An Open Secret

{{short description|2014 documentary film by Amy J. Berg on child sexual abuse in California's film industry}}

{{Infobox film

| image = An-Open-Secret-poster.jpg

| caption = Film poster

| alt =

| country = United States

| language = English

| director = Amy J. Berg

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Gabe Hoffman
Matthew Valentinas

}}

| starring = {{Plain list |

Michael Egan III
Evan Henzi
Todd Bridges
Joey Coleman
Mark Ryan
Nicholas Stojanovich

}}

| released = {{Film date|2014|11|14|DOC NYC|2015|06|05}}

| budget =

| gross =

}}

An Open Secret is a 2014 American documentary film directed by Amy J. Berg{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/bryan-singer-allegations-part-of-upcoming-sex-abuse-documentary-from-oscar-nominated-filmmaker-1201159632/ |title=Bryan Singer Allegations Part of Upcoming Sex Abuse Documentary |work=Variety|date=April 18, 2014 |first=Ramin |last=Setoodeh}}{{cite web|work=The Hollywood Reporter|title='An Open Secret': Film Review|date=November 14, 2014|first=John|last=DeFore|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/an-open-secret-film-review-749444}} exposing child sexual abuse in the film industry in California.

Production history

Berg decided to make the documentary after she was approached by Matthew Valentinas in 2011. Valentinas and Gabe Hoffman wanted to make a film about victims of sexual exploitation. Valentinas said, "We chose Amy because we didn't want it to be exploitative or tabloid. We wanted it to be empowering for the victims."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-sex-abuse-film-revealed-748375|title=Hollywood Sex Abuse Film Revealed: Explosive Claims, New Figures Named (Exclusive)|last1=Kilday|first1=Gregg|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 12, 2014|accessdate=February 10, 2015}} Matthew Valentinas, an entertainment lawyer, came up with the idea when he heard Corey Feldman talking about his sexual abuse as a child actor in a TV interview.{{cite web|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/news/a19842/true-detective|title=Amy Berg Uncovered Hollywood's Worst Kept Sex Secret|last=Millea|first=Holly|work=Elle|date=November 13, 2014|accessdate=April 16, 2018}} Berg's 2006 film Deliver Us from Evil, a documentary on systemic child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, had been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

After the film's premiere at Doc NYC, it was re-edited to remove mention of Michael Egan's 2014 lawsuit against filmmaker Bryan Singer and three other Hollywood figures, after Egan had withdrawn the suit.{{Cite web |last=Kilday |first=Gregg |date=2015-05-13 |title=Cannes: Hollywood Sex Scandal Doc Cut for Foreign Buyers, But Will It Sell? |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-2015-hollywood-sex-scandal-795424/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} In October 2015, after beginning a limited theatrical release in the United States, the film was re-edited again, so as to receive a PG-13 rating. The film was originally rated R for graphic language. To acquire the PG-13 rating, the only change made to the film was a censoring of the word "blowjob" in two instances.{{Cite web |last=Bond |first=Paul |date=2015-10-01 |title=Hollywood Pedophilia Movie 'An Open Secret' Slightly Re-Cut for PG-13 Rating |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/an-open-secret-hollywood-pedophilia-828738/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}{{Cite web |date=2015-11-02 |title=New film will reveal 'an iceberg of child sex abuse' in Hollywood |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/a-shocking-new-film-will-reveal-an-iceberg-of-child-sex-abuse-in-the-us-entertainment-industry-a6718421.html |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=The Independent |language=en}}{{cite podcast|url=https://www.spreaker.com/user/cstachiw/special-report-an-open-secret-2015|author1=Mike White|author2= Carole Borden|author3= Gabe Hoffman|series=The Projection Booth|title=Special Report: An Open Secret (2015)|time=44:28-45:45}}

Synopsis

The documentary follows the stories of five former child actors who were sexually abused by multiple predators. Much of the film focuses on Marc Collins-Rector, who was convicted of child sexual abuse, and co-owned and operated Digital Entertainment Network, with Brock Pierce also owning a minor share. DEN produced brief online videos during the early days of the Internet, and was noted for wild parties featuring underage boys at Collins-Rector's house.{{Citation |title=DOC NYC PRO 2017-- Editing Day: Morning Manifesto with Amy Berg | date=November 19, 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UEjorY1-54 |access-date=2023-04-11 |language=en}}

The film makes multiple references to director Bryan Singer, who was allegedly at some of the DEN parties, but does not detail allegations against him. A lawsuit alleging that Singer sexually abused Michael Egan as an underage boy was withdrawn during the production of the film.{{Cite web |last=Kolker |first=Robert |title=What Happens When You Accuse a Major Hollywood Director of Rape? |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/09/michael-egan-bryan-singer-lawsuit.html |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=Vulture |date=September 7, 2014 |language=en-us}} As a result, the film only details allegations made by persons willing to appear on camera. The documentary also featured archival footage from sex offender Brian Peck.{{cite news |last=Robb |first=David |title='An Open Secret's Difficult Road To Distribution |url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/an-open-secret-distribution-studios-pass-on-child-abuse-documentay-1201423314/ |access-date=March 27, 2024 |work=Deadline |date=May 8, 2015}}{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Benjamin |title=Controversial documentary An Open Secret reveals paedophilia in Hollywood |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/may/22/an-open-secret-documentary-reveals-paedophilia-in-hollywood |access-date=March 27, 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=May 22, 2015}}

Among the people interviewed is Vanity Fair journalist John Connolly, who states that an article on pedophilia in Hollywood was dropped at the last minute by Details magazine.

Release

An Open Secret premiered on November 14, 2014 at Doc NYC.{{Citation |title=Q&A Following World Premiere of 'An Open Secret' at DOCNYC 2014 | date=November 15, 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1pcU50WAEU |access-date=2023-04-06 |language=en}} It screened at Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2015, and began a limited theatrical release in the United States on June 5 of that year.{{Cite web |last=Lawless |first=JILL |date=May 20, 2015 |title=Documentary 'An Open Secret' seeks to lift lid on sex abuse in Hollywood |url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/entertainment/2015/05/20/documentary-an-open-secret-seeks-to-lift-lid-on-sex-abuse-in-hollywood/30090771007/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Spartanburg Herald Journal |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Robb |first=David |date=2015-04-29 |title=Amy Berg's Hollywood Child Abuse Docu 'An Open Secret' Heading To U.S. Theaters … And Cannes |url=https://deadline.com/2015/04/an-open-secret-release-date-hollywood-child-molestation-documentary-1201418165/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=Deadline}}{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Adam B. Vary BuzzFeed News |title=The Hollywood Sex Abuse Documentary That You Almost Couldn't See |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/adambvary/an-open-secret-hollywood-underage-sex-abuse-documentary |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www.buzzfeednews.com |date=June 27, 2015 |language=en}} Producers were encouraged about its commercial potential because a pirated version was viewed 900,000 times. However, the film received no television deal or video-on-demand distribution. According to Gabe Hoffman, who financed the film: "We got zero Hollywood offers to distribute the film. Not even one. Literally no offers for any price whatsoever."

In July 2015 the producers of An Open Secret accused Berg of not supporting the film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/07/an-open-secret-documentary-film-amy-berg-1201487697/|title='An Open Secret' Producers Accuse Amy Berg of Not Supporting Documentary|last=Robb|first=David|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=July 30, 2015|accessdate=April 13, 2018}} Producers Gabe Hoffman and Matthew Valentinas filed an arbitration against Berg for allegedly delivering the movie late and incomplete, and failing to promote it. Hoffman's Esponda Productions claimed that Berg failed to get the proper release forms from some of the interviewees and that this error almost caused the film to miss its premiere at Doc NYC.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/aug/18/producer-of-abuse-doc-an-open-secret-director-court-amy-berg-gabe-hoffman|title=Producer of abuse documentary An Open Secret taking director to court|last=Lee|first=Benjamin|work=The Guardian|date=August 18, 2015|accessdate=May 23, 2018}}

On October 12, 2017, Hoffman and Valentinas released the film for nine days on Vimeo "to commemorate serial predator Harvey Weinstein finally being exposed." It went viral, and free viewing was then extended for a longer period due to the interest shown in the film, with over three million viewings garnered on various social media platforms in the first two weeks.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/nov/01/an-open-secret-hollywood-child-abuse-documentary |title=Child abuse documentary Hollywood 'didn't want you to see' goes viral|first=Rory |last=Carroll|date=November 1, 2017 |work= The Guardian }}

At the time of its Vimeo release, the producers said they were seeking further distribution of the documentary.{{cite web|last1= Bond|first1=Paul|title=Hollywood Sex Abuse Film 'An Open Secret' Released Online|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-sex-abuse-film-an-open-secret-released-online-first-time-1048706|work= The Hollywood Reporter |accessdate=October 19, 2017|date=October 13, 2017}} It has not been released to home video.[https://vimeo.com/142444429 An Open Secret], Official PG-13 version (uploaded to Vimeo on 2015Oct14)

Reception

An Open Secret has an approval rating of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews from 17 critics.{{cite web |title= An Open Secret (2015) |url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/an_open_secret |website= Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate= August 30, 2019 }} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 66 out of 100 based on reviews from nine critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.{{cite web |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/an-open-secret |title= An Open Secret Reviews |website= Metacritic |accessdate= August 30, 2019 }}

The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the film offered a "sober look at accusations that lend themselves to sensationalism."{{cite web|last1=DeFore|first1=John|title='An Open Secret': Film Review Amy Berg turns from molestation in the priesthood to Hollywood sex abuse|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/an-open-secret-film-review-749444|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 14, 2014|accessdate=April 29, 2015}}

The Los Angeles Times describes the film as "not the hard-hitting exposé that it aims to be" but as "an unsettling look at pedophilia in Hollywood".{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-open-secret-movie-review-20150717-story.html|title=Amy Berg's 'An Open Secret' is flawed but unsettling nonetheless|last=Linden|first=Sheri|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 16, 2015|accessdate=April 13, 2018}}

The New York Times wrote that the "topic deserves a tenacious call for answers" and hoped for "further aggressive reporting" which they missed in the movie, when Berg linked Martin Weiss "to a string of other men" but only presenting "a secretly taped conversation and some menacing music".{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/12/movies/review-an-open-secret-spotlights-child-sexual-abuse-in-hollywood.html|title=Review: 'An Open Secret' Spotlights Child Sexual Abuse in Hollywood|last=Jaworowski|first=Ken|work=The New York Times|date=June 11, 2015|accessdate=April 13, 2018}}

Flavorwire said that "the film feels less shocking as a cult-of-celebrity document and more just quietly horrifying, as it details the trauma and the abuse of power inflicted on young men with stars in their eyes."{{cite web|last1=Donnelly|first1=Elisabeth|title='An Open Secret' Examines Hollywood Sex Abuse Allegations, Beyond the Tabloid Sensationalism|url=http://flavorwire.com/489017/an-open-secret-examines-hollywood-sex-abuse-allegations-beyond-the-tabloid-sensationalism|website=Flavorwire|date=November 17, 2014|accessdate=May 5, 2015}}

Indiewire described the documentary as "an incisive and utterly unflinching look at a subject too rarely scrutinized."{{cite web|last1=Cwik|first1=Greg|title=DOC NYC Review: Amy Berg's 'An Open Secret' Is a Devastating Exposé of Hollywood's Sexual Abuse Problem|url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/doc-nyc-review-amy-bergs-an-open-secret-is-a-devastating-expose-of-hollywoods-sexual-abuse-problem-20141115|website=Indiewire|date=November 15, 2014|accessdate=February 10, 2015}}

Actor Elijah Wood praised the film in 2016 as "a powerful documentary".{{Cite web |last=Abramovitch |first=Seth |date=2016-05-23 |title=Elijah Wood Denies Personal Knowledge of Child Sex Abuse in Hollywood (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/elijah-wood-denies-personal-knowledge-896754/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}

=Egan lawsuit=

In June 2015, The Hollywood Reporter wrote of Egan's lawsuit, "His cases against the four men began to collapse in May 2014, just a month after they were filed, when his prior contradictory statements came to light". Egan's attorneys, Jeff Herman and Mark Gallagher, later settled with Garth Ancier and David Neuman and issued an apology that called the allegations "untrue"{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/biz/news/bryan-singer-michael-egan-sex-abuse-1201656874|title=Michael Egan, Bryan Singer's Accuser, Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Investment Fraud|last=Johnson|first=Ted|work=Variety|date=December 8, 2015|accessdate=April 16, 2018}} and paid a seven-figure settlement to both. Neither Singer nor Gary Goddard received an apology because they didn't file countersuits as Ancier and Neuman had, although "Egan’s cases against all four were framed in virtually identical complaints and centered on the same purported events, timeframes, locations and supposed trip(s) to Hawaii".{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-sex-abuse-accuser-invokes-819962|title=Hollywood Sex Abuse Accuser Invokes Fifth Amendment 400 Times in Deposition|last=Handel|first=Jonathan|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 2, 2015|accessdate=April 16, 2018}} After Egan's lawsuits were dropped, The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Berg was still "convinced of Egan’s general credibility." In 2019, The Atlantic reported that there "are reasons to believe Egan may have been abused."{{Cite web |last=Potter |first=Alex French, Maximillian |date=2019-01-23 |title='Nobody Is Going to Believe You' |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/03/bryan-singers-accusers-speak-out/580462/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}

The documentary previously named all four men in connection with the 2014 lawsuits, but was edited to remove those references.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-sex-abuse-accusers-lawyers-800601|title=Hollywood Sex Abuse Accuser's Lawyers Admit Filing "Untrue and Provably False" Claims|last=Handel|first=Jonathan|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 6, 2015|accessdate=April 13, 2018}}