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Variety

Film Academy to Establish ‘Code of Conduct’ Following Harvey Weinstein Scandal

Dave McNary
Updated

Two weeks after expelling Harvey Weinstein, leaders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are taking steps to set up a new code of conduct for its members.

Academy CEO Dawn Hudson detailed the moves in an email sent Thursday to members and said the board would take up the issue at its meetings in December and January.

“Like you, the Academy’s Board of Governors is concerned about sexual harassment and predatory behavior in the workplace, especially in our own industry,” she said. “We believe our Academy has a role to play in fostering a safe and respectful atmosphere for the professionals who make motion pictures. To this end, we are taking steps to establish a code of conduct for our members, which will include a policy for evaluating alleged violations and determining if action regarding membership is warranted.”

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The Academy’s 54-member board voted on Oct. 14 to expel Weinstein, nine days after the New York Times posted an expose with explosive allegations of sexual harassment and assault. At that point, AMPAS said the board “continues to work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all Academy members will be expected to exemplify.”

Weinstein was only the second Academy member ever to be expelled. The first was actor Carmine Caridi for loaning awards-season screeners.

Hudson reiterated Academy President John Bailey’s Oct. 17 message that AMPAS would not be an “inquisitorial court” by saying, “We have no intention of functioning as an investigative body or moral court.”

The full text of Hudson’s email follows:

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Dear Members,

Like you, the Academy’s Board of Governors is concerned about sexual harassment and predatory behavior in the workplace, especially in our own industry. We believe our Academy has a role to play in fostering a safe and respectful atmosphere for the professionals who make motion pictures. To this end, we are taking steps to establish a code of conduct for our members, which will include a policy for evaluating alleged violations and determining if action regarding membership is warranted.

Through our Membership and Administration Committee, we are consulting experts in law and ethics to gain a better understanding of what more we can and should be doing. Although we have no intention of functioning as an investigative body or moral court, we do have a right and duty as a voluntary association to maintain clear standards of workplace behavior for those we accept as members.

The Board of Governors will take up this issue at its next scheduled meetings in December and January. We recognize this is a complex process that will take some time, but we are determined to move forward without delay.

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Regards,

Dawn Hudson

Academy CEO

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