Notice: This film was made without physically, mentally, or verbally abusing WOMEN

Violence Against Women

I had a disturbing experience on a film set recently, in which I had to put up with words such as "cunt," "bitch," "pussy," (among others) while working with the actors and crew.

I was accompanying two, male actors in MY heated car (it was an outdoor shoot in the blustery winter), when I couldn't believe my ears: the one actor related his latest difficulties in dating his "fat opera-singing bitch girlfriend" to the other actor, apparently not even noticing, or not caring, that he happened to be sitting in a woman's car.

I turned around, after getting an ear-full, and politely said,

"I hate to interrupt your exciting conversation. But I would appreciate it greatly if you would NOT speak so derogatorily about women while sitting in my, i.e. 'A WOMAN'S' CAR. Thank you."

There was a mild feeling of tension, as well as embarrassment, before he apologized and tried to change the subject to something less abusive.

Of course, only two hours later, after having being asked to take over audio, because the audio technician had flown the coup, I listened with headphones, as the actors, now set up on wireless microphones, proceeded to tell jokes to each other.

"What do you call a dead blond in a closet?"

"I don't know."

"A good screw."

Now, I'm all for passing the time away on film sets with silliness and jokes, but I fail to see the humor in this, especially when they knew that I was in charge of audio.

It was too much. I couldn't take this abuse any more. It put me in a bad place, mentally and emotionally, and totally left me in no mood to work with the actors, pitting me against the wishes of the director, as a result.

To completely honest, after running on "high gear" four days with an average of only three hours of sleep per night, I lost it. I broke down. I caved in.

If animals don't have to put up with cruelty on the set anymore, why do we women?!

Do we really need to generate an honor pledge or oath by all involved to NOT verbally and physically abuse women?

If discrimination is not allowed in any other workplace, why should it be tolerated on film sets or locations?

Of course, I realize that his may just add more fodder for many male filmmakers and film trade workers to say that they'd rather not have women, as a result, on their shoots, at all.

But what era are we living in, after all?

I refuse to give up my love of film-making and directing because I have breasts. I won't see my children has a liability, because they come first. And I cannot abide by such horrible, violent language against the other half of the human race.