Professional actors face limited opportunities and intense competition for roles. People responsible for casting may take advantage of this fact. Sexual abuse in the film & tv casting process has been so widespread that the term “casting couch” is almost universally understood.
If you survived sexual abuse during the audition process or were denied an acting role for refusing to grant sexual favors, contact Phillips Law Group. Our attorneys provide sensitive but aggressive representation in civil courts to survivors of sexual assault and abuse.
Sexual exploitation of actors during casting has been prevalent since the birth of the industry. Numerous popular female performers of the earlier days of film and television, including Joan Collins, Tippi Hendrin, Judy Garland, and Marilyn Monroe, reported being sexually assaulted or harassed during the casting process. It is likely that some male performers had similar experiences.
The union representing film and tv actors, Screen Actors Guild/ American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG/AFTRA), had a long-standing but largely ineffective policy against sexual harassment and abuse in the casting process. The union released fortified guidelines and procedures in 2018, in the wake of the revelations about Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulting actresses over decades.
Despite the lower public tolerance of this conduct and the union’s stance against it, the behavior may persist. Any actor who feels that they were sexually harassed, exploited, or abused during the casting process should speak with an attorney at Phillips Law Group about their experience.
People involved in the film and tv casting process have enormous power. An actor’s livelihood depends on the decisions the casting director makes. When they wield their power over the actor for their own sexual gratification, they have committed sexual abuse.
There need not be sexual contact for sexual abuse to occur. Verbal threats or even non-consensual discussions about sexual matters could be sexual abuse if the actor feels manipulated by the power imbalance. On the other hand, sexual abuse could occur even when an actor seemingly agreed to sexual contact if the actor felt that their employment depended on agreeing to the casting director’s request.
Our attorneys will listen to your story of sexual abuse in casting with empathy and sensitivity. They will use their experience with these cases to assess whether you have a viable legal claim for sexual abuse.
Sexual assault or abuse is a form of personal injury. You can sue the people, companies, and organizations involved in the conduct for financial damages. In a civil proceeding, you need evidence showing that it is more likely than not that inappropriate, coercive, or violent sexual conduct occurred. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is not required to obtain money damages.
You can bring a civil sexual abuse lawsuit against the individual perpetrator. You could also seek compensation from the perpetrator’s employer, the project’s producer or production company, or even your agent in some cases.
The statutes of limitations for bringing a lawsuit pose a barrier in some cases. However, many states have extended or even eliminated the statute of limitations for sexual abuse, especially when the survivor was a minor when the abuse occurred. Phillips Law Group’s sexual abuse attorneys are familiar with the applicable timeframes in various states and will preserve your rights to sue whenever possible.
Deciding to pursue a sexual abuse case is a big step. If you feel ready to tell your story and seek justice for sexual abuse in the film & tv casting process, contact Phillips Law Group to set up a free consultation.
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