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Title: "What difference does it make how you got the role?"
Source:
Medusa Project
URL Source: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2017/1 ... s-it-make-how-you-got-the-role
Published: Oct 18, 2017
Author: Evgeniya Brik among others
Post Date: 2017-12-03 06:58:50 by A Pole
Keywords: Weinstein, Hollywood, Russian
Views: 1562
Comments: 25
[...] Evgeniya Brik. The most incredible and unexpected thing is that this story has affected me not only personally, but professionally. I took part in a project that was partly produced by Harvey Weinstein, playing a small part on an American TV series. And now it’s unclear if the show will continue filming. I hope it doesn’t shut down. This is all appalling, of course. As I understand it, this person had enormous power, and he probably suffers from some psychological disorder. But in my view there’s a lot that’s strange here, and I have a lot of questions about this story. Hollywood is a place where rumors can explode in a second, and America generally is a place where a person can be accused of sexual harassment for one wrong opinion. Over there, men are generally scared of saying anything out of line to women, or looking at them wrong somehow. How did these women keep silent and conceal all these terrible acts by this well-known producer for so many years? Why did actresses go to his hotel room, when auditions and meetings are carried out at studios? Were they all really so scared that he would ruin their careers, and that’s why they were ready to tolerate such humiliation? Honestly, I don’t understand it. Of course, it’s difficult for anyone who wasn’t there to judge, and we can only imagine and learn what we can from the statements we’re hearing now. We can’t even question them [the women who have accused Weinstein]. But it’s good that this has come to the surface, and he’ll be punished for this in America like he would nowhere else. He’s already lost everything and everyone. I think that any person always has a choice, and no fear can silence someone for so many years and force them to do these things, and then make them act friendly and hang out together, after all these incidents. Sure, it’s a thin line in the world of cinema. This is a raunchy world of creative, complex people. In his book, [Swedish director] Ingmar Bergman, who of course had many wives, wrote that cinema is an erotic, explicit art where romances are all too common. This is a sphere where relationships are structured a little differently, but there are also very basic things to understand, like in any profession. There’s the boss and his subordinates, who are subject to his decisions and are afraid of losing their jobs. Then the boss goes off the rails, and everyone around him only fuels his enthusiasm by staying silent and fearing bad blood with him. I’m sure it’s very hard to talk about this openly, and come clean. But better late than never. In no way am I trying to judge these women and say that they’re to blame. I’m just thinking aloud and analyzing things, trying to understand how this nightmare could have happened. I have a daughter who’s an aspiring actress, and if she wants to stay in this profession (or any other profession, for that matter), it’s very important for me to give her an accurate, full sense of how, where, and with whom to interact. For women in the world today, it’s very important for them to know this from childhood, so they’re able to protect themselves. Regarding Russia, I think stories like this might unfortunately exist here, as well. But I don’t know how much everyone would be ready to come clean and go public, if this happened here. Maybe that’s the secret: somebody starts, and then the others find the strength to come out, too. Nothing like this, thank God, has ever happened to me, and I’ve never heard anything from my colleagues. Luckily [for me], everything has been pretty banal and simple: auditions, offers, and then filming. [...]
Television and film actress, best known for “Hipsters” and “The Geographer Drank His Globe Away,” and the TV shows “The Thaw” and “The Optimists” 
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 25.
#1. To: A Pole (#0)
What about the women who "sleep their way to the top" -- women who choose to have sex with their bosses in order to get a raise, a promotion, or a role in a movie? No consequences for them, despite the fact that they're harming their female co-workers who choose not to go that route? Doesn't that put pressure on these women to do the same? I say they should suffer the same fate. If they voluntarily have sex with their boss in order to advance their career, they should be fired.
Should you be allowed to date your subordinates? Yes is my answer.
No, for two reasons. 1) It gives the appearance of favoritism. Any promotion or raise will be attributed to that personal relationship. This will lead to resentment in the office. 2) What happens if the relationship sours? Two people who should be working together now can't stand each other and their work suffers. People are paid to work, not participate in The Dating Game.
It's not against the law so screw you. It is not immoral either. Yes people are paid to work. But guess what on their own time they can do whatever they want even if I'd displeased mistermean.
The law? No. But it's more than likely against company policy for the reasons I stated. Don't like the policy? Don't work there.
If a company tries to tell you what to do in your off time they should be sued out of existence and the owner imprisoned for not more then 5 years.
I understand your visceral reaction, but think ya gotta re-think that one, Stone. EDIT: We all have to be more specific on defining the conditions and "off-time" activities. There's admittedly too much latitude at either end of that spectrum.
You are right. I was thinking about my comment earlier today while enjoying some tacos at Taco Bell. You should be able to fire yoIur employee for any reason you want to. But if you require your employees to not date each other or other odd ball requirements for after hours you are an asshole.
I hear ya. But morally it should be reasonable, or because the off-the-clock activities are evil, threaten others, or potentially going to embarrass or shame you, as the company owners if boasted of in public or social media.
Not in a free country. You either own your business,or you don't. As a business owner in a free country you have every right in the world to fire or refuse to hire anyone you want,for any reason at all. Or even for no reason at all. Having a personal "bad Tuesday" is all the reason you need. The only exception to this I can think of that would be justified by law is firing some poor SOB a year before he or she has enough time to draw retirement benefits. I personally know someone this happened to when I was a kid. The next door neighbor was fired from his job as a chain grocery store manager after putting in 19 years there. THAT shit should be illegal,period. It is nothing but semi-legalized theft.
For reasons of termination I forgot, cheating, sloth, incompetence, malicious gossip, and jackassory (among other reasons.) EXCEPTIONS: Unions and Gubmint drones.
There are no replies to Comment # 25. End Trace Mode for Comment # 25.
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#3. To: misterwhite (#1)
#6. To: A K A Stone (#3)
(Edited)
Should you be allowed to date your subordinates?
#8. To: misterwhite (#6)
#9. To: A K A Stone (#8)
It's not against the law so screw you.
#10. To: misterwhite (#9)
#14. To: A K A Stone (#10)
(Edited)
If a company tries to tell you what to do in your off time they should be sued out of existence and the owner imprisoned for not more then 5 years.
#16. To: Liberator, misterwhite (#14)
f a company tries to tell you what to do in your off time they should be sued out of existence and the owner imprisoned for not more then 5 years. I understand your visceral reaction, but think ya gotta re-think that one, Stone.
#22. To: A K A Stone (#16)
(Edited)
You should be able to fire yoIur employee for any reason you want to.
#23. To: Liberator (#22)
But morally it should be reasonable, or because the off-the-clock activities are evil, threaten others, or potentially going to embarrass or shame you, as the company owners if boasted of in public or social media.
#25. To: sneakypete, A K A Stone (#23)
Replies to Comment # 25.
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