The Academy of of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revised its code of conduct amidst the onslaught of sexual abuse revelations coming out of Hollywood. Per Variety, Academy CEO Dawn Hudson sent members a letter outlining the new Standards of Conduct. In the letter Hudson explains that “many hours of research and discussion” went into the newly revised code.
A special task force led by Governor and Academy Officer David Rubin organized and wrote the new code of conduct. “Over the course of weeks, the task force consulted with professors of ethics, business, philosophy, and law from Georgetown, Harvard, Notre Dame, and Stanford, as well as experts in human resources and sexual harassment,” Hudson’s letter details. Rubin’s team sought advice from their colleagues at the Television and British Academies and studied the codes of conduct from AFI, Film Independent, and UCLA.
“Much remains to be done,” Hudson acknowledges. “The task force will finalize procedures for handling allegations of misconduct, assuring that we can address them fairly and expeditiously.” Academy members will receive those procedures after the new year.
The Academy is just the latest entity to join the fight against show business’ widespread harassment problem. Women In Film recently launched a hotline for survivors. 20th Century Fox VP Claire Schmidt announced her plans to head AllVoices, a startup designed to fight workplace harassment. “The Hunting Ground” filmmakers Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick are currently collecting research for their documentary about the widespread assault in show business. Los Angeles DA Jackie Lacey is forming a sexual assault task force. And the Swedish Film Institute is also developing a program to inform and educate filmmakers about sexual harassment.
Hudson has been Academy CEO since 2011. She renewed her contract this spring and will stay in her post until June 2020.
The Academy’s full statement about the affirmed Standards of Conduct is below, courtesy of Variety.
Academy membership is a privilege offered to only a select few within the global community of filmmakers. In addition to achieving excellence in the field of motion picture arts and sciences, members must also behave ethically by upholding the Academy’s values of respect for human dignity, inclusion, and a supportive environment that fosters creativity. The Academy asks that members embrace their responsibility to affirm these principles and act when these principles are violated. There is no place in the Academy for people who abuse their status, power or influence in a manner that violates recognized standards of decency. The Academy is categorically opposed to any form of abuse, harassment or discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, age, religion, or nationality. The Board of Governors believes that these standards are essential to the Academy’s mission and reflective of our values.
If any member is found by the Board of Governors to have violated these standards or to have compromised the integrity of the Academy by their actions, the Board of Governors may take any disciplinary action permitted by the Academy’s Bylaws, including suspension or expulsion.
