Not everyone in the film industry is a sick pervert. I’ve
talked to several over the years and they’re not all out to do the weirdest
things possible. But there is a mentality among the higher ups that everything
is acceptable. They make it terrible for the rest. Then again this is an
industry where stories about the “casting couch” have run rampant for years.
Harvey Weinstein is not the first of these to be discussed
but he is the first one I can recall to be taken to task rather than praised or
defended. If you don’t believe it think back to Roman Polanski. Stars defended
him saying he should be forgiven and allowed back into the U.S. What did he do
wrong?
The initial charges included rape by use of drugs,
perversion, sodomy, lewd and lascivious acts upon a child under 14 and
furnishing controlled substances to a minor. He plea bargained those down to
engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse. When he learned he would face prison
time and deportation he fled the country.
But those who seem to have suddenly found moral fiber
defended him over and over again. This same group who is claiming no knowledge
of Weinstein’s actions (even though everyone keeps saying it was common
knowledge as well as it taking place for 30 years) has said that Polanski
shouldn’t be persecuted. I mean, you know, even though he raped a 13 year old.
A documentary came out that attacked the legal system that
prosecuted Polanski. When he was arrested in Switzerland facing extradition 100
stars and film makers signed a petition to free him. Among the more well-known
names showing support were Woody Allen, Pedro Almadovar, Wes Anderson, Darren
Aronofsky, Terry Gilliam, Buck Henry, John Landis, David Lynch, Martin Scorsese
and Tilda Swinton.
In 2003 Polanski, still on the run from the law, was
applauded and hailed by the film industry. He won the best director award for
his film THE PIANIST. Don’t remember the film? Most don’t. But here we had a
known pedophile being praised by an industry that now is shocked at allegations
of sexual misconduct. And at that same Oscars ceremony? Meryl Streep, who is
now shocked and appalled at the behavior of Weinstein, gave Polanski a standing
ovation. Does this mean that groping, sexually harassing and raping grown women
is a bad thing but that doing so to a 13 year old is okay in her view?
Pedophilia in the film industry has been a concern for years
but for some reason, just like this issue with Weinstein, it continues to get
swept under the rug. Corey Haim and Elijah Wood have both commented on it and
afterward? Silence. A few years ago a noted celebrity director was accused of
taking part in orgies involving minor boys. Then we never heard what happened
in that case. Payouts and cover ups continue while the statute of limitations
allows those involved to get off scott free.
Consider the form of entertainment put out by Hollywood. The
amount of nudity, nearly all female, is included in most movies in some form or
another. The hottest show on pay cable is GAME OF THRONES and the first episode
featured a rape scene complete with nudity. I’ve noted in reviews how nearly
every pay cable series I’ve seen makes a point of adding some nude female. And
if you check your watch you can nearly guarantee that it will take place within
the first 20 minutes if not the first 5.
An article at The Wrap from 2013 discussed the fact that
PG-13 rated movies made three times as much money as R rated films. Of the top
20 money making films that year only 4 were rated R and they weren’t even in
the top ten. In his book HOLLYWOOD VERSUS AMERICA author Michael Medved noted
that of the top ten grossing films released that year only one made it to the
top ten. And yet a more recent article found online noted that more R rated
movies were popular than they had been in 17 years. The question becomes was it
a situation of the tail wagging the dog? Were they more popular because that’s
what people wanted to see or because more were being made? At the same time
audience attendance is dropping at theaters.
In addition to that R rated films have been promoted as the
way to go from a number of sources in the industry. When DEADPOOL came out
(keeping in mind I thought it was an entertaining movie even though it went too
far at times) fans were screaming that finally we had a comic book based film
that was given the appropriate rating needed for the story. Of course those
fans were all into their late 20s and 30s by now. One of the biggest online
sites that talked about how wonderful it was that this and later LOGAN were
given R rated versions is having issues at present. The owner and founder is
facing allegations of sexual harassment and has stepped down from his position
for counseling. Sound familiar?
TV isn’t much better. For years TV had what was designated
as the family hour, early evening time when family friendly fare was all that
was allowed. That’s disappeared in recent years with almost anything allowed.
And shows on past that time period have increased the amount of sexual content
that we once saw. Two years ago I saw a program where a man was on his knees
behind another on all fours. The other day I saw a program, on at 8PM, where a
man was dressed in a latex outfit and chained to a cross as he was being
dominated by a woman. And while I might enjoy a show like CRIMINAL MINDS the
number of sexual serial killers they pursue is a steady one.
Is the need to include things like this because the public
has demanded it, something of which I’ve seen no evidence, or is it because the
Hollywood culture that produces this product considers it normal behavior and wants to
promote it? Do they allow rape culture and pedophilia and sexual harassment
because the rest of the world condones it or because the world they live and
work in condones it?
The fact is that no one is perfect and no career is safe
from predatory behavior in the work place. The difference is that few
occupations provide cover for those involved. Few praise them on one hand while
condemning them on the other. Most who are aware of something going on openly
for 30 years don’t act surprised when it becomes public knowledge. Many don’t claim
to abhor certain behavior while promoting it in their product. And those that
were aware of what was going on don’t make a point of trying to tell the rest
of us what our morals should be while ignoring the behavior of those closest to
them.
