Jamieson’s ability to nurture talent has resulted in breakthrough scripted dramas like Lifetime’s edgy “You,” and History’s upcoming “Project Bluebook.” She currently has more than 40 projects in development. Her thoughts on the Me Too movement reflect her storytelling POV. “There’s an expression we use in story development: few villains believe themselves to the ‘the bad guy.’ If this is true of our fictional antagonists, it may indeed be equally true for today’s harassers,” she says. “Most of them just figured that their aggressive, even predatory manner of behavior was, well sure, crass… but within the bounds. They were wrong.”
What are your thoughts on the industry’s current response to the Me Too movement, and its treatment of men who have been accused of sexual harassing and/or assaulting women and men? Are there other steps you feel should be taken?
There’s an expression we use in story development: few villains believe themselves to the “the bad guy.” If this is true of our fictional antagonists, it may indeed be equally true for today’s harassers. Most of them just figured that their aggressive, even predatory manner of behavior was, well sure, crass … but within the bounds. They were wrong — and three generations of men are learning this, thanks to the #MeToo movement. I find this hopeful…and I believe that future generations will contain fewer men behaving badly.
What’s a recent example of a step forward for women in the media industry?
The obvious answer is the one that makes headlines: deviants, predators, abusers get caught, get humiliated, get ousted. But the quieter example I love to see is the increasing number of directors who are women. We’re pushing from our end, too.
Who is an inspirational woman you admire, and why?
My first big project was a mini-series I produced, Peter Benchley’s “The Beast” for NBC. Gale Anne Hurd was involved for about 10 minutes…but I loved and admired her for every one of those 600 seconds! Gale, you’re still my hero! A megastar who proved early on that girls can not only play with the big boys, but can do it better—Gale, you’re still my hero!
