The unions and associations UNITA (actors and actresses), UICD (casting directors), AMLETA (feminist collective), ASA (agents) and LARA (artists’ representatives), have drawn up guidelines against abuse during the casting phase.
With the case Weinstein who uncovered huge pots in the Hollywood of abuses and silences, resting on the gruesome customs of an industry in which “things have always worked like this”, has finally moved on. Indeed, some chapters have begun to be closed to open new ones. In order to write a new book, however, there is still a long way to go. It was 2017 when victims of abuse gathered courage and shared their stories, giving life to the movement #MeToo and to be able to stop harassment in the world of entertainment, mainly by men against women. Even in Italy, the numbers of reports of abuse count among the victims mostly actresses or aspiring actresses, while almost all of the perpetrators are men.
In this regard, on 3 March 2023, it was drafted by theItalian Union of Casting Directors (UICD), the National Union of Theater and Audiovisual Interpreters (UNITA), Amleta, Associated Entertainment Agents (ASA), Free Association of Artists’ Representatives (LARA)a document that defines unequivocally the “guidelines against abuse during the casting phase”. The presentation of the document with the representatives of the aforementioned unions and associations took place on March 16 at the Cinema Troisi in Rome. The intent is to disseminate them to inform all professionals in the audiovisual sector, so that the signal of the change underway is perceived and working conditions can improve as soon as possible.
“Today we are going to sign a protocol of rules aimed at the possibility that in the casting phase, during the auditions, the interpreters may find themselves in situations of discomfort and suffer harassment”. To speak first is Victoria Puccinias president of UNITA (first on the left in the photo above, next to the right Moira Mazzantini (LARA), Laura Muccino (UICD), Federica Rossellini (That’s right Cinzia Spanò (AMLETA). “It’s something that has existed for many years, which has always been considered a practice. Instead today, fortunately, such an awareness has matured that we have the strength and the desire to say that it can no longer be like this and it must never be like this again The hope is that in a few years this protocol will no longer need to be hung in the places where castings take place, because this problem or the danger of finding yourself in certain situations will no longer exist”. The actress also quoted her colleague’s words Valentina Lodovinipresent in the room, according to which with this initiative “we are making history”.
“We consider this process irreversible,” he continues Cinzia Spanò. “These situations have always occurred, especially in conditions of disproportion of power such as those of auditions, which have turned out to be the places of greatest abuse and violence. The violation of human rights in the world of culture is a very serious thing. We are the ones who should lead the change, but we often turn out to be further behind than other sectors because violence has so far been kept silent, denied, trivialized, normalized since our academies. The wind is changing and the most significant thing is our alliance”.
“These these guidelines that we have drawn up do not want to be a moral controller or a censorship with respect to the freedom of art creation of directors or artists, absolutely not”explains Laura Muccino. “It is simply a question of setting rules whereby the interpreter must always be informed first of what the artistic contents of the film are, always beforehand so as to be able to give informed consent. What we are doing is creating a working environment in which respect, consensus and information are always present, because this means doing things calmly, calmly and with creative freedom”.
The guidelines agreed together with the ICDA (International Casting Directors Association)
1. Auditions and casting meetings should not take place in a hotel room or private residence and should not take place at night, unless this request is justified.
2. If this is proposed, it is legitimate to ask that the meeting take place in a studio or in production and during working hours.
3. If this is not possible, it is strongly recommended that you go to the meeting accompanied by your agent or a friend who stays with you at all times.
4. It is advisable to find out who is in charge of the casting and the production for which he performs his duties; if you don’t know him, make sure that he is known and that there are no doubts about his professionalism.
5. It is not permissible to be asked for a full nude, your body can be seen very well even with a swimsuit or underwear.
6. If the audition requires partial nudity or simulated sex you must be informed in advance so that you have time to think about it and decide whether you want to do it or not.
7. If the role involves nudity and/or simulated sex you must be informed in advance, the scenes in question must be sent to you in advance. Your agency should always be aware of this and an informed consent should be signed.
8. During a meeting or audition, it is not permissible for you to be asked intimate questions about your private life that are not related to the role.
9. At least one other person in addition to the person directing the audition must attend nude and simulated sex auditions, but not more than the strictly necessary people.
10. If, despite everything, you find yourself in ambiguous, dangerous or abusive situations, you can write to [email protected] to get advice, support and, if necessary, legal protection.
Below is the list of artists who participated:
1. Alessia Barela
2. Andrea Bonella
3. Bernardo Casertano
4. Carlotta Natoli
5. Caroline Pagani
6. Chiara Casali
7. Chiara De Bonis
8. Cinzia Scaglione
9. Cinzia Susino
10. Claudia Della Seta
11. Daniela Fazzolari
12. Dora Romano
13. Eleonora Elia
14. Fabrizio Gifuni
15. Federica Torchetti
16. Federico Mancini
17. Francesca Lactantius
18. Francesco Scianna
19. Francesco Sechi
20. Georgia Lepore
21. Giovanni Trombetta
22. Giulio Pampiglione
23. Jacopo Dragonetti
24. Jacopo Olmo Antinori
25. Jonis Bascir
26. Imma Piro
27. Laura Adriani
28. Lia Grieco
29. Lucilla Diaz
30. Manuela Parodi
31. Maria Pia Calzone
32. Marta Bifano
33. Massimiliano Di Grazia
34. Nicola Ciammarughi
35. Nicholas Paduano
36. Paco Reconti
37. Paola Minaccioni
38. Paolo Ricci
39. Roman Majora Vergano
40. Romina Caruana
41. Except Di Vittorio
42. Silvia Carusillo
43. Silvia Degrandi
44. Sonia Bergamasco
45. Stephen Fish
46. Tiziana Bagatella
47. Valentina Bartolo
48. Valentina D’Agostino
49. Valentina Lodovini
50. Vincenzo Della Corte
