Kate Wilson had a dream: to become a renowned producer in Hollywood, to see her name in the credits on the silver screen. Enthralled by the glamour of the showbiz industry, she embarked on a 5,500-mile journey from London to Los Angeles. Enrolling at UCLA, she interned at the production company of an A-list celebrity and secured a work visa. The timing seemed perfect, with Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction revitalizing auteur-led independent films.
The Reality of Hollywood’s Toxic Culture
However, her Hollywood dream was short-lived. Three years later, she found herself back in the cold, wet confines of London. The reality of the film industry was far from her expectations. She anticipated long hours, endless script reading, and the menial tasks that tested an assistant’s commitment. What she did not foresee was the pervasive toxic culture that permeated the industry.
Wilson recounts the constant comments on her looks, awkward dinner invitations from superiors, and extreme incidents like late-night phone calls and unsolicited gifts of red roses and lingerie. The industry was rife with men boasting about their exploits with sex workers and porn stars. She vividly remembers a senior figure likening her to a mail-order bride as she signed a contract.
The Era Before #MeToo
In the late 1990s, before the #MeToo movement, Wilson lacked the language to articulate her experiences as sexual harassment, grooming, coercion, or gaslighting. When she confided in a woman in power about an incident of physical and sexual assault, she was dismissed with, “It’s a private, personal matter between you and him.”
The isolation and lack of support led Wilson to quit. The toxic environment eroded her self-worth and dignity, making her Hollywood aspirations seem unattainable.
Wilson’s departure from Hollywood was not an isolated event. Many female writers, producers, and directors of the 90s, who should now be at the peak of their careers, were similarly driven out. Today, only one in five above-the-line jobs are held by women, and in 95 years, only three women have won the Best Director accolade from the Academy Awards.
The Impact of #MeToo
The #MeToo movement cast a much-needed spotlight on these issues, enabling women to come forward and share their traumatic pasts. The collective voices of women, silenced for too long by non-disclosure agreements, began to resonate, creating a powerful call for change.
A Hopeful Future for Cinema
Twenty-five years after leaving Hollywood, Wilson sees an industry still grappling with change. The shift towards direct-to-streaming releases has brought new challenges. Despite these uncertainties, there is irrefutable evidence that films with diverse representation both on and off-screen perform better at the box office and contribute to a sustainable economy.
While the past cannot be changed, there is hope for the future of cinema. Opening Hollywood’s well-guarded doors and inviting back the women who were once unwelcome could lead to a more inclusive and thriving industry.
Kate Wilson is now the co-founder of the Call It! workplace culture app and the author of Prospects. Her experiences in Hollywood have shaped her advocacy for better workplace environments, striving to prevent others from enduring the same challenges she faced.
