Putting Up With Inappropriate Behavior
In response to our previous post on gun safety, a reader responded to the director’s abuse:
“If the director called me a pussy in front of the whole crew? I STILL would of quit. Full stop. That’s never ok, even IF there’s no a safety issue. Everytime you put up with crap like that? It just makes it that much harder for the REST of us”
Frustrated Reader
I must admit, this frustrated reader has a point. If bad behavior isn’t called out, the director (or whoever) will think it’s okay, and keep doing it. On the other hand,{{1}} I needed a job. Some might say that’s an excuse that will always exist, but the fact is, no, it’s not.
You work long enough, hard enough, and well enough, you will eventually have the option to forgo certain jobs. Build a large enough network, not only can you avoid verbal abuse, you can actually work exclusively with people you like. You can take a job because it sounds fun, not just for the money.
There is, of course, a point at which mean words become actual harassment. There’s a point when a sketchy show becomes outright dangerous. There’s a point where your discomfort is a real, genuine issue.
The tricky thing is, that point is different for everyone. I’ll put up with rude, even gendered name calling if it means paying rent and putting food on the table for me and mine. I won’t, however, work on a set whose only safety measure is the director’s pinky promise that the gun’s not loaded.
Maybe you would.{{2}} I can’t tell you where to draw the line; we all have to draw the line for ourselves.
[[1]]Isn’t there always another hand?[[1]]
[[2]]Don’t.[[2]]
