Workplace Harassment Takes Center Stage In Kitty Green's New FIlm THE ASSISTANT
WDCB’s Gary Zidek talks to Kitty Green about her new film, THE ASSISTANT.
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“I had women from all different companies come up and tell me they experienced things like this. So, I wouldn’t limit it to the film industry or something as competitive as that. Although, I do think that contributes to making it more toxic, because you’re competing for promotions and attention, and it is dehumanizing in a way.” - Kitty Green talking about the universality of workplace harassment and how certain behaviors thrive in competitive environments.
Director Kitty Green on set of THE ASSISTANT
The new film, THE ASSISTANT, illuminates the realities of workplace harassment. Writer and director Kitty Green crafted a nuanced story that goes beyond the headlines to depict what predatory behavior looks like and more importantly how it’s allowed to continue, even in 2020.
Julia Garner portrays Jane, a low level assistant working at a New York movie studio. Jane is a recent Northwestern grad who aspires to become a producer one day. Her current position, at the bottom of this film company’s hierarchy, requires her to complete normal assistant-type duties like answering the phone and making copies, but Jane is also called on to do a lot more for her Harvey Weinstein-like boss. Jane experiences constant degradation during her 16-hour work day and ultimately is forced to reconcile how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to succeed.
Julia Garner stars as Jane in THE ASSISTANT
