10/17/2017
DON’T TOUCH THE TALENT!
That’s unofficial rule #1 at Utzworld Entertainment
With the fall of Harvey Weinstein - with presumably more to come as actresses blow the whistle on sexual harassment and assault in the entertainment industry - it’s time to address the elephant in the room.
As a writer/director, I have been blessed to have some of the most beautiful women in the world grace my stages, rehearsals and audition rooms. I create female characters. I formulate their imaginary lives into words on my laptop. I post sides at different casting sites. I scan hundreds of headshots looking to see if that particular actress can bring to life the character that I created on that laptop.
Then auditions happen and that actress and several others come in and out of that room. Some ladies get cast. Some I keep in my mental files as I consider future projects. We rehearse and rehearse. I give notes. We rehearse again till it’s time to hit that stage. They do their 3 nights bringing my character to life and I am overjoyed.
And all the while I’ve got this mantra banging in my head: DON’T TOUCH THE TALENT!
Because if I do, I’m stealing what God gave me in this company and claiming it for myself.
If I do, then my company motto “Illuminating The Stage For His Glory” becomes a lie.
If I do, I’m destroying 3 kids waiting for me when I get home from auditions/rehearsals/performances
If I do, I’m taking a sledgehammer to 17 years of legacy between me and our company producer/business manager Ilayna Utley
If I do, I’m just like Weinstein, Cosby and all the rest of em.
I don’t have the guts to explain why I sold out my company, my name, my reputation and my family because I got caught up in the beauty of one of my actresses and did something foolish. Maybe another director can. But not me.
To all the fabulous sisters who have walked across my stage or read for a part in one of my plays, I pray that I have honored this mantra during our time together working on a show. I’m not blind! ALL OF Y’ALL are FINE!!! BEAU-TI-FUL!!! But only by the grace of God have I been able to honor and respect you all by being a good man of character and integrity.
To my fellow brothers who write and direct - let’s live up to this challenge. Let’s demonstrate before the entertainment community that we are stronger men, better men, men of honor and respect committed to allowing our beautiful sisters the freedom to work on our stages without fear of sexual harassment and abuse. They’re counting on us. God is watching us. Let’s not let them or Him down!