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The voluntary guidelines from the Producers
Guild of America (PGA) recommend that all productions provide
in-person anti-sexual harassment training for all cast and crew
before the start of each season.
They also urge producers to conduct meetings and casting
sessions in a "professional, safe and comfortable" environment,
among other steps.
"As producers, we provide key leadership in creating and
sustaining work environments built on mutual respect, so it is
our obligation to change our culture and eradicate this abuse,"
PGA Co-Presidents Gary Lucchesi and Lori McCreary said in a
statement.
The guidelines are initial recommendations from a task force the
PGA created in October after allegations of misconduct against
entertainment industry figures including producer Harvey
Weinstein, who has been accused by more than 70 women of sexual
misconduct, including rape.
Many of the accusations against Weinstein stemmed from actresses
who said they were sent to meetings with him alone in hotel
rooms. Weinstein has denied having non-consensual sex with
anyone.
The PGA expelled Weinstein from the group in October.
The new guidelines are especially important for independent
productions that are not being done at a movie or TV studio with
a human resources department, McCreary said in an interview.
Lucchesi said the steps, which were unanimously ratified by the
PGA's board of directors, are meant to serve as "best practices"
for the PGA's 8,200 members.
"It's really about setting the right tone and having the proper
behavior," he said. "You don't want people to be insensitive
anymore."
The recommendations also offer advice to victims of harassment,
starting with going to authorities if they believe a crime was
committed, and taking notes shortly after an incident.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; editing by Clive McKeef)
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