UPFRONTS 2013: The Overachievers 
‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ On Track For $27M … 
‘Mike & Molly’ Creator Mark Roberts To … 
Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts Set For … 
Hammond On Cannes: Weinstein Brings Out Stars For 2013 … 
Cannes: Fake Gunshots Interrupt Canal Plus Live Broadcast … 
‘The Great Gatsby’ Starts With $5.4M … 
Cannes: Music Box Acquires Competition’s … 
Cannes: Bruno Wu & Pierre-Ange Le Pogam Kick Up Angel … 
UPDATE: Amazon Studios Begins Pilot Pickups; … 
Bruce Rosenblum Bids Classy Goodbye 
RATINGS RAT RACE UPDATE: ‘American Idol’ Hits … 
UPDATE: ‘Iron Man 3′ Box Office Crosses $1B … 
John Lesher’s Le Grisbi Teams With DCM Productions … 
Upfront Market: Will Auto Makers Subsidize TV … 
Cannes: Thief Makes Off With $1M+ In Chopard Jewelry Meant … 
Cannes: Cyrus Nowrasteh To Helm Film On Soviet Dissident … 
‘Scandal’ Finale On Small Screen And Onstage At … 
Cannes: Cassian Elwes, Robert Ogden Barnum Launch e2b … 
SPOILER ALERT! NBC’s ‘The Office’ Finale 
‘Modern Family’ Gets Cable Makeover For Launch … 
Jeez, what is Hollywood thinking when it comes to its past and present terrible treatment of women? Turns out even Gwyneth Paltrow, who’s always been well known in showbiz circles as the daughter of the late (and great) TV producer and director Bruce Paltrow (St Elsewhere, The White Shadow), answers in the affirmative when asked if she’s ever had a casting couch experience. ”Yup,” she tells Elle magazine in its new ”Women In Hollywood” issue. “When I was just starting out, someone suggested that we finish a meeting in the bedroom. I left. I was pretty shocked. I could see how someone who didn’t know better might worry, ‘My career will be ruined if I don’t give this guy a blow job!’”
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
Loading ...
Yup, it happens to everyone. I met with a semi-retired agent who formerly owned a below the line agency. He wanted to read my script – possibly to help me with an industry referral to land a feature writing agent. He ended the lunch asking me to come back to his place which I declined telling him I had a boyfriend (which I did – in the LAPD no less). He read the script anyway, which surprised me, but of course, it was a dead end. He makes a big deal about trying to help people start and reinvent their careers on his social networking sites and he has some success stories and heavy hitters as friends, but he’s mostly a fraud and a user.
So help us all out and name names please. So others don’t get taken. What good is sweeping dirt under the mat. Just because it’s not seen it’s still there.
My thoughts exactly. Why not reveal the name of this popular fraud?
Are you folks ignorant or just stupid???
It’s clear that she has NO evidence to prove such allegations and to name names would land her in the poor house for malicious slander and permanently end her career in acting.
Because it’s a lie, of course. Its only intent is to engender empathy for non-victims of crimes that never happened.
Shame on you all.
I don’t know what someone of these people are saying, “It’s a lie”… No its not!! I have plenty of friends who do work in Hollywood, from extras with SAG’s to cast members on Glee, and all of the told me before starting my acting career, that I need to prepare myself. I said for what, and each one, guy or girl, has told me that they had to blow there way to good jobs. You have too, or they can blacklist you or something, and you won’t be able to work in Hollywood. Anyways, that was at least 6 of my friend, and only 2 were females.
The problem with naming names (in a public forum on the net) is that people’s reputations can be smeared falsely. Who knows how many trolls are out there just to smear someone they don’t like. That is the problem with unsubstantiated allegations. If you have ever had people lie about you behind your back, then you know the feeling.
Another problem is that even if the agent is as slimey as claimed, he’ll sue. Who wants to face a lawsuit even when you know you’re right?
The truth is the ultimate defense in a slander/libel defamation case.
Agreed. These people need to be exposed. Despite all the tabloids, its a profession and the professionals (starting out or seasoned) should be treated as such.
GP -not surprised you walked out. I hope all (men and women) do the same going forward.
Couldn’t agree more! Protecting the creeps is condoning, if you ask me……unmask the villains!
You would unmask the villain? It’s that simple? You’d jeopardize the financial well-being of your family with a lawsuit just to unmask the villain?
I don’t think you’ve thought this through at all.
If it is true there is no basis for a lawsuit
Nothing to worry about if it’s true!
I think if any woman is approached in this manner, a lesson needs to be learned. The reason terds like this have done the “couch” scenario is because you haven’t seen a media report of a jealous boyfriend beating the crap out of him. The woman with the LAPD boyfriend will have many connections within the department whom probably know the bastard, and can make life uncomfortable for him. Living in the area and being directly involved with Los Angeles, there are many circles of socialization that would be happy to pay this guy a professional visit, or at least as professional as he is to potential clients.
WOMEN if this happens to you, think outside the box and do not allow this activity to continue.
MEN if this happens to you, enjoy it!! It is probably the only piece you will get…double standard YES, but thats the way it goes.
Hollywood got its stature because of the loyal American’s who serviced in WWII from Jimmy Stewart to Tony Curtis. It matters not about the Hollywood royalty the quality and caliber of “actor’s” really non-actors there must be a lot of this elite thinking they are worthy of being idolized. Look at the filth they produce and the example they present to the world. They expose their self idolity with no talent and lousy no talent productions.
Good posting. The Actors and Actresses of that era were great.now the majority are not good they look good on the screen but as actors and actresses forget it.
I believe it was Sam Goldwin who said,
“There is a reason we write down the lines they are supposed to say.”
Before u start lionizing Tony Curtis it would be wise to google his name and “sexual harassment”. He lived here in Hawaii and used his fame to “seduce” or coerce star-struck girls. Ditto w/ Gayomer Pyle. Well, Gollllllll-yyyyyyyy! Let’s face it, most celebrities are self-absorbed Narcissists that use people. They chew them up and spit them out. You want names to be named? Look no further than Phil Specter, Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, Mae West, Porfirio Rubirosa, Wilt Chamberlain, John Holmes, Peter Griffin, Robert Evans, Warren Beatty, Kobe Bryant, Howard Hughes and virtually every music, sports and film personality. Ask them about who the violators are. It is all about them. They love power and they abuse it for their own amusement and gratification. If they were not power-whores they would be just as happy working in some obscure summer stock production. Yes, some are more evil than others but virtually all have taken advantage of their fame to get sex or roles. I see it on the set all the time and, occasionally, I see some of the extras that were young hotties doing the walk of shame from certain stars dressing rooms bragging to their girlfriends about it. Now, they are old, used and disgusting walking petri dishes and these has-been ‘stars’ would be embarrassed they ever slept with them!
Actually, Hollywood got its stature well before WW2. Starting in the 1920s Chaplin and Keaton made the silents an art form. Mary Pickford was America’s sweetheart and Douglas Fairbanks was its hero. Rudolph Valentino made hearts swoon. With the arrival of the talkies, Mae West and WC Fields made the country laugh. Shirley Temple danced her way thru the Great Depression. As the studio system solidified, the 1930s were the Golden Age with Cagney … Bogey … Astaire and Rogers… Clark Gable…
America fell in love with this new art form and the movies became its favorite past time.
Read “Hollywood Bablyon” for all the dirt from the beginning of the industry. It’s never been any different.
Seriously, I think she is only bringing it up because she wants the publicity. What is new about her claims?
True. Case in point..Polanski. Drugged a young teen and raped her vaginally and anally. Now Hollywood tells us he is a saint and should be brought back home to his flock. Who can forget that lunatic Whoopie Goldberg saying “It wasn’t a rape rape”.
You are right on the money with your Whoopi comment. I wonder how she would feel if someone drugged her daughter, or herself, then had anal sex with them? Would she say that it wasn’t “rape rape”.
She’s slime. Just lucky to have a job.
Your comment on Hollywood is right on target. I couln’t agree more!!
None of what you said made sense.
Hahhahaha, like the clowns in Hollywood would ever consider turning against each other and outing pffenders!
None of them have souls, so why expect anyone to blow the whistle?
It’s not the whistle they want blown!!!
lol
She won’t dish because Gwyneth likes to work. Spilling the beans on something like that is a sure career killer…especially in show-biz.
-Oz
“Yup, it happens to everyone…”
I can safely say that I have NEVER had to give someone a blowjob to further my career.
Today, I offered a blowjob to further my career but was turned down. FML
It’s interesting how these “Hollowood proposition” stories always have the same ending: the aspiring actress is always ‘disgusted’ and always walks away with all of her innocence and dignity – perfect, they are
If no woman gave head to get ahead (pun intended) then all women in hollywood would be better off.
Yes, we would all be better off. But the sad truth is that a lot of women WILL do it, which puts those of who WON’T do it at a disadvantage.
There is only one reason that this reality continues to exist. It goes as follows: the vast majority of women in Hollywood will suck a dick to get what they want…even privileged ones like Gweneth Paltrow who were born into the business. Don’t give me this bullshit about the way Hollywood mistreats women. What a crock. Women in Hollywood use their beauty and their vaginas in every way they can to get everything they want. I lived there ten years, right in WeHo. Saw it night and day. Women are whores and men are weaklings. And that’s nature. Watch the apes on Discovery long enough, you’ll see the same shit…the female ape dangles her ass at the male ape until he walks over to get some, and then she swipes his banana and jumps three trees over, laughing her ass off. That just nature. All young women suck dick to get work in Hollywood. And ya wanna know what they are doing when they aren’t sucking dick? They’re working nanny jobs off craigslist.
It’s a city of gold diggers and women that plan on doing *anything* to get what they want. It’s hard to feel sorry for the women of Hollywood when you see this type of crap night and day.
I agree with Dave 100%
Misogynist, much?
The fact that the poster may be misogynistic in generalizing all women doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of men and women in Hollywood and other competitive circles who would do literally anything to get ahead. In reality, it’s not like these people are virgins… what’s another notch for your chance at a big break?
I LOLed
Just out of curiosity, what in your mind would be the basis of a more “moral” behavior by the young women actresses you are so disgusted by? ( and I agree with you, it’s disgusting ) If they are only being true to their ( as in all of our) nature, what is the ground for complaint or disgust?
ROFL! Swipes his banana!
Though I agree in general terms that many women in Hollywood are like that I would have to say not all of them are like that. It’s one of the reasons my sister wouldn’t move there. (Her husband was in the business). She didn’t want her children exposed to that culture, and it is definitely there!
Okay ladies and gentlemen. Here goes for what its worth….Culturally we view sex throug a skewed lens. But the reality is, sex is a commodity and is bought and sold daily. Always has been, and will continue to be so. we all have an internal moral compass that is calibrated in degrees of what we are willing to accept or compromise. Myseld I am not willing to subject another human being to such a weak ego, for that’s what it is. But, foir others I guess you have to think of the blow job as quid pro quo. You want something, I want something…now its just a matter of negotiating the price…Does this surprise anyone? Kinda of like buying a car or a house. You negotiate over the price and if it is not what you are willing to pay, you walk away…If it acceptable to you, then you bargain in good faith, both parties reciproicating. I never placed all that much value in a vagina, they all pretty much the same aren’t they? And a vagina can’t make a cup of coffee, share your intimate thoughts, or stanfd by you when you are at your most vulnerable. That is the job of the human heart and brain. And it’s not like they are a rare commaodity. Nor have I ever placed much value in acting. Essentially it is people who pretend to be something they aren’t. Chances are they aren’t too happy with their internal selves anyhow. So in the end, these agents and the men and women who do “negotiate” deserve each other. As for me, I will gladly spend my $8.50 or so to help some kids washing cars to raise money for their school, sports, education, PTA, or whatever. But certaily not to assuage the ego of some starlet who decided to trade her esteem for a chance to make a buck…
“I never placed all that much value in a vagina, they all pretty much the same aren’t they?”
I’m sorry, I’m in a state of disbelief, could you repeat that last sentence please? Are you really asking if all vagina’s are pretty much the same!?!? … Well they’re not.. not even close. Even if they were all the same, uniformity doesn’t necessarily render something valueless. That’s like saying human hands all look the same, so they can’t be that important or valueable.
I really don’t mean to be crass or insulting, but all I can say is that for whatever reason, I’m guessing you haven’t had a whole lot of experience in the sexual relations department. If you’ve had a number of sexual partners in your lifetime, you’d certainly have felt the differences (standards of common decency prevent me from going into greater detail, citing examples, etc.). If you’re a virgin or have been with one partner your entire life, then I guess I can understand why you might think something like that.
Moving on now…. you’re completely right, vagina’s can’t make a cup of coffee (trust me, I tried it once and it was a total disaster), but they do make something else… wait for it… wait for it.. oh yeah.. BABIES! You know, those tiny little things that perpetuate the existence of our species, without which all progress since the dawn of man would have been impossible. I couldn’t disagree with you more; in my opinion, vagina’s are definitely valuable, priceless in fact. I’d would’ve agreed with you if you had made the case that people / society as a whole place far too much emphasis and value on the vagina strictly as an instrument of sexual arousal and pleasure, however, its important to note that isn’t the vagina’s sole purpose… heck, its not even its primary purpose.
Yes, a vagina can’t technically share intimate thoughts, but it does play a relatively important role in human intimacy, specifically between two individuals who care for one another (although that doesn’t have to be the case). Despite what some people might try and argue here, sex doesn’t just serve to satisfy some animalistic urge to procreate… it isn’t merely a tool of deception and trickery as you’ve argued (although it can be in some instances), nor is it simply some form of new age, Hollywood currency that people use to get what they want. Vaginas and in turn sex have the potential to represent any one of those things, but that doesn’t mean they’re not part of something more meaningful as well. If you’ve ever really loved someone, then you’d know that sex isn’t always just sex… there are different kinds of sex (and I’m not talking about Kama Sutra). Sex can be completely meaningless at times (ie. the one night stand, the casting couch experiences, etc). In instances where that holds true, the value of sex to either participant does not extend beyond the bodily pleasure derived during the physical act of intercourse. However, under the right circumstances, sex between two people helps strengthen the bond between them, increase the intimacy between them and for all intents and purposes bring them closer and take their relationship to a new level of understanding.
So the question is? When will Hollywood be held accountable. This stuff doesnt happen nearly so often in corporate America because the law keeps companies accountable. But this doent effect Hollywood. THIS IS INTOLERABLE!!!
Does this mean Carrot Top was once Carrot Bottom?!
A$$, Grass or Cash Gwyneth, isn’t that want the liberal Hollywood mantra says? So why are you complaining? If you can’t name names, then it means nothing to me.
She should have gave him a blow job . . . right between the eyes with her shoe.
Well, what’s new, pussycat? That’s Hollywood. Sexism, ageism, cronyism, corruption, hypocrisy, insincerity, exploitation of women (and of anybody else who can be exploited), and lies, lies and lies. Some talent (because there’s so much of it and it is completely undervalued) filters through the cracks and the hard work of those who rarely if ever get the credit for it make sure there’re always products to sustain the industry, but beyond that… Maybe they just wanted a blowjob from Ms.Paltrow. She was lucky in that, being hollywood royalty, she could afford to say no. Imagine the thousands of lives and careers that never happened because they refused to give , if not literal, at least proverbial head. Sad town built on lies, betrayal and narcissism.
Wot? Wot? Wot?
I have been in this crazy town for 16 years, and this is utter BS. Even in Hollywood, people know to not F where they eat…
I don’t think anyone with the ability to actually help you, would dabble in those sort of quid pro quo. At least not since the 80′s.
Nope. It’s true. I was a New York actor for 7 years before moving to L.A. In all my years in New York I was never once propositioned by an agent or casting director. In L.A. I was chased around a desk by one casting director. Another called me up and invited me over for a drink at his place, which I declined. I told this to a couple of actresses I knew who did a lot of TV (mostly as big-boobed babes in sitcoms) and they said to me, “honey, that’s the way it is. You have to F*** if you want to get a part.” I came back to New York. I’m a man, by the way. The casting directors were also male.
Exactly. 99% of all women and men you see as A-listers have sucked a cock for a job at some point…or bent over.
Wrong. I am in the profession and EVERY actress I know has been propositioned. One in particular has been directly, unambiguously (and publicly in one case) propositioned by a major Hollywood personality. FYI–a top,top agent, an A list director, and several producers.
All since 2000, btw. If you haven’t seen it, you aren’t in the inside. Obviously.
Are you kidding? I was a temporary assistant to a producer visiting LA from NY and I was pregnant and showing and because he was working out of his hotel room on the Sunset Strip, he did his business lying in bed (a made bed & he was clothed), badgering me to join him. When I wouldn’t he launched into a pitiful story regarding the stress he was under due to personal situations back in NY and that he just needed to cuddle. Repulsive. There is sooooooo much sexism.
I am an award winning (fill in the blank) and the president of a studio took me to lunch at the Peninsula Hotel and asked if I wanted to give him a blow job before he went back to work.
He said he knew of a supply closet by an ice maker where we could go.
I laughed and turned him down politely saying I was happily married.
He said he was happily married too.
I still said no and was really charming about it.
He was very nice about my no and we went back to talking business.
“and when that meeting was over, I never heard from him again.”
All of you with your comments but none of you willing to say who you are or who the person/business is What’s the point then?
You’re nosey
A polite creepy conversation. creepy in itself. Sorry you had to deal with such a mixed-up person.
Maybe there are thousands that we see on the tube that didn’t refuse?
You can be sure that if you see an unattractive actor on a big film – like, say Social Network, then they are most likely a relative of someone famous…or they gave someone important a little something extra besides their performance in the film.
Not asking you to name names, but are you an insider? Simple Yes or No question from a curious outsider.
You said “tube”…hehehehe
There are thousands of the pretenders that we see on the tube everyday that didn’t refuse.
u r so correct of ur evaluation of hollywood……same may appy to entire state! paraphrasing a well known former presidential chief of staff……where is a natural earthquake disaster when u need one?
Ward,
Ha, ha. Your comment is enlightening…a well placed natural disaster would certainly thin the herd in a most favorable fashion. Where is Darwin when you need him?
*wink*
You want fame.
What a noble ambition.
Yet the people that get you there are the creeps?
Really?
Here’s a blessing for all of you…’May you get what you want’.
Cheers.
Well said.
Touche.
Funny how all these sumbags are liberal democrats
Not surprised if they were all lib dems because we all know the tea partiers and neocons are into more perverted lifestyles. The tea partiers and neocons are the real pervies.
“The tea partiers and neocons are the real pervies”…Exactly what do you base this opinion on?
Not a lot of Tea Party or neocons in Hollywood but liberals really don’t need facts. The hatred is self-sustaining.
Do you really think it’s just women being exploited? Why is it always the poor women? Read all the alleged incidents that the guy who set up the boy bands got himself into… with young boys. Why is it only exploitation when its women?
Proper woman? Yep, let’s immediately talk about the women who say yes to such offers as opposed to the people in positions of power who exploit that power by making such offers in the first place. Good one.
my meaning was that the women who say “N”o and stand up for their morals and ethics are outnumbered by the ones who say “yes” and it perpetuates the cycle of this behavior on both ends
that was my meaning and there is plenty of blame to go around
Sadly our youth and sex crazed society Hollywood exploits to the hilt is the premier destination of every chickie who’s fathers sick friends have been ogling since puberty telling them ‘you belong in Hollywood”…
It’s even in Steinbeck’s Mice and Men, the girl who Lenny kills. It’s in every nook of society and look at the epidemic of out of control female teachers on a sex crazed stampede today thanks to Gloria Steinem, Desperate Housewives and friends, they can be quite the sex crazed animals too.
They created the monster and now want some sympathy. Perhaps Ms Paltrow only through her connected father was spared the real scene, but I know women who’ve went there and come back not only broke but broken.
That town should be razed for the good of mankind and rebuilt again. It’s turned out nothing but mostly regurgitated garbage for decades now on TV and the movies aren’t much better. When they’re remaking Wall Street, PC Karate Kid, et al. they’re bankrupt of ideas and no one new with talent can get ‘in the club’.
I only watch movies made in the 40′s and the beginning of the 50′s. Movies were wonderful then. You are so right that the town should start over again.
I agree..Now days “stars” make millions makeing some of the worse movies i’ve ever seen.
The casting couch was around in the 20′s, 30′s and now. Women in particular were exploited the most. Hollywood needs more women studio heads. It also needs the actor’s union to stand up for both men and women. These problems have been too pervasive for far too long.
I like old films too, but you really don’t think this type of behavior has been going on since the early days of the film industry, and in other industries well before that? You just didn’t hear about it like you do today, given the explosion of media now available. Pick up a copy of Hollywood Babylon – sex scandals, murders, you name it. The earlier films before the Hayes code were very racey. Just because films in the 40s and 50s didn’t show everything doesn’t mean all the seedy stuff wasn’t happening in real life Hollywood
sorry, that post was meant for Chicago Nick
I agree with some of what you write, but no woman has become a sex crazed animal because of Gloria Steinem, feminism or tv shows like Desperate Housewives.
no woman has become a sex crazed animal because of Gloria Steinem, feminism or tv shows like Desperate Housewives
Hypocrite Steinem made lots of money using her T&A before becoming declaring herself feminist. And she was so grotesquely self-centred as to claim in a NYT op-ed that white females were more oppressed than black males.
As for casting couches, I’ve lived long enough to see men as brutally used by women as the reverse. Not a pretty picture either way.
hmmm…sounds like someone’s a little jealous
That’s why the Girls Gone Wild series was such a flop. All of those “exploited women” who said no.
Your sarcasm would be more effective if you weren’t referencing underaged barely legal KIDS who were drugged and plied with alcohol by Joe whathisface, close pal of Kevin Huvane.
If you want to kid yourself that these were adult women in charge of their own destiny, making responsible mature decisions. Go right ahead. But the never-ending stream of lawsuits, criminal prosecutions (corruption of minors, assault of minors, sexual assault I and II, and now defunct business ventures, kind of decimate your snarky little aside.
When your daughter turns 17 and heads off to Daytona Beach on Spring Break, it’s great to know that her Dad (or Mom, whatever you are) have the attitude that she’s incapable of corruption, or being exploited.
Off to Daytona at 17? Must be brains then to be 17 and in college. They should know better than.
OK, she did the right thing. But, I remember talking to a young girl — hot, young, friend of a friend I forget — and since I had been in the busy for a time and knew most sides of the equation first hand I said to her:
“Don’t ever sleep with a director, producer or writer and the agents and manager are even more useless to sleep with as any semi-intelligent rep won’t sleep with anyone they can make a buck off of/credit off of. No one shits where they eat. Remember that. Back to Directors and Producers and Writers, no especially if they say that it involves closing the deal. You are in a position of power so use it, tease, make no promises and basically make sure them think if you get the part they will get that. Then repeat the process and don’t sleep with them then at that point because once you are on set you can just use the excuse that well we should wait until after. Yeah, you’ll get some grief but remember you as a female are in control. It’s the idiots who think that they need to blow the planet to make it that don’t put any strategy into the equation.”
Former Manager of Directors AND Actors.
note *former. guy has no fucking clue. you want work? you wanna get a script sold? suck the dick.
I guess this is supposed to be funny because it’s so rude, but maybe we should put a moratorium on blow job jokes…especially after a post that calls for Hollywood to treat women better.
Thanks for posting this, Nikki!!!! The more subscribers you have the more that can realize that the phrase, “show me what you’ve got” should only extend to acting talent.
As Bobby Slayton so aptly states, “It is called a blow JOB for a reason”.
And, this casting couch culture reaches far beyond Hollywood, and today either sex may be using it to one’s advantage for JOB procurement.
I agree with Marian here, this is an extremely sexist remark (not to mention as Jane wrote, you know nothing about these actresses specifically, quit slandering). Why would you suggest that the reason this practice is perpetrated is because certain women give in to the sexual harassment?? What about the men committing the harassment?! Have you ever been propositioned by someone influential you respect as a superior? It’s an incredibly uncomfortable situation and difficult to navigate, much more so I imagine when you feel like your entire career is at stake. It’s a despicable practice for all who engage in it but those in power soliciting sex from the vulnerable are responsible, not the other way around. It’s a sad cliche to suggest that the victims are at fault. Gross.
I’m not understanding the outrage toward posters who make comments about women willing to do so.
Are the people who’re making these requests abhorrent scumbags? Of COURSE. But isn’t there some responsibility on both sides? You can’t say that’s false while arguing from a non-emotional position.
If someone walked up to someone else and said, “I’ll give you a job if you call up your mother and tell her you’ve always hated her” and they actually did so, wouldn’t there be equal blame placed on the person who made the call?
Having sex with someone (willingly) isn’t a “neutral” circumstance. You either make the choice to do it or you don’t. (Considering the situation discussed here. I’m not talking about “rape.”)
Again, I’m not saying the people who make these offers/stipulations are RIGHT. ANYTHING but. They all need to be beaten about the head.
But there’s also some responsibility associated with those who are willing to TAKE the offer/stipulation.
No?
Yes, and I said that all parties involved are engaging in a despicable practice.
The specific comment that I was replying to seems to have been removed. Can you find the comment that says that though Gwyneth Paltrow is a “proper woman” this practice keeps going on because actresses like Megan Fox keep giving casting agents etc sexual favors in return for roles? That’s what I was responding to, the idea that this happens BECAUSE girls are WILLING (and goes so far as to name people the commenter thinks are willing), not because people abuse their positions of power to solicit sex from vulnerable and corruptible young actresses (and actors). Certainly anyone who participates bears an amount of responsibility but I would not call it their FAULT, as such.
But I wouldn’t say it’s that black and white…just because someone feels obligated or pressured into a sexual situation it doesn’t make them happily willing. It falls into the family of date rape in which the boy uses his power in the relationship to pressure his girl into having sex when she doesn’t want to. But she does it because she’s afraid of what she has to lose. It’s a fucked up situation, all around.
Anyway mostly my miffed response was to the specific post that has probably been removed by Deadline because it was ridiculous and offensive.
I’m confused… why is Ms. Paltrow being referred to as a “proper” woman, because she refused to have sex for a job – and yet has done several nude scenes in various movies?
How is one improper but the other is okay? Isn’t it just a different type (or level) of prostitution?
“Do this nude scene.”
“no”
“You don’t get to keep the job.”
“how long did you want me to be naked again?”
It’s all the same, Gwenyth.
Don’t forget the hoards of talentless wannabe actors and actresses who’ll sleep with anyone and anything to get a job. The sleeze goes both ways.
No, not the if you as the actor is dealing with a reputable company.
Most all posts ha.ve agreed that no blow jobs for a part. I agree. The nudity should be in the script, read it and if you object refuse the script…if they want you bad enough they might change it….it’s happened before I also used the BBB the two years I played that game had a good agent in the top floor of the 9000 bldg and print agent across from Graumans Chinese I was only propositioned once by a woman, just for a commercial & she was too old for me…Guys hit on me a lot, that was just the look I had
Victims? Give me a fucking break! These women know exactly what they’re doing. Most don’t need to be asked or propositioned. THEY ARE THE AGGRESSORS, and they fuck to get work. They seduce weak men. Period. Women use sex all the time to get what they want in many different scenarios. I’m so sick of this victim’s mentality or talk of the guy like he is sexually harassing her. I have two buddies, both agents at the same firm. These guys literally have to fight off he whores throwing themselves at ‘em. And guess what? I have a buddy who manages a bar, and it’s just the same w/his employees who are hot females. Hot women seek men of power and seduce them to stoke their own egos and live cush lives. That’s life.
So! You think the casting couch offers only go to women?! Get a life!
Please, this happens to everybody, not just women. I’m a man and had no less than two advances like this from gay producers who offered to read my scripts for hooking up. One even said, after handing me his home address, “People in this town work with who they know, I could really help you out.”
This is about power and exploitation, not Hollywood’s treatment of women. The gay casting couch abuse in this town makes this seems like nothing at all. It is a predatory abusive experience to come to town as a young male actor like something out of the church scandal.
This is not a diatribe against homosexuals. Bless anyone who can work in this town and live a life with self-respect. This is about gatekeepers and entrenched power making horrible us of their positions.
No one dares speak up. If you want toothless, realize that SAG unions does nothing.
SAG does nothing about the victimization of its members, while members of the PGA and the DGA are the offenders.
I was basically told I’d have a harder time making it in this business if I didn’t give up the cookie. This was only two years ago. Hollywood will never change.
As in “doing the right people” or actual casting couch?
I think there is no question that “bedding/dating” the right people (as in a semi relationship) will get someone ahead. I have never heard of it being a condition to any deal if you actually have something else to offer.
Yup, me too. I didn’t want to “play” so eventually just got out of Hollywood. Sick place.
At least in Paltrow’s case she had her other Hollywood connections to fall back on but most actresses with integrity who refuse to succumb to such scumbaggery sometimes end up feeling like they just lost their only way to get their foot in the door but in the end that’s just BS propaganda, no one respects or continuously helps anyone who gives up their power so easily and cheaply. It’s just a ploy for a creep to get his or her (Women do it too) rocks off and then the couch guest will be lucky if they can get one line on a third rate sitcom out of that.
Paltrow was born to multimillionaire, famous and powerful parents. When she didn’t know what to do with herself (according to a VOGUE interview she gave years ago), her parents “arranged” through a powerful family friend for her to be admitted to the University of California, where she was briefly enrolled. Because of her impeccable Hollywood connections through her parents, and their friends, she had absolutely nothing to lose by turning down her harasser. She had plenty of other ways to get work through all her inherited “connections.” She never let anyone use her sexually to advance her career because she was born into a family that could advance her career. Nobody thinks she’s the most attractive or talented actress in her age-group. If she’d been born to anonymous middle class parents, I don’t believe she’d have a career as an actress. She’s a really inappropriate person to be telling this story to make this point. Exploitation is terrible. But do I care when I hear about it from Paltrow, who never had to worry or struggle over her acting career a single day in her life?
Come on people. This stuff goes on all over the world. The rich and powerful exploit the desperate and corruptible. Hollywood is not exempt. The difference there is most comply because they fear having to do an honest day’s work and will stop at nothing to receive unnatural amounts of adulation. The word NARCISSISM comes to mind.
It happens so much in Hollywood because the young hopefuls are usually very good-looking. I had a friend in college who majored in theater arts and tried to make it as an actor in Hollywood. He was propositioned left and right. One agent (a very well-mannered and educated man) tried to get him drunk and then proposed a “relaxer” at a nearby motel. Another agent (an attractive woman) also asked him to spend the night with her. He maintained his professionality both times and switched agents, and eventually had to switch careers.
But the game not only involves sex. It involves being seen at industry parties with beautiful partners to look impressive and to garner “favors”. I met a very pretty girl who been a state’s Miss Universe winner who had done the “passing around” game in Hollywood. She said that guys in positions to get her work would first get sex from her, then take her to parties to show her off as their latest trophy, and then pass her on to other guys who would then owe them a “favor” in return. It was like driving a Ferrari for a few weeks and then passing it on to other buddies “in the circle”. She had gotten sick of it and was heading back home to a husband and child.
UCLA graduate
If it happened to Gwyneth, it’s happening to everyone.
If you’re in Hollywood and the person in power wants sexual favors from you, it’s going to happen. ALL the time. Sure, you can stand up for yourself, but guess what? You probably won’t get the job.
Something tells me that the difference between A LOT of working actresses and non-working actresses, are what they are willing to do to get the job. How much they’re willing to exploit themselves. (and not just behind the scenes, but ON SCREEN as well.)
And it’s the same thing for women producers and directors, too. That’s why there aren’t too many of those that you know on a first name basis, unless of course they have powerful protectors a la Sofia Coppola, Katherine Bigelow, Penny Marshall, and Kathleen Kennedy.
This is an excellent point. A powerful protector is necessary to succeed. Or at least not be asked to get on your knees as much.
I have been asked to get on my knees for powerful agents, execs, managers and directors. I work above the line. This is all in the last few years. Laws may exist against sex harassment but these guys are safe in the fact they will destroy that persons career if they ever act on them. At one studio they harass you until you hit 40 (in Hollywood that is the new 70) and then terminate you and pay you off.
This town has no problem outing someone who is presumed to be homophobic, an anti-semite, sexist, gay, a communist, a Republican, or whatever! So, let’s out these sick bastards! Name names! Then, and only then, will they think twice about going after someone to feed their warped libidos!
I agree with you- name names, lets expose those folthy bastartds…and they are telling us how to live, who to vote for, what temp. to sat our thermostats at…..They all make me sick!!!
There isn’t enough time or space to out all the people that do this. These “sick bastards” you’re talking about are probably 98% of thepeople in the industy!
However in this case, Paltrow has won an Oscar, was once in the Weinstein ‘stable,’ is married to a wealthy pop star, is besties with all kinds of powerful people – isn’t Spielberg her godfather or something?? Why the f* can’t she name names?? That might be the only deterrent if some of these louses think that the next young person they proposition might become powerful enough to out them. If all they wanna do is give interviews in women’s fashion glossies, and whine, ‘Yeah it happened to me, but I really can’t get specific.’ Then what good are they?? There are women who have done the same thing for years – talked about their sexual harrassment, and not warned others of who the creeps are – as far as I’m concerned that’s collusion and enabling of the predatory behavior. There was one actress who once outted a ‘name’ – was it Steven Seagall?? But it’s few and far between – these women that MAKE IT, and tell only a little bit of the story, and insure the jerk never gets found out, are effing cowards.
AS if this is anything new…and yes it goes on everywhere…it’s just more prominent in the Entertainment industry because people are so desperate…not just young hopefuls–but the ones who use their pathetic so-called power to get sex, in my opinion are the ones most desperate…Obviously these dogs can’t get laid any other way…and I mean it seriously ..have you seen some of these agents? AS a former ICM’er and CAA’ist They are not good-looking…they are short..bald..diseased(herpes) and well you get my drift. It’s the one job where it’s easiest to get laid—who needs to be educated??…the agencies drill in you what and who they want you to be…and you follow a set of rules and bullshit your clients all day long…some of these so-called agents are gay and hide behind a silly marriage…what kind of MANN would do that??? Of course the casting couch still exists …poor ugly pathetic people need love too.
What’s wrong with short people?
My guess, and it should be everyone else’s too, is that the culprit in Gwyneth’s case is Harvey. And I’d bet that she did not exactly walk away… squeaky clean? I think not.
Oooohh!
“Shut yo mouth!”
Now that youre not in danger, why don’t you name names? All other people could use you to name their names, too. Somebody has to call them out.
Oh boohoo, the no-talent hack was propositioned. Gee, cry me a river. if I am not mistaken, to be an actor you have to meet many people. In the course of meeting MANY people you may meet someone who wants to get you in the sack, and who may try and use his “position” to gain favor.
Well OHHHH MYYYYYY FUCKINGGGGG GAWD! You think this might happen? DUH!
Oh and all you whiny gynos get over yourself, it happens to guys as well. I am so tired of women complaining about how terrible things are for them, as if it’s a “woman thing.”
Remember YOU wanted to be men; now you are. Deal with it.
Fucking crybabies.
OH and UCLA graduate; my guess is that your friend was a no-talent “actor,” who didn’t want to put in the effort to be successful. However, unlike Paltrow she didn’t have any strings to pull.
I’d rather be screwed by Democratic Hollywood than Republican Wall Street anyday – at least the morning after I still own my home and can sleep in my own bed.
Your shooting blanks pete, noticed how many people are losing homes under BHO? They didn’t even get kissed goodnight. Troll.
If you think the Democrats have been looking out for the little guy, you haven’t been paying attention. Still outsourcing jobs? Check! Open borders to the south? Check! Still allowing 30% interest on credit cards? Check. Still bailing out banksters? Check. Top banksters selected by Obama as Treasury Secretary and head of the Federal Reserve? Check!
The Democrats have been in charge long enough to be thoroughly corrupted. Wake up, America.
No wonder Hollywood was always Clinton’s biggest backer…
ROTFL This is an hilarious “Letterman” retort!
HAHAHAHAHA…guess you are correct Clinton and Hollywood have few things in common!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gwyneth who??? Give me a break…this broad has no talent and my chest is bigger then hers…Put her in a blue dress maybe..
And those pooooor shows of hers and the fat guy driving around Europe cooking and eating…
Big deal…..
Oh come on Dennis, just because she’s flat-chested she’s not a good actress? You might not like her but a lot of people do. Remember Shakespeare in Love? Yes, Joseph Fiennes did the heavy-lifting, but she was good too. And won an Oscar as I recall.
This is all terribly true. One of my friends was propositioned by a giant star (now famously retired) and when she refused, she was kicked off the movie. This not only happens to actors who are trying to make their way up, but to stand-ins and extras. On one tv show many years ago (about police who patrol in motorcycles), two of my attractive friends, who had done a lot of stand-in & extra work on this action show, were approached by the assistant director to go out with the star. This meant (and it was well known on the set) that if someone was extended the star’s invitation, it also included the chief stunt gaffer, too. Yep, you had to do them both. If not, well – you lost your job. The end of the story: both my friends declined & were never contacted (by the production manager) for work on this show again.
THAT’S the business. Fuck it and fuck all those shits, and you know who you are. Best thing to do – send an anonymous letter to their wives or girl/boy friends about it.
For as weak as her films have been, maybe she should have put some lipstick on the dipstick early on….
On the other hand, we do not hear the statistics of how many actors/actresses get the job because of the blow job? Obviously, neither side is talking – but I suspect the exploiter will brag to like-minded pals. I – and I dare we – have been on sets where clearly the no-talent talent was not there because of an awesome vertical-position audition.
And how is sleeping with a person in power different than working your way up the Hollywood ladder by dating a red carpet star – think of all the younger beauties on the arm of older stars, leaning in for the two shot during an awards show close-up and getting a bit part on that star’s project?
Then there is the “legit” version where the agent/manager dates the talent – a certain agent/manager who has since left the biz to design jewelry was infamous for this in the 80s when she dated Brat Packers and unknowns who now direct A-list action pictures.
Finally, there is a certain cold cynical calculation on the part of the actors/actresses who do lay down on the proverbial casting couch. It is just sex and they screwed the loser bartender at the nightclub so why not the winner industry person with the casting couch? I’m not saying its right or legal, but neither is smoking a joint nor doing a line of coke and those activities have been a part of Hollywood for as long as the casting couch. At the end of the day its a matter of personal choice for the individual.
I agree with everything.
It seems like there are so many stars, even oscar winners who have “dated” their way to the top. But it seems understandable if you need to get into the right social circles for work.