Two years on, Hollywood's A-list reflect on #MeToo changes

Record ID: 1434881

  • Title: Two years on, Hollywood's A-list reflect on #MeToo changes
  • Date: 2nd October 2019
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - SEPTEMBER 18, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRODUCER AND ACTOR, BRAD PITT, SAYING: "Well I don't know. We seem to work as a pendulum. We swing too far one way, then we find that sweet spot and then we go too far back and we keep on this swing. But what is going on which is positive is that we're recalibrating our relationships, behaviors and workplace and it's long overdue and needed and it's a good thing." NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - AUGUST 6, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS MICHELLE WILLIAMS SAYING: "I've seen so many changes within my industry but not just within my industry I see it in other - I see it at my daughter's school. I see it in my friends' places of employment. I see it really everywhere and it gives me great faith that the world that these girls are growing up in is going to be different than the one that you and I grew up in." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS JULIANNE MOORE SAYING: "I'll tell you the changes that I've seen in New York state really because of Times Up, Governor Cuomo has adopted the Times Up safety agenda which is really, really significant for every woman in New York state. You know, New York is a much less progressive state than California so when Times Up New York got together, we thought what do we address here in our home state. And we've really been able to make changes, extend the statute of limitations on assault." LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - SEPTEMBER 3, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR NICOLE KIDMAN, WHEN ASKED HOW THE INDUSTRY HAS CHANGED SINCE ME TOO MOVEMENT AND WEINSTEIN ALLEGATIONS, SAYING: "In the midst of all of us working together to change it would be how I would describe it. I mean it really is about a collective and that's the inspiring thing, is that, and that's why you know Charlize (Theron) Margot (Robbie) and I just did a film 'Bombshell' which is about instigating change in terms of sexual harassment and hopefully, hopefully that has hope in it, you know, rather than dire circumstances. We hope that constantly talking about it changes it for, as I say, the generations to come and the people now that have been affected, really deeply affected by it." LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - SEPTEMBER 11, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS, SAYING: "Well I'd like to say that I feel like men might be beginning to behave themselves a little bit better - and I say maybe. I'm not saying they have definitively but there is a new way of communicating or a slightly new awareness, an awareness shift that's happened. It's in process. This job is not done. It will never be done but I think there's a way of communicating that has improved hopefully." BURBANK, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - AUGUST 3, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS ELISABETH MOSS, SAYING: "I mean, what I love is it's becoming more and more something that I don't think about. For me, we had Andrea, three female leads, we also had female first, female DP, and it's almost one of those things now to me is so natural because these women are the best at what they do, and that's why they were there and not because they're women. For me, the fact that's becoming more and more of a normal thing and as a producer, I'm sure you feel as well, that it's becoming less and less of a thing that I have to ask for, where it's like 'Yes, obviously, this is the best person for the job and that's why they're going to do it' and it's just becoming more normalized, which I think is the best part of it." LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - AUGUST 5, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, MELISSA MCCARTHY SAYING: "Any strides towards more equality for everyone - not just women but everyone, it's a tricky time in our world right now where people seem to be so frightened when someone has something or someone represents something. I don't know why they feel like it takes it from them. I think there's enough to go around. I think we're at the beginning of a movement and I think we have to keep pushing because you can talk a good game but you have to wait until it really changes, so we're not there yet. We will be. You've got to root for it. I'm a hopeful person. I have two daughters, I have to be. I'll fight, I'll fight until I can't fight anymore." LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - SEPTEMBER 22, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, PATRICIA ARQUETTE, SAYING: "I think the #metoo movement, my sister was one of the first people that came out and I think it's had a ripple effect all across the world - beyond Hollywood but luckily there is more representation of women and women of color on television than there was before but it's still not really equal yet. Yeah, and I think activists and people have been trying to get this work done for a long, long time but the more we have this conversation, the more we ask for it, the more we talk about the need for it, the better. You have movies like 'Wonder Woman', you know, and 'Black Panther' busting box office records and then suddenly, all of a sudden, the world is like 'Oh, right, oh those could be successful'. You know, the business sometimes is the last one to learn." VENICE, ITALY (FILE - AUGUST 30, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, KRISTEN STEWART, SAYING: ''Well, I think, I think this conversation is very unsettling for people that are.. I think that, I think that people that are a little, people that feel terrified of this conversation are probably doing wrong things and I can feel that palpably and it is very exciting. I think there is just again there's this solidarity that is providing women with a chance to start finally telling their own stories and not being used as sort of tools to tell their stories through other people, you know what I mean, like um, there are so many untapped resources and ways in which we can inhabit our own stories and repossess our narrative and it's like fully doable right now and for the first time like ever, so it is an exciting time for women in film, like, enormously.'' VENICE, ITALY (FILE - AUGUST 28, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, JULIETTE BINOCHE, SAYING: 'I have been quite free (laughs) always in my choices in life. I didn't need MeToo to do that, but I think MeToo's movement was very important for some people, for some women to speak out, very important to speak out.'' Q: And do you think there have been some changes? ''I think so, it feels like if, if you ask this question I think it changed.'' VENICE, ITALY (FILE - AUGUST 29, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, RUTH NEGGA, SAYING: "You really shouldn't be able to get away with inequality anymore. The thing is that you have got to keep vocal about it, you've got to be vigilant about it, it's not something that can ever be really done and dusted until there is equality and everybody's voice is heard. But I do think that there is more room for women's voices to be heard and people of colour and their stories to be told. I mean, you know, the next few projects I have, they are all directed by women, one a film and two are theatre projects and that makes me very happy and very satisfied but the work isn't done. I mean, I think it's just the beginning." NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - AUGUST 12, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR RICHARD LINKLATER SAYING: "Yeah, I think so. It's just good everybody's aware. I mean, out with the old, right? Yeah. The old status quo can't hold, there have to be these evolutionary leaps in people's behaviours and what is acceptable. No, it's good, it's good." (Reporter: Do you think he'll make a comeback after the trial?) "No, no. No, I never worked with the guy but no." LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - AUGUST 21, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR AND MODEL CARA DELEVIGNE SAYING: "I think the #MeToo movement has changed a lot, but, like a lot of hashtag movements, the problem is that when you do a hashtag or something, people think it's fixed, but it's not. It hasn't really changed anything, because it's still happening. It's just people think it's fixed. That's the issue." LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - AUGUST 22, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR KIRSTIE ALLEY SAYING: "You know, there's probably good and bad things. One thing is, that I was talking about yesterday, was when we did 'Cheers,' you know, I think the #MeToo thing has to do with intent. We were really crazy and all of us wild and we would be in prison, because we were always, you know, if someone was in the bathroom, someone would kick open the door and we would take pictures, but the intent was in fun. And if the intent is to hold you hostage or not give you a job without sexual favors, you know, know the difference. But I think that the pendulum swung and now it needs to swing and balance out because you realize people are not all ill-intentioned. You just have to decide."
  • Embargoed: 16th October 2019 02:41
  • Keywords: Julia Louis Dreyfus Nicole Kidman #metoo Michelle Williams Brad Pitt Time's Up Hollywood Angelina Jolie comments
  • Location: LOS ANGELES / BURBANK / BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES; NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES; VENICE, ITALY; LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM;
  • City: LOS ANGELES / BURBANK / BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES; NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES; VENICE, ITALY; LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM;
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Celebrities,Arts / Culture / Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA002AZEKWNB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: This week marks two years since the New York Times and the New Yorker published accounts by multiple women accusing film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, boosting the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and a drive to empower women who work behind and in front of the camera.
    Weinstein is due to stand trial in January on charges of rape and predatory assault of two women. He denies any non-consensual sex.
    Reuters asked actors, directors and producers how much Hollywood has changed since October 2017. Below are their replies, edited for length and clarity.

    JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS
    "I'd like to say that I feel like men might be beginning to behave themselves a little bit better, and I say maybe. I'm not saying they have definitively, but there is a new way of communicating, or a slightly new awareness, an awareness shift that's happened. It's in process. This job is not done. It will never be done, but I think there's a way of communicating that has improved, hopefully."

    PATRICIA ARQUETTE
    "The #MeToo movement - my sister was one of the first people to come out - and I think it's had a ripple effect all across the world, beyond Hollywood. Luckily there is more representation of women and women of color on television than there was before, but it's still not really equal yet ... Activists and people have been trying to get this work done for a long, long time, but the more we have this conversation, the more we ask for it, the more we talk about the need for it, the better. You have movies like 'Wonder Woman' and 'Black Panther' busting box office records and then suddenly, all of a sudden, the world is like 'Oh, right, they could be successful.' The business is sometimes the last one to learn."

    BRAD PITT
    "We seem to work as a pendulum. We swing too far one way, then we find that sweet spot, and then we go too far back and we keep on this swing. But what is going on, which is positive, is that we're recalibrating our relationships, behaviors and workplace. It's long overdue and needed, and it's a good thing."

    MICHELLE WILLIAMS
    "I've seen so many changes within my industry, but not just within my industry ... I see it at my daughter's school. I see it in my friends' places of employment. I see it really everywhere, and it gives me great faith that the world that these girls are growing up in is going to be different than the one that you and I grew up in."

    ANGELINA JOLIE
    "I think we have very far to go. I think even in Hollywood there should have been an independent inquiry... There's a lot of focus about what they say women want and I would say it's not what we want. It's what we'd like not to be done to us. Do not limit us to have an education, do not harm us whether it be at war or in our own homes, do not oppress us or try to control us, do not limit our possibilities as human beings and just let us be."

    KRISTEN STEWART
    "There's this solidarity that is providing women with a chance to start finally telling their own stories and not being used as sort of tools to tell their stories through other people ... There are so many untapped resources and ways in which we can inhabit our own stories and repossess our narrative. (It) is fully doable right now and for the first time, like ever, so it is an exciting time for women in film, like, enormously."

    CARA DELEVINGNE
    "I think the #MeToo movement has changed a lot, but like a lot of hashtag movements, the problem is that when you do a hashtag or something, people think it's fixed. But it's not. It hasn't really changed anything, because it's still happening."
    ELISABETH MOSS
    "For me (on movie 'The Kitchen,') we had (director) Andrea (Berloff), three female leads, we also had (the) first female (director of photography), and it's almost one of those things now that's become natural because these women are the best at what they do, and that's why they were there and not because they're women ... It's just becoming more normalized, which I think is the best part of it."

    NICOLE KIDMAN
    "Charlize (Theron), Margot (Robbie) and I just did a film - 'Bombshell' - which is about instigating change in terms of sexual harassment ... We hope that constantly talking about it changes it for the generations to come."

    JULIANNE MOORE
    "Because of Time's Up, (New York) Governor (Andrew) Cuomo has adopted the Time's Up safety agenda, which is really, really significant for every woman in New York state. New York is a much less progressive state than California, so when Time's Up New York got together we thought, 'What do we address here in our home state?' And we've really been able to make changes (including) extend the statute of limitations
    MICHELLE PFEIFFER
    "I think there's been such a seismic shift in awareness in just a year. I think there's a long way to go but I do think quite a bit has happened already. Already all the conversations I've had with women, we just didn't have those conversations before."

    MELISSA MCCARTHY
    "I think we're at the beginning of a movement, and I think we have to keep pushing. You can talk a good game, but you have to wait until it changes, so we're not there yet. We will be. You've got to root for it. I'm a hopeful person. I have two daughters; I have to be. I'll fight. I'll fight until I can't fight anymore."

    ELLE FANNING
    "For me, being a young woman in the industry and hearing actresses tell their story and being able to hear those voices and know that it's OK to speak your truth on things and stand up for what's right and say no - it's a great community that has really formed because of this."

    KIRSTIE ALLEY
    "When we did 'Cheers,' ... if someone was in the bathroom, someone would kick open the door and we would take pictures, but the intent was in fun. And if the intent is to hold you hostage or not give you a job without sexual favors, you know the difference. But I think that the pendulum swung and now it needs to swing and balance out because people are not all ill-intentioned."

    JULIETTE BINOCHE
    "I have been quite free, always, in my choices in life. I didn't need #MeToo to do that, but I think #MeToo's movement was very important for some people, for some women to speak out."

    RUTH NEGGA
    "You really shouldn't be able to get away with inequality anymore. The thing is that you've got to keep vocal about it; you've got to be vigilant. It's not something that can ever be really done and dusted until there is equality and everybody's voice is heard."

    RICHARD LINKLATER
    "It's just good everybody's aware. I mean, out with the old, right? The old status quo can't hold. There has to be these evolutionary leaps in what is acceptable."
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