Filmster Network (“we”, “our”, “us”) is committed to fostering an ethical, inclusive, diverse, and respectful creative ecosystem. This Ethical Collaboration & Inclusion Policy (“Policy”) defines the principles and expectations for behaviour, collaboration, and decision-making across all users of the platform, including individual creators, professional teams, and organisational accounts.

This Policy complements the Community Guidelines, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and other Filmster Network policies. It is intended to safeguard human dignity, support equitable opportunities, promote diverse perspectives, and prevent harmful conduct in collaborative creative environments.

1. Purpose and Scope

This Policy applies to all interactions, collaborations, and creative work conducted through Filmster Network, including but not limited to:

• Project workspaces and shared creative assets
• Discussions, feedback, and commentary
• Team roles, responsibilities, and project governance
• Public and private communication within the platform

The purpose of this Policy is to:

• Establish ethical standards for collaboration.
• Protect individuals and teams from discrimination or unfair treatment.
• Promote diversity of thought, background, and experience.
• Ensure inclusive participation across all roles and contributions.

2. Principles of Ethical Collaboration

Filmster Network endorses the following principles as foundational to ethical and effective collaboration:

2.1 Respect for Individuals

Collaborators must treat all participants with dignity, courtesy, and professionalism. Respect includes:

• Listening actively and constructively.
• Valuing diverse perspectives and creative approaches.
• Avoiding belittling language, personal attacks, or dismissive conduct.

2.2 Fairness and Equity

Collaborators must engage in equitable treatment of all team members, regardless of:

• Race, ethnicity, nationality, or cultural background
• Gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status
• Age, disability, or health condition
• Socio-economic background or education
• Professional experience or role seniority

Equity means ensuring that contributions are recognised fairly, opportunities are accessible, and participation is not obstructed by bias or prejudice.

2.3 Transparency and Accountability

Collaborative relationships should be transparent in expectations, responsibilities, and decision-making. Accountability involves:

• Clear communication of roles and deliverables.
• Honest acknowledgement of errors or misunderstandings.
• Taking responsibility for commitments and outcomes.

2.4 Co-Creative Participation

Filmster Network promotes co-creative processes where:

• Team members contribute ideas, feedback, and expertise openly.
• Creative ownership is shared, acknowledged, and credited.
• Decision-making reflects consensus or documented rationale.

3. Diversity and Inclusion Standards

Filmster Network recognises that diverse teams perform better, innovate more robustly, and represent a richer array of stories. We encourage collaborators to:

3.1 Cultivate Inclusive Practices

• Actively seek diverse voices in creative decisions.
• Ensure casting, crew selection, and leadership roles reflect inclusive values.
• Avoid tokenism; representation must be meaningful and respectful.

3.2 Prevent Discrimination and Exclusion

Discriminatory conduct, exclusionary practices, or behaviours that create barriers are prohibited. This includes:

• Unjust allocation of tasks or opportunities based on personal characteristics.
• Comments or actions that marginalise or stereotype individuals or groups.
• Use of language that reinforces bias or exclusion.

3.3 Accessibility in Creative Work

Collaborators should consider accessibility in project design and delivery, including:

• Captioning in videos.
• Alternative text for images and visual assets.
• Inclusive scripting and representation that reflects varied lived experiences.

4. Ethical Responsibilities in Project Collaboration

4.1 Role Clarity and Respect

All collaborators should understand and respect the roles, expertise, and boundaries of their peers:

• Role descriptions should be explicit and agreed upon.
• Feedback should be contextual, actionable, and respectful.

4.2 Feedback and Conflict Resolution

Feedback should be given and received professionally:

• Focus on the work, not the individual.
• Frame critique with context and constructive intent.
• Escalate unresolved conflicts through documented channels when necessary.

4.3 Protection from Harm

Filmster Network prohibits behaviours that cause psychological harm, distress, or harassment. This includes:

• Persistent or targeted criticism beyond professional norms.
• Public shaming, ostracisation, or disparaging remarks.
• Exclusion from project deliberations without legitimate cause.

5. Accountability and Enforcement

Filmster Network enforces this Policy through the following mechanisms:

5.1 Monitoring and Reports

Users may report unethical conduct, discrimination, or inclusion concerns through:

• In-platform reporting tools
• Email reports to compliance@filmster.network

Reports are reviewed with confidentiality and fairness.

5.2 Investigations and Remedies

Allegations are investigated impartially. Possible outcomes include:

• Warnings or corrective guidance
• Temporary collaboration restrictions
• Suspension of platform privileges
• Termination of account access for severe violations

Decisions reflect the severity, context, and evidence of conduct.

5.3 Appeals

Users may appeal enforcement outcomes by submitting a written appeal with supporting context to [compliance@filmster.network](mailto:compliance@filmster.network) within 14 days of the action.

6. Training and Community Support

Filmster Network encourages ongoing ethical collaboration training and education:

• Best-practice documentation on inclusive collaboration
• Guidance on mitigating bias and structural barriers
• Templates for equitable project governance and role definitions

Training resources may be published on the platform and updated periodically.

7. Relationship to Other Policies

This Policy complements and reinforces the following:

• Community Guidelines
• Terms of Service
• Privacy
• User Content & Intellectual Property
• Data Security and Encryption

Users must comply with all policies; where conflicts arise, the most protective standard for participants applies.

8. Continuous Improvement

Filmster Network commits to regularly reviewing this Policy to reflect evolving ethical standards, legal requirements, and community feedback. Substantive updates will be communicated via the platform and reflected in the “Last updated” date.

9. Contact

For questions, concerns, or clarifications regarding this Policy:

Email: compliance@filmster.network