Leading Dutch director steps back after #metoo claims by actors

DutchNews, November 7, 2017

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 A Dutch film and theatre director has said he is retiring from the business after admitting ‘crossing the line’ with actors under his direction. 

Job Gosschalk, who is 50, issued a statement on Tuesday saying that some rumours about his behaviour circulating in the last few weeks were grounded in fact. 

‘I have worked on scenes one to one with actors at my home,’ Gosschalk said. ‘I have on occasion asked them to take their clothes off. I have in some cases, I realise now, crossed the line. I have not taken the difference between my position and that of the actor sufficiently into account.’ 

Gosschalk denied that there had been any physical contact during these sessions or that he had been involved with drugs or had contact with minors. 

The claims against Gosschalk were made two weeks ago in Nieuwe Revu magazine, although he was not then named. And NOS Radio 3 has also spoken to actors about being sexually intimidated by Gosschalk. 

The director and producer worked as a casting director for years but switched to active film making in 2008. He was involved in several films, including the box office hit Alles is Liefde. 

Metoo

Gosschalk is the second big name from the Dutch film and theatre world to be caught up in the fallout of the #metoo discussion. 

Earlier this month, Amsterdam director Ruut Weissman did not attend the premier of a new production of Fiddler on the Roof at the De La Mar theatre in Amsterdam  because of allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour at the city’s theatre school while he was its artistic director. 

Not only did he have several relationships with students, but he also failed to take action when faced with claims about other cases of abuse, Dutch media reported.