It would appear Harvey Weinstein’s Hollywood career is over. The disgraced producer has resigned from his own studio, been expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, had his name removed from numerous in-development projects — and may even face criminal charges.
Authorities in New York City and Britain are re-examining cases against Weinstein, and the Los Angeles city attorney recently released a statement encouraging victims of sexual harassment and assault to come forward, whether at the hands of Weinstein or someone else.
“The Weinstein allegations have placed a bright spotlight on sexual harassment and sexual abuse, especially in the workplace,” LA City Attorney Mike Feuer said in a statement Tuesday. “As brave victims come forward, others have been encouraged to do the same. And our nation must now confront these significant issues in a profound way.”
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Feuer said that “where the facts support conviction, we will prosecute.”
The 65-year-old Weinstein, however, reportedly believes he’ll have a second life in film.
He’s currently at a rehab center in Arizona — and has mentioned second chances multiple times in a few run-ins with the press.
The idea of his returning to the business seems unlikely, since even his closest associates have publicly abandoned him, such as filmmakers Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith, as well as his brother, Bob Weinstein, who recently faced his own allegation of sexual harassment from a producer on the recently canceled television series “The Mist.”
Yet as unlikely as a Weinstein comeback seems, there is at least some weight to the idea of his re-emergence in the film world. After all, plenty of sexual predators have returned to Hollywood — and been celebrated by their peers.
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Controversy swirled around the recently released “Jeepers Creepers 3,” the third installment of a popular horror franchise from writer/director Victor Salva, a man who served 15 months in prison (and was released in 1992). He sexually assaulted a child actor on the set of the 1989 film “Clownhouse.”
Many critics of Salva believe he did not serve enough time for his crime — or they think the crime is too great for him to be allowed to work again with major movie studios. Not long after his release from prison, he was even controversially directing a movie for Disney — a studio known for its films marketed for children.
The man went on to work with figures such as “Godfather” director Francis Ford Coppola and actor Nick Nolte. There is still a public outcry with each film he releases — and the premiere event for “Jeepers Creepers 3” was canceled due to concerns about protests.
Actor Jeffrey Jones (“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Beetlejuice”) was given five years probation and forced to register as a sex offender after he was arrested in 2003 for trying to solicit nude photographs from a 14-year-old boy. He has since reportedly failed to update his sex offender status twice.
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Since his arrest, Jones has worked fairly consistently, even starring in the critically acclaimed HBO drama “Deadwood.”
To be fair to both individuals, each faced legal consequences. So perhaps there is at least some argument for their continued work in the film business.
Yet Weinstein’s future becomes worrisome when one looks at other cases, such as that of Roman Polanski, the now 84-year-old director, who remains a fugitive from the law for the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in 1977.
Several others have come forward since Polanski fled the country to say they were also assaulted by the filmmaker as minors.
Through all of this, Polanski is a celebrated figure in Hollywood. He works with top actors overseas such as Pierce Brosnan and Jodie Foster. He even won the Academy Award for Best Director in 2002 for “The Pianist” — and received a standing ovation from the audience.
The same Motion Picture Academy that expelled Harvey Weinstein for the recent allegations of abuse and harassment against him continues to allow Polanski to be a member. Bill Cosby remains a member as well.
One hopes the outpouring of stories of abuse and harassment from numerous men and women in the industry means there is no second chance for Harvey Weinstein in Hollywood. One hopes the power structure of the business is forever changed — and that those in charge do not allow someone like Weinstein back into the business, able again to take advantage of the power and influence previously offered to him.
Yet it is unfortunately a possibility, considering what Hollywood has done before.
(photo credit, homepage image: Harvey Weinstein…, CC BY 3.0, by David Shankbone / Roman Polanski…, CC BY-SA 3.0, by Zff2012)
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