Being a Woman—and a Boss—in Hollywood

The #MeToo movement has underscored a truth women in entertainment have long known: Whether you’re an entry-level production assistant or a veteran filmmaker, you will routinely face gender discrimination, sexual harassment—or worse. COM alums are no exception. They’ve been designated the office gopher because of their gender, experienced unwanted physical advances from coworkers and bosses—and been told it was all part of the job. Early in her career, Jana Steele Helman (’04), vice president of scripted programming and development at Freeform, was told by a human resources representative that disrespectful treatment from men in film and television was “to be expected,” and “if you can’t take it, you should probably go work elsewhere.”

In November 2017, 10 COM students traveled to Los Angeles to film Helman and other BU alums discussing life as a woman and a leader in entertainment in the BU Boss Lady panel, held at the headquarters of the BU in L.A. study abroad program.

Read the full story in COMTalk.