This article is making its way around on theater discussion groups, but I thought I would also post it here.
Sex and Violence, Beyond the Script
It talks about how the industry doesn't always deal with harassment or abuse that well, and how it lacks solid policies. As an actor, I have certainly seen and heard of harassing or abusive situations on film sets as well as in theater.
I was curious, as indie filmmakers, have you ever had to deal with this? Do you have a policy for dealing with this? For my part, I find many times people don't deal with it, or they don't follow the policy. Also, sometimes things aren't brought to light at first because of a few reasons:
1: The profession is often intense and boundary pushing in artistic matters and some people use this to their advantage to do real harm to another, and it leaves victims confused about what happened.
2. It is vey hard for even seasoned actors to shake the feeling that they are incredibly lucky to be employed and so they fear being blackballed as a trouble maker.
3. All of us engaged in this pursuit have that innate feeling of 'The Show Must Go On', or 'We have to get this shot!" I think this can result in confusion or delay in dealing with a serious issue.
4. I've found, as go further in this business as both an actor and a director, that there are a surprising number of people in this business that have misconception about actors. They view actors as these free spirits who up for anything, instead of skilled and practiced craftspeople. I've found this view a little pervasive among a very small subset of directors that I have dealt with over the years. As an example: Directors who are shocked, and I mean shocked and angered when an actor refuses just get a little naked when that was never in the original casting call or agreement.
Interested to hear any stories or policies people have to share.
Sex and Violence, Beyond the Script
It talks about how the industry doesn't always deal with harassment or abuse that well, and how it lacks solid policies. As an actor, I have certainly seen and heard of harassing or abusive situations on film sets as well as in theater.
I was curious, as indie filmmakers, have you ever had to deal with this? Do you have a policy for dealing with this? For my part, I find many times people don't deal with it, or they don't follow the policy. Also, sometimes things aren't brought to light at first because of a few reasons:
1: The profession is often intense and boundary pushing in artistic matters and some people use this to their advantage to do real harm to another, and it leaves victims confused about what happened.
2. It is vey hard for even seasoned actors to shake the feeling that they are incredibly lucky to be employed and so they fear being blackballed as a trouble maker.
3. All of us engaged in this pursuit have that innate feeling of 'The Show Must Go On', or 'We have to get this shot!" I think this can result in confusion or delay in dealing with a serious issue.
4. I've found, as go further in this business as both an actor and a director, that there are a surprising number of people in this business that have misconception about actors. They view actors as these free spirits who up for anything, instead of skilled and practiced craftspeople. I've found this view a little pervasive among a very small subset of directors that I have dealt with over the years. As an example: Directors who are shocked, and I mean shocked and angered when an actor refuses just get a little naked when that was never in the original casting call or agreement.
Interested to hear any stories or policies people have to share.
