Is the time for change? The growing number of revelations concerning cases of abuse on film is forcing cinema professionals to come up with solutions to guarantee the safety of employees and participants on set. At the Rencontres de l’ARP (Société civile des Réalisateurs et Producteurs), the subject is taken very seriously and is at the heart of one of the many debates scheduled over three days at Le Touquet in the Hauts-de-France region.
Late this Wednesday, the filmmakers Céline Sallette and Jérôme Enrico led a lively conversation on the phenomenon of #MeToo and the solutions to be adopted to counter toxic behavior. The debate “Cinéma sans violences, un autre scénario possible?” brought together personalities involved in this fight. Among them were producers Caroline Bonmarchand and Alice Girard, founders of the Respect Group (“Responsiveness, Ethics, Safety, Professionalism, Efficiency, Trust, Transparency”) in autumn 2023, are particularly active.
From creation to distribution
The two producers consulted other professionals in search of solutions, because they felt quite alone after having experienced problems on their shoots. The group Respect gave the floor to various members of the profession, from all trades and guilds, to hear their views. After six months of weekly meetings, a charter was drawn up.
Labor law protects against a certain number of things, but it doesn’t necessarily correspond to the temporality of cinema,” explains Caroline Bonmarchand. The Charter is a reminder of the law, which doesn’t just concern the producer: all team members undertake to respect it. We took a cross-functional approach and structured our thinking around three key areas that take this into account. The charter covers not only filming, but also preparation and the aftermath (when a work has been damaged by a scandal). The group’s action Respect covers projects from inception to release.
Creation of a “Respect” label
Violence is sometimes invisible,” says Céline Salette. We also need to talk about harassment when it’s not sexual. Message received by the group Respect which aims to make the film industry an exemplary environment. “It’s time to fight the myth of the sacrosanct filmmaker and remember that a film is a collective process,” insists Alice Girard. Because a scandal doesn’t just affect the victim. It involves the whole team and the future of the film. “That’s why people are still reluctant to speak out, because they know they could jeopardize not only their careers but the whole project,” insists Alice Girard.
Hence the judicious idea of bringing the whole team into the loop upstream. “A label Respect which would involve everyone would be a good way of making the industry more responsible,” explains Caroline Bonmarchand. Training is also planned, particularly for film school students. These measures should make the world of cinema safer and more fulfilling, both on and off the set.