Hollywood welcomes allegations shining light on abuse
LOS ANGELES: Filmmakers on Saturday welcomed the sexual misconduct scandal engulfing Hollywood as a “positive” moment that could end decades of abuse and serve as an example to other industries.
Several directors told AFP at the annual Governors Awards the flood of allegations against Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and others might finally force reform and protect future aspiring stars.
James Gunn, the director of Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies, said it was “a really positive thing for the industry.”
“For me this is a light being shone upon a lot of things ... And at the same time a lot of people in Hollywood are really terrible people and that’s coming to light,” he said.
Gunn spoke out ahead of veteran movie star Donald Sutherland accepting an honorary Oscar at Hollywood’s Ray Dolby Ballroom “for a lifetime of indelible characters, rendered with unwavering truthfulness.”
Stars at the glitzy ceremony included Jennifer Lawrence, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tom Hanks, Chadwick Boseman and Emma Stone, who was deep in conversation for much of the evening with ex-boyfriend and “Spiderman” co-star Andrew Garfield.
Andy Serkis, best known as the award-winning motion capture artist in Peter Jackson’s “King Kong” and “Lord of the Rings” movies, said he hoped the scandal would lead to abusers in the political sphere being exposed.
Writer-director Charles Burnett, cinematographer Owen Roizman and filmmakers Agnes Varda and Alejandro G. Inarritu were also awarded honorary Oscars.
Angelina Jolie introduced Belgian-born director Agnes Varda, 89, awarded an honorary Oscar for a career that began in the New Wave of the 1950s and 60s and whose films include “La Pointe Courte,” “Cleo from 5 to 7” and “Vagabond.” The two women had an impromptu dance on stage.