May 18, 2010
"The Directors Guild of America, in support of filmmaker Joe Berlinger and the First Amendment, objects to a judge's decision that Berlinger must turn over 600 hours of raw footage from his documentary Crude: The Real Price of Oil to Chevron, for their use as defendants in the lawsuit depicted in his documentary.
"Documentary filmmakers work under the presumption that their research, sources and draft materials are protected under the First Amendment. Their work often explores sensitive subjects that might not ever reach the public eye if not for the tenacity of the filmmakers and the bravery of their sources.
"The chilling effect of this court decision will be felt throughout the documentary community, as future filmmakers will be constantly aware that their materials may be seized as evidence, and those who once might have been willing to share their point of view become wary that a documentarian cannot protect them, even if their participation is anonymous. Safeguarding the right of documentary filmmakers to protect their sources is ultimately about protecting the public's right to know and preserving the role of investigative filmmaking in exposing the issues, educating the viewers and informing the public."