(2002-04-15) i

Sponsored documentaries, a new marketing tool and addition to Business Models For Information. Mr. Bernard said the financial and personal relationships behind his films did not concern him. He said he was confident in the quality of both documentaries. He mentioned the advantages of being able to use the marketing budgets of both the film company and the sponsor... Vans chose not to mention its financial stake in "Dogtown" in the film... This lack of clear disclosure concerns other documentary makers like Joe Berlinger, whose films "Paradise Lost" and "Revelations: Paradise Lost 2" attracted criticism because he paid small stipends to the families of the victims and the accused in a 1993 murder case in Arkansas... Disclosure issues are likely to become even more important. The closer the ties among the production company, the subject of a film and the director, the easier it is to resolve conflicts over copyrights and access to archival material and interviews with subjects... Craig Miller, co-owner of Acoustic Disc with Mr. Grisman, said: "A few years ago, a guy tried to make a documentary involving the Dead, and the family didn't like it so they withheld the rights to the music. If he had the support of the Dead, that film would have been successful."