Andrea Evans shares her thoughts on Rocking the Couch.
When the news of the Harvey Weinstein scandal initially broke, director Minh Collins and I were meeting for coffee at a local Hollywood coffee hangout. It was all we could talk about. I would like to say we were shocked by his behavior but I’d be lying to you if I did. Over the years we had seen and known friends and fellow actors that had to deal with this. Sadly, it was so truly ingrained in the Hollywood culture that we all looked the other way. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying.
That is why we decided to make Rocking The Couch. We wondered why the term “casting couch” existed. But more importantly, why was it always thought of as a joke? The mere mention of the phrase to anyone around the word would evoke a snicker. This is not a joke. We’re talking about peoples’ lives and livelihoods and even their dignity. There’s nothing funny about it.
We interviewed people that we knew had a story to tell. We tried to represent different viewpoints on this issue and even provide advice to actors who were just starting their career. That led us to the cautionary tale of a Hollywood talent agent who sexually assaulted 12 actresses. These brave women took him to court and risked their careers in the process. No one seemed to notice and there was very little coverage of this case in the media. The story was swept under the carpet leaving the path wide open for future predators the likes of Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein.
I’m very proud of Rocking The Couch and proud to have been able to tell the story. These stories need to be told by someone who understands. Women need to speak up. Our viewpoint needs to be represented and these stories must be told and heard before the next Cosby or Weinstein appears. I hope you enjoy Rocking The Couch.
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