Scott Rudins downfall is an opportunity to change Hollywood.
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I decided not to audition, but then my agents told me the request came directly from Scott.
If he wanted me to audition, it meant that I was valuable in some way.
When I found out, I jumped on my bed, high on a sense of potential.
Scotts contribution was a DVD of the movieTwentieth Century,about a controlling Broadway producer.
I am doing a report on Mr.
Prince for my English class and would like very much to interview him.
The only problem is that I have school Monday to Friday.
I was thinking of interviewing Mr.
It is very important that I set the interview, so hey contact me as soon as possible.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Sincerely yours, Scott Rudin.
I had a copy framed and mailed to him as a gift.
He said it had shades of Tavi.
This Is Our Youthchanged my life in every possible way, I felt, and all for the better.
I heard more stories about him bullying people up and down the theater hierarchy.
Separately from Scott, I heard of directors bullying actors, agents bullying each other, lawyers bullying everyone.
Scott seemingly did not face consequences from his own production company, and there was no public fallout.
I told myself I was just an artist, just a writer, just an actor.
as though it were a favorite movie or a pop of color.
Too many people needed him.
And he had such good taste, championing young talent that more corporate producers probably overlooked.
Sometimes we said stuff like He was always nice tome and Hes anequal-opportunityasshole in the same breath.
Some have noted that Scotts statement feelsvague and incomplete.
It is not clear what active participation entails or if his company is still involved in these projects.
But we do have the power to evolve our industrys consensus around what is socially acceptable and therefore profitable.
We can change consensus through boycotts and by voicing public support for victims of abuse.
This gives victims and potential victims leverage, and hopefully it deters potential abusers.
Earlier this year, I published writing about adifferent kind of abuse by different people.
All of us together take risks and make sacrifices and create power in numbers.
This brings me back to But he was nice tome.
This refrain just underscores the efficacy of respecting peoples humanity only so long as their loyalty is advantageous.
It also underscores the scarcity and fear that Hollywood and theater function on.
A twin to the He was nice tome argument is the But he has such good taste argument.
I would also love to stop treating violence and abuse as inevitable to successful art and entertainment.
It also better positions those pursuing justice through the legal system.
They have always had to adapt, whether to new forms of technology or audiences appetites.
The casting couch used to be standard practice; now I think it would be rare.
