Time's Up releases guides to help actors better understand their rights

Time's Up wants to make sure that all actors know their rights when auditioning, filming, and other professional contexts so they're better prepared to deal with unacceptable work demands and respond to instances of sexual harassment and misconduct in the workplace.

The Time's Up Foundation aims to fight and raise awareness on sexual discrimination and these serious misconduct issues while providing emotional and legal support to victims. It was launched in 2018 by a group of women in Hollywood, and the group recently released a series of guides to help actors learn their rights both on and off set.

The safety initiative includes three downloadable guides on the following topics: "Your Rights in Auditions,"Your Rights in Nude and Intimate Scenes," and "Your Right to Report Sexual Misconduct and Harassment." They're packed with helpful information, and easily accessible on the Time's Up website.

A look at Time's Up downloadable rights packets. Credit: timesupfoundation.org

"The entertainment industry is not a typical workplace, and so figuring out your rights and options around workplace harassment, discrimination, and misconduct can be confusing," the webpage that contains the guides reads.

"As part of this initiative, Time's Up developed resources for people in the entertainment industry who find themselves in situations that are at best awkward, or at worst, dangerous. These resources cover specific circumstances where people have historically been preyed upon, such as auditions and nude, intimate, and simulated sex scenes, as well as general guidance about your options and rights."

The guides offer insight about everything from staying safe in the workplace and dealing with retaliation, to negotiating boundaries and reporting inappropriate actions to employers, labor unions, and authorities. They also include contact information for several reliable resources like the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, RAINN, the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund, a few trusted intimacy coordinators, and more.

On the introductory page to each guide the Time's Up team explains, "No matter your situation, you have options. We’re here to help by connecting you with resources and information so you can determine your best path forward. In the meantime, trust yourself. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. If it seems like a red flag, it probably is. It’s okay to say 'no,' to speak up, and to leave situations that make you uncomfortable."

"No role, job, or relationship is worth compromising your physical or emotional safety. And if something happened to you, we believe you. You are not alone and we are here to help," the letter concludes.

If you have experienced sexual abuse, call the free, confidential National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or access the 24-7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.