#spsta

Here's a story, not one of the worst-- not even my worst-- but it illustrates another insidious angle on this conversation. Right after college when I was still doing the "trying to be an actress" thing, a dear male friend of mine referred me for, and I ended up getting cast as the lead in a short film that he was also acting in. I was flown to the city where the shoot was happening, had an awesome time working with some really great people on a fun little short. After my scenes were wrapped there was the classic "That's a wrap on Kaz!" The moment met with applause as I went to go change out of my costume and into my street clothes to take the cab that was coming to take me to the airport. 

While I was changing, the cinematographer knocked. I was dressed by that point so I said come in. He approached saying, Hey, I just wanted to let you know it was great to meet you, and you did a great job. I felt great and said “thanks so much!” He then came in for what I assumed was going to be a hug, but he ended up grabbing my head and kissing me on the mouth. 

I looked at him stunned afterwards. He grinned and said, "I've been wanting to do that all week." Then walked out of the room. Shaken, I walked back out through the house to more hugs and high fives, grabbing my male friend's hand and dragging him out to the waiting cab with me. He asked me if everything was okay. I said no, and told him what happened. He looked at me quizzically and said something to the effect of, "But that's really sweet!" I can't remember what I said in response, I think I said something to the effect of "No, it wasn't sweet, it was really fucked up" and my male friend said something like, "Oh, i'm sorry," then I got in the cab and headed to the airport and that was that. 

Guys - you have to do better.

Me.  Too.

I auditioned for a film role in a hotel room when I was 22. The director was very forward, talking about nudity in the film, what I'd need to do to get a callback. My age and innocence worked for me-- I narrowly escaped a much more tragic situation.

It was extremely clear to me when I walked into the actresses profession that my humiliation and role as a lesser sexually harassed being was the norm and set in stone with the director and a staff of dozens who enabled it and encouraged it