Three Signs Hollywood Could Be Changing for the Better

Saying Hollywood needs a change in its power structure at this point in time is like saying plants need water to grow.

A series of revelations about alleged sexual abusers such as Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey have opened the floodgates to many other stories and allegations from people who have worked, or still currently work, in the industry. Alleged harassment or abuse has occurred at the hands of people who have never faced any real consequences for their actions.

While it’s inspiring to see that so many people now feel empowered to speak up and out, it’s also frustrating for anyone within the industry (or who follows it) to see how many stories have been buried due to fear for decades. This purging of people who have abused their platforms to harm others is obviously long overdue. But it’s more compelling than that.

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In all likelihood, few sexual predators will survive the dismantling of the industry’s power structure over the next months or perhaps years. Industry titans like Weinstein and Spacey have been cast out of their spheres of power, essentially — while countless others have been fired or are facing potential firings.

Related: Jon Stewart Addresses the Misconduct of His Friend Louis C.K.

All told, this points to what could be a brighter future for the industry. The notion that “celebrity” equals “power” is crumbling — and victims have a voice.

Here are three signs real change could be underway within an industry so desperately in need of it.

1.) Kevin Smith is donating residuals. Harvey Weinstein gave “Clerks” director Smith a career. The producer bought Smith’s first film and helped turn the director from a convenience store clerk into a filmmaker.

The relationship between Smith and Weinstein soured over the years, as Smith recounted on multiple occasions the producer’s bullying personality — they hadn’t worked together in over a decade. But Smith still addressed the allegations against Weinstein in a tweet and later on his podcast, “Hollywood Babble-On.”

The director promised on the podcast he would accept no further residuals from his films made with Weinstein — and that he would donate them instead to a charity called Women in Film, which aims to help females break into the film industry.

Related: Corey Feldman Reveals Another Alleged Hollywood Abuser

Smith vowed that if The Weinstein Company went bankrupt (which seems more and more likely), he would still make donations each month to the charity, with a minimum amount of $2,000 promised for each month.

It was an inspiring gesture; more people with Smith’s level of success in the industry should follow his lead. If people can afford to do so, they might take whatever money that would have been earned from a Weinstein picture and put it toward a noble cause — maybe even one that will help the industry grow and be more open to change.

Interestingly, “Justice League” actor Ben Affleck announced he, too, will be donating further residuals from Weinstein-produced pictures to the charities Film Independent, which champions independent filmmakers, and RAINN, an anti-sexual assault organization that operates the national sexual assault hotline.

It would be good to see even more artists follow Smith’s lead. What’s required now for the industry is not just more vigilance and platforms for potential victims; people need to be willing to take extra steps to reconcile decades of abuse by a man who seemingly got away with horrific acts.

Related: Takei Interview Complicates Sexual Assault Allegations

2.) “All the Money in the World” cuts Kevin Spacey. Before the recent allegations, Spacey was a two-time Academy Award-winning movie star with a hit Netflix series — and an upcoming role in a Ridley Scott-directed picture.

In the wake of the allegations, he is now a man who’s been fired from his own show, is being edited out of a Ridley Scott movie in record time, and has two golden statues that mean nothing.

“All the Money in the World,” set for release next month, was in an awkward position when the allegations against Spacey came out; the actor completely fumbled what was supposed to be a public apology. Spacey plays an integral role in the film; the promotional materials were at least partly built around him.

In a surprising move, Sony announced it was completely removing Spacey from the picture and reshooting his scenes with Christopher Plummer as a last-minute replacement. The company is even keeping its release date, despite having only weeks to shoot the new scenes and re-edit the picture.

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There is one detail, though, that suggests a drastic change in the treatment of certain actors by studios. Director Ridley Scott reportedly wanted Plummer originally for Spacey’s role; the studio, however, thought the 87-year-old performer was not a big enough “name” to sell the movie — and pushed for Spacey instead.

In light of Spacey’s situation, Scott ironically got exactly what he wanted — the best man for the job. It’s a sign that the notion of celebrity and its accompanying power could be crumbling. Plummer is an immensely talented and respectable actor, but he’s not a “celebrity” like Spacey.

One reason it was so difficult for victims to come forward in the past is the unequal treatment of certain stars and filmmakers. A movie star like Spacey owns a set when he walks onto it. He’s being paid millions more than anyone else — and he’s there to help sell a picture. Plummer, meanwhile, is a man whose reputation is built on talent, experience and reputation, not on celebrity wattage.

Related: Corey Feldman Promises to Name Pedophiles in New Film

The balance of power is changing. With any luck, there will be no celebrities — or at least far fewer celebs — on film sets, people who were wooed by studios for their “names” and therefore somehow entitled to treat people any way they see fit.

Jon Bernthal, star of Netflix’s “The Punisher,” spoke recently about Spacey’s on-set behavior on the recent “Baby Driver” prior to allegations against the actor. “When I was there [on set], he really rubbed me the wrong way. I thought he was a bit of a bully,” Bernthal told the “Jim and Sam Show” radio program about Spacey, a man Bernthal said was one of his acting heroes. Though he didn’t go into details, Bernthal said Spacey was generally not pleasant to be around and treated others poorly.

Stories like Bernthal’s are nothing new.

It’s all part of a power structure in Hollywood — the “stars” are somehow above the normal rules of behavior and treatment. Perhaps if more movies were cast based on talent and less on the false notion of celebrity, then people like Spacey would not have had as much power and influence as they did.

Related: Is This a Case of Yet Another Hollywood Sexual Predator?

3.) Rose McGowan is releasing a book. The actress has been one of the most outspoken supporters of victims. She has publicly admitted to being a victim herself, as she has alleged she was raped by Harvey Weinstein and then paid to stay quiet about the event.

The “Scream” star has even called out those close to Weinstein and alleged many had knowledge of his acts long before media reports were released. She has also said she told “Justice League” star Ben Affleck about her encounter with Weinstein and also the former head of Amazon Studios, Roy Price.

The Affleck accusation came after the actor, who long worked with Weinstein, sent out a tweet saying he had no knowledge of his producer’s behavior. McGowan publicly blasted him as a liar and claimed she’d told him about the behavior in the ’90s. For his part, Affleck continued to work with Weinstein.

Related: This ‘Justice League’ Actor Is Now Facing Groping Allegations

McGowan also alleged she had told Roy Price about Weinstein in an effort to get Amazon to back out of a deal with the producer — or at least let her back out of such a deal so she wasn’t indirectly involved with Weinstein. The producer reportedly shrugged the allegations off. He later resigned from his position, after his own round of sexual harassment allegations emerged.

This and more shows what a ruthless and vital culture warrior McGowan has become in recent months. She is using her truth to dismantle the power structure of Hollywood, which has long worshipped celebrity and allowed people to get away with despicable behavior.

The actress is not done with her crusade, either. She has a book entitled “Brave,” coming out in January, that will further her mission of outing complicit Hollywood insiders.

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According to a press release about the book, “Brave” will chronicle the rise of a woman “who is determined to expose the truth about the entertainment industry, dismantle the concept of fame, shine a light on a multibillion-dollar business built on systemic misogyny, and empower people everywhere to wake up and be brave.”

Considering how unforgiving McGowan has been in recent tweets, there is little doubt some are sweating before the release of this book. McGowan has used her truth to give voice to other victims — and to expose those who wish to remain in the dark. The book will be a big step in the right direction for much-needed shifts of power in Hollywood.

Corey Feldman has also named multiple alleged abusers and gone to the police (though the statue of limitations has expired) — and he’s promised to name other abusers with top positions in Hollywood once he feels he has a proper security and legal team in place.

(photo credit, homepage images: Kevin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, by Gage Skidmore)