Out Takes

22 Dec 2017

Sexual Misconduct, Harassment and Assault in the Australian Film Industry

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Sexual Misconduct, Harassment and Assault in the Australian Film Industry

Since allegations of sexual misconduct against one-time Hollywood heavyweight Harvey Weinstein first emerged in October, the international film community has been rocked by allegation after allegation of sexual assault, harassment and misconduct, thrusting the mythology of the casting couch and the persistent gender gap in the film industry into the popular limelight.

As the international film community struggles to regain its bearings, and address the systemic gender and power issues that underscore so many of the continued allegations, we turned our attention to the Australian Film Industry, and how it has responded to those allegations.

Our first guest was Prue Elletson, Legal Manager at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. The Commission’s legal team drives systemic change by conducting investigations into unlawful discrimination, by intervening in critical human rights cases, providing guidance on the law and supporting the diverse work of the Commission. We spoke with Prue about how Victorian law regards sexual assault and misconduct, and what the difference is between them.

Our Second Guest was Joanna Werner, founder of Werner Film Productions, three-time Emmy-nominee, AACTA and multi Logie award-winning television producer, and chair of Screen Australia’s Gender Matters Taskforce. We spoke with Joanna about the prevalence of sexual misconduct and harassment in the film industry, both nationally and abroad, and ask what the film industry can do to combat it.