digital security experts at Freedom of the Press Foundation.
As with previous installments of the Clinic, the Group Training sessions will cover high-priority concerns documentary filmmakers have voiced, as well as the strategies necessary to make the best overall risk assessments. The Clinic was designed to identify and respond to risks that arise at different stages of production, from communicating with protagonists and subjects to protecting sensitive footage in post-production.
Originally launched at an event with the Sundance Institute in 2021 in conjunction with the release of their joint, in-depth Digital Security Guide for Filmmakers – which organisers describe as “a living, interactive resource and navigable platform catered specifically to the digital security needs of documentary filmmakers” – the next installment of the Clinic will again offer direction on how best to use the guide within filmmakers work.
The Clinic programming is open to all documentary film professionals and journalists and a more detailed description of each group session is below.
GROUP TRAINING SESSIONS
- Footage Security, April 27th, 1:30-3pm ET. Topics: Protecting footage stored on the cloud vs. external storage devices, Outlining and minimizing your digital footprint, Risk assessment before and after premiering
- Communication Security, May 11th, 1:30-3pm ET. Topics: Using your risk assessment to select the “right” tool, Ideal settings for encrypted messaging apps, Intro to building a communications plan for sensitive contacts
- Device Security, May 25th, 1:30-3pm ET. Topics: How to classify data in tiers of sensitivity, Understanding encryption at rest, “Locking down” mobile and desktop devices, Mobile and email phishing prevention
- Field and Travel Security, June 8th, 1:30-3pm ET. Topics: Travel risk assessment, Internal and external communication strategies, Securing and exfiltrating footage, Provisioning travel devices, Region-specific connectivity challenges
PRIVATE CONSULTATION SESSIONS
Field of Vision have again doubled the number of consultation slots in order to accommodate more teams and individuals looking to gather digital security advice for their current projects. The 30-min, private “office hours” sessions are an opportunity for attendees of our group training sessions to get open-ended digital security support from experts. Consultation appointment slots will be opened for sign-ups at the end of each group training.
