The Revolution That Wasn't

It's been five years since #MeToo rocked Hollywood. Insiders say not enough has changed

- By Joy Press

Five years ago, #MeToo rattled the entertainment industry down to its tectonic plates. The hope, even in a cynical industry, was that the landscape would be permanently altered. Abusers would be rooted out, policies would change, and far more women would be elevated to decision-making positions. Five years later, how much has really changed? And how much more is Hollywood willing to change? "#MeToo is a bit of a failure in terms of institutional power," one television showrunner tells me. "They mostly didn't put women in charge, with some exceptions. The truth is that men still run Hollywood up and down the line, and they don't care. If anything, they feel that their colleagues have been unfairly maligned."

That doesn't mean that #MeToo hasn't had an impact. "I think what has changed is that men are afraid, and that has never happened before," says a veteran film producer. "Men are afraid to behave badly because there have been enough situations where they are now suffering consequences. It would be nice if that wasn't the only motivation for behavior to improve. But I'll take it, you know?"