Jan. 16, 2024

The Dark Underbelly of Hollywood’s Casting Couch Culture

Uncover the taboo casting couch culture, a secret Hollywood wouldn’t tell you. By: Cassia Ling

Many would assume that the casting couch phenomenon would be a relic of erstwhile Hollywood, where survival in the economy was a priority. Women who have started out their venture in the Hollywood landscape were feeble-powered and became simply emblematic of “yes women”.

In hopes of achieving their dreams, sexual favours in exchange for career advancement became rife and a tradition for prolific filmmakers to milk. Indubitably, to retain the stellar persona Hollywood holds, they have to practise censorship to prevent tell tales from circulating and tarnishing the industry. Even today, the issue is still a reality in show businesses until the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke out, which marks the first feat for women in the venture.

The former filmmaker has been called out by more than 30 women with four proclaiming rape, as these A-list actresses including Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow underwent years of trauma after having met with the ordeal. Others also include those who had not begun their career, having their dreams shattered before their eyes. The illustrious case study of Weinstein has also sparked the prominence of the #MeToo movement which underscore cases of sexual batteries and injustice women deal with. Weinstein has been found guilty of rape, coerced oral penetration and coitus serving 16 years in prison, where the rest of his life perched at.

Another illustration mooted by Jane Fonda, a renowned actress mentioned in an interview previously how she was fired “because I wouldn’t sleep with my boss”. Thandie Newton brought up her daunting traumas, of how her director filmed an upskirt of her during her audition during her teenage years and decades later, still had the footage passed on in galas.

Due to heightened concerns of filmmakers abusing their power in auditions, a manifesto for casting has been implemented, which entails a set of good practice guidelines that recommends, among other things, that “no sex act should be requested at any audition” and “a performer should not be requested to undress in whole or in part unless a mutually agreed observer is present”. It can be agreed that more has been done for female actresses, but will it be enough to cease the male-dominated culture entrenched in Hollywood in years to come?

The casting couch culture is a subset to a bigger problem, embodying the deep-seated misogyny and male chauvinism. Women have been viewed less for their abilities, but more of their assets which is a veneer that has to be pierced. The problem does not have to be endemic, if women are not demeaned less of a human being but viewed more for their contributions and capacity at success, concomitant to their male counterparts. However as of now, more still has to be done for the egalitarian system to be met.

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