FUTURE FILMMAKERS PROGRAM

CODE OF CONDUCT

Jordan Olshansky, Inc. d/b/a True Stories (“True Stories”) is committed to the safety and protection of the student filmmakers in the Future Filmmakers Program (“FFP”). This Code of Conduct applies to all True Stories employees, volunteers, consultants, independent contractors, guest speakers, and mentors who interact with student filmmakers as part of the FFP, in either an in person or virtual capacity (“FFP Staff”). 

While FFP Staff are encouraged to develop positive, friendly, and supportive relationships with student filmmakers, they must maintain appropriate professional boundaries with student filmmakers at all times. Below are rules FFP Staff must follow to help maintain those boundaries.   

General Requirements

  • All interactions between any student filmmakers and FFP Staff, whether in person or virtual, must be supervised by a Berkeley High School (“BHS”)-approved teacher or staff member (“Credentialed Adult”) and must be of a nature that you would feel comfortable doing if the student filmmaker’s parents were present or that you would be comfortable sharing with the student filmmaker’s parents.  

  • FFP Staff may not invite or have a student filmmaker at their home or otherwise meet with a student filmmaker unconnected to an FFP event where Credentialed Adults will be present.

  • FFP Staff may not use or be under the influence of alcohol, drugs (including marijuana), or tobacco products while working with student filmmakers.

  • If a student filmmaker shares confidential or other information that could pose a threat to that student filmmaker or to others, FFP staff must notify Jordan Olshansky (jordan@futurefilmmakersproject.com) and Zak Piper (zak@futurefilmmakersproject.com) immediately.

Interactions with Student Filmmakers

  • FFP Staff must avoid creating excessive emotional attachments with student filmmakers and must use sound judgment as to how much information they share with student filmmakers about their own personal lives. 

  • FFP Staff should generally maintain an appropriate physical distance when interacting with student filmmakers, and any physical contact should be limited. Examples of acceptable physical contact may include a high five or a handshake.  

  • FFP Staff may not personally buy or give gifts to individual student filmmakers.

  • FFP Staff may not accept personal gifts from student filmmakers without the knowledge of the student filmmaker’s parents.

  • FFP Staff may not post photos or other information about student filmmakers on their personal social media platforms.

  • FFP Staff must avoid any flirtatious, sexual, or romantic interactions with student filmmakers or conduct which a student filmmaker may reasonably perceive to be flirtatious, sexual, or romantic.

Communications with Student Filmmakers 

  • FFP Staff’s communications with student filmmakers must be for FFP-related reasons only and must be professional in all respects.  

  • A Credentialed Adult must supervise all communications between FFP Staff and student filmmakers. This means that FFP Staff must copy or otherwise include a Credentialed Adult on all digital communications with student filmmakers. FFP Staff may not engage in private communications with student filmmakers via text, email, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or any other form of communication, whether in person or online.  

  • Whenever possible, FFP Staff should use email or the Circle platform if they need to communicate with student filmmakers outside of regular program hours or mentorship meetings. Communications via text, direct message, Slack, instant message, or other similar digital communications, including communications on social media platforms, are strongly discouraged and, in any event, must include a Credentialed Adult.