In the wake of a litany of reports of sexual harassment and assault in the entertainment world, conversations are underway about how industry professionals can collectively drive cultural change. This edition of Breakfast at TIFF explored what can be done to help create a safer working environment for people within the film sector, featuring filmmakers and representatives from the Canadian Media Producers Association, the Directors Guild of Canada, and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists.
7:30 a.m. is not a time of day when I’m usually able to keep up a lively, insightful debate, but thankfully this wasn’t the case for the amazing panelists at TIFF’s early morning discussion on confronting sexual harassment in the entertainment industry.
In a time of great industry upheaval, the panelists were awake, engaged, and ready to have crucial conversations.
The Canadian film sector, they noted, is seeing the truth about gender-based violence come out everywhere, and each #MeToo message is an important reminder that gender-based violence can’t be ignored any longer. I was there to bring you the latest from panelists Marguerite Piggott, Catherine Middleton, Martin Katz, Theresa Tova, Patricia Rozema, Melanie Chung, Alix Herber, and moderator Nicole Stamp.
The panelists started off by recognizing that although sexual violence is present in other workplaces, the entertainment industry is where the spotlight is right now. That means they need to set an example.
"We in the film industry are in a particular position because the world is watching us. We're the first industry but not the only one. The way we handle this watershed #MeToo moment could become a template for other industries." @nicolestamp kicks-off #BreakfastAtTIFF pic.twitter.com/dTrYPdc5IF
— TIFF Industry (@TIFF_Industry) December 1, 2017
”sexual harassment happens in all industries but right now the spotlight is on ours, and I don’t think that’s an accident” #BreakfastatTIFF @TIFF_Industry @nicolestamp
— Canadian Women's Foundation (@cdnwomenfdn) December 1, 2017
Stamp: world is watching #metoo because entertainment touches people, they care because they have an emotional connection #BreakfastAtTIFF
— Marcia Douglas (@Marcia_Douglas) December 1, 2017
“The way we handle this moment sets a template for other industries.. it empowers other industries to speak up too.” @TIFF_Industry @nicolestamp #BreakfastatTIFF
— Canadian Women's Foundation (@cdnwomenfdn) December 1, 2017
#MeToo was eye-opening for some of the panelists, while others were very aware of the industry-wide sexual violence problem.
Pigott: #metoo is not surprising. It is devastating. Grateful for the recognition that it is a time for change #BreakfastAtTiff
— Marcia Douglas (@Marcia_Douglas) December 1, 2017
“I wasn’t shocked… I immediately thought ‘why haven’t we done this before’” on #metoo @TIFF_Industry #breakfastattiff
— Canadian Women's Foundation (@cdnwomenfdn) December 1, 2017
Tova: #metoo has shown me why I am the president of @ACTRAToronto . Time for change #BreakfastAtTiff
— Marcia Douglas (@Marcia_Douglas) December 1, 2017
“For me personally it felt like a relief… for me #metoo showed me how not alone we are in these experiences” @TIFF_Industry #BreakfastAtTIFF
— Canadian Women's Foundation (@cdnwomenfdn) December 1, 2017
Chung: heartening that we are no longer alone, that we are at last having a dialogue about secrets we have been carrying #BreakfastAtTiff
— Marcia Douglas (@Marcia_Douglas) December 1, 2017
“I was thrilled actually…. it’s so important to talk about trauma and to do it without retraumatizing is incredible” on #metoo @TIFF_Industry #BreakfastAtTIFF
— Canadian Women's Foundation (@cdnwomenfdn) December 1, 2017
Filmmaker @patriciarozema: #MeToo has potential to serve as a “moment of healing for our collective gender consciousness” #BreakfastAtTIFF
— A Better Man (@ABetterManFilm) December 1, 2017
Many of the organisations represented on the panel have already developed plans for how to move forward and best support their members during this difficult time.
Middleton: 4 action items already in the works on sexual assault and harrassment in the industry @ACTRAToronto @TIFF_Industry #BreakfastAtTIFF
— Canadian Women's Foundation (@cdnwomenfdn) December 1, 2017
Tova: Industry coming together to have a united action plan. Encouraging each other to be bolder, to take action #metoo #BreakfastAtTiff
— Marcia Douglas (@Marcia_Douglas) December 1, 2017
Middleton: “It starts in high school, it starts in coaching classes of young actors.” Calls for “preventative education policy and reformative justice” @TIFF_Industry #BreakfastAtTIFF
— Canadian Women's Foundation (@cdnwomenfdn) December 1, 2017
Industry is working on
1. Code of conduct
2. Reporting
3. Enforcementhttps://t.co/X36WZ9VrfLhttps://t.co/zcmhkUa4Js#BreakfastAtTIFF— Marcia Douglas (@Marcia_Douglas) December 1, 2017
.@MPigott on @The_CMPA's #MeToo action plan:
1. Safe reporting
2. Adjudication of claims
3. Firm consequences #BreakfastAtTIFF— TIFF Industry (@TIFF_Industry) December 1, 2017
Middleton: working to get response time to sexual harassment to 48hrs, offering a crisis line, counselling services #breakfastattiff @ACTRAToronto @TIFF_Industry
— Canadian Women's Foundation (@cdnwomenfdn) December 1, 2017
#BreakfastatTIFF moderator @nicolestamp wrote the awesome piece “What decent men can do in response to #MeToo” https://t.co/yPqKg7oWP5
— A Better Man (@ABetterManFilm) December 1, 2017
Why do we need change? Many workplace leaders in Canadian film and television have seen women leave the industry because of sexual violence.
Chung: has seen women leave the biz, toxic environment. Can’t be dismissive, does not make changes #BreakfastAtTIFF
— Marcia Douglas (@Marcia_Douglas) December 1, 2017
Chung: Women are leaving the industry because of harassment, or being the “tough girl” as a way to protect ourselves @TIFF_Industry #BreakfastAtTIFF
— Canadian Women's Foundation (@cdnwomenfdn) December 1, 2017
“It’s the freelance nature of our industry, the fear of not being able to secure the next job…. is a serious concern.” @TIFF_Industry #BreakfastAtTIFF
— Canadian Women's Foundation (@cdnwomenfdn) December 1, 2017
.@nicolestamp on past tweet: “Instead of mourning the art of shitty men, let’s mourn the loss of the work of women that was never produced because they left the industry.” @TIFF_Industry #BreakfastAtTIFF
— Canadian Women's Foundation (@cdnwomenfdn) December 1, 2017
“If a social activity is derived from your connection to the workplace, that is considered within the definition of the workplace” from labour, employment and human rights lawyer Alix Herber at #BreakfastatTIFF @TIFF_Industry
— Writers Guild of CA (@WGCtweet) December 1, 2017
In order to make sure that the industry is supporting survivors in the right way, we need to have conversations like this one and use them as a foundation for action.
Pigott: People won’t come forward without a fair, due process, need to protect industry and membership #breakfastattiff @TIFF_Industry
— Canadian Women's Foundation (@cdnwomenfdn) December 1, 2017
On dealing with members who have harassed or assaulted others, @MPigott says priority is protecting the broader memberSHIP #BreakfastatTIFF
— A Better Man (@ABetterManFilm) December 1, 2017
Tova: Industry code of conduct will make Canada a world-leading jursidiction that is safe #ZeroTolerance #BreakfastAtTIFF
— Marcia Douglas (@Marcia_Douglas) December 1, 2017
Middleton: The system and reporting must be fair and transparent, effective, lasting #BreakfastAtTIFF
— Marcia Douglas (@Marcia_Douglas) December 1, 2017
Rozema: too many men in power is part of the problem #BreakfastAtTIFF
— Marcia Douglas (@Marcia_Douglas) December 1, 2017
Chung: there needs to be consequences. Women need to be perceived differently and respected #equalpay #breakfastatTIFF
— Marcia Douglas (@Marcia_Douglas) December 1, 2017
Middleton: Good unions will support you, more public forum events should be held #breakfastattiff
— Canadian Women's Foundation (@cdnwomenfdn) December 1, 2017
Director Patricia Rozema just pointed out Sarah Polley's "fantastic" @nytimes op-ed; the performer and filmmaker is in the house this morning, sitting right up front. If you somehow missed the piece, read it now: https://t.co/11pjf32SR9
— Barry Hertz (@HertzBarry) December 1, 2017
“Men wouldn’t have been surprised by sexual harassment allegations if women were able to tell their stories” @WGCPrez at #BreakfastatTIFF
— Writers Guild of CA (@WGCtweet) December 1, 2017
"Most of us have been complicit in this culture. That complicity is changing. Give people the license to intervene on set without consequence. That message from leadership is very powerful. Let's all learn good behavior now together." Sarah Polley closes #BreakfastAtTIFF pic.twitter.com/xCgGAcfa0p
— TIFF Industry (@TIFF_Industry) December 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/ali_zimmer/status/936627284521439233
Inspiring, strong, intelligent women speaking today @TIFF_NET Change is happening. Voices are being heard — yes!! #Metoo #breakfastattiff pic.twitter.com/9hCY2TG4YF
— Tanya Warren (@tanya_warren) December 1, 2017
Watch the panel:
Learn More:
- Addressing Gender-Based Violence Helps Close the Gender Pay Gap
- The Village Bloggurls Tackle Race and Gender-Based Violence
- A Deficit Worth Worrying About: The Gendered And Racialized Wage Gap
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