Vincent Gallo is accused of creating a hostile work environment 20 years after his infamous unsimulated sex scenes in “The Brown Bunny” and allegations on the “Buffalo ’66” set.
Gallo, who is set to portray serial killer and rapist Joseph James DeAngelo AKA the Golden State Killer in the upcoming film “The Policeman,” was at the center of at least three formal actor complaints to the Screen Actors Guild. James Franco, who also has previously been accused of sexual misconduct, co-stars in “The Policeman,” which is written and directed by Jordan Gertner.
Rolling Stone reported that during the casting process, a trio of actresses alleged Gallo made inappropriate advances and demanded abuse scenes be “fully improvised” have authentic reactions onscreen.
One complaint alleged that Gallo said, “If I say to suck my dick or I will kill you, I want you, you the person, not you the character, not you the actor, but you, to truly believe you will die if you don’t do as I say. And just like you would in real life, if this were happening to you, I want you to do all of the actions necessary to do that. You won’t actually suck my dick, but you do not have the power, I have all the power. You have no control, I am in complete control.”
An additional complaint echoed the accusations, with Gallo allegedly saying, “I may ask you to suck my cock onscreen, and I want an actress who is not going to put up a fight about that. You’re going to be offended by what I ask you, but I don’t want any of your personal feminist values. You don’t want to do this, you don’t think it’s fair, but you know what? The victim didn’t have a choice, and neither will you as the actress…Of course we can’t ACTUALLY have you give me head onscreen, but the point is that I want someone who will not stop production to call their agent, or complain, etc. because they are offended.”
Another complaint described Gallo as acting out his “torture porn fantasies” and even admitted that the script for “The Policeman” would “bear very little resemblance to what was going to be filmed.”
Gallo additionally required that auditioning actresses be willing to have their “minds and bodies be 100 percent dominated” by him at all times, with actions including pulling hair, being hog-tied with shoelaces, and simulating rape, murder, and physical assault without prior coordination or presence of an intimacy coordinator.
However, Gallo told auditioning actresses that there would be no “actual penetration, swapping of fluids or fellatio” during filming, as a complaint reads. The allegations are from the audition process that took place in November 2023. Production occurred in the Portland, Oregon area in December 2023.
A spokesperson for SAG confirmed the investigation to IndieWire.
“We are aware of these complaints and are investigating,” the SAG representative said. “We extensively engaged with production regarding the complaints and while shooting has wrapped, we continue to monitor and investigate. We also reaffirm our commitment to ensuring a safe and respectful environment on set. Because our inquiry is ongoing, we cannot respond to specifics of the complaint.”
A spokesperson for the film’s Pacific Media Productions shared an email that “The Policeman” intimacy coordinator sent to SAG during filming. The email confirmed that “all scenes were executed within the boundaries of each actor’s consent” during production.
To note, allegedly “changes were subsequently made” to production after the actresses’ SAG complaints were filed, as a source close to the casting process told Rolling Stone. A SAG representative was also brought on set.
Casting studio Cast Iron Studios shared a statement in response to the allegations, reading, “The casting team fought hard behind the scenes for the performers, and the results of these efforts can be attested to by the positive reports from set. We thank the actresses for their courage to come forward, and express our deepest apologies for their experience, which was indeed a first for us, too.”
A spokesperson for “The Policeman” writer/director Gertner said, “We do take allegations of inappropriate comments made by anyone involved in the production very seriously. A SAG-AFTRA intimacy coordinator was hired for the production and the production of the picture was carried out in a safe, protective, and respectful environment. The producers, director, cast, and crew are proud of the movie we have made.”
The representative continued, “The casting director told the actors prior to their callback meetings and auditions that a SAG-AFTRA intimacy coordinator was being hired for the picture and she would be involved with all scenes in which any nudity or sexuality was to occur. The coordinator that was hired worked closely with the director, Vincent, and other cast, and the cast involved felt that the environment was positive and respectful.”
While Gallo did not write or direct “The Policeman,” he did helm “The Brown Bunny” in 2003. The infamous film debuted at Cannes and co-starred Chloë Sevigny, who performs unsimulated oral sex on Gallo. The actor/director went on to direct “Buffalo ’66.” Star Christina Ricci has spoken out about her troubled experiences filming the movie.
