The new film "She Said" is based on The New York Times investigation into Harvey Weinstein that helped fuel the #MeToo movement. Investigative journalist Jodi Kantor, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her work, and the actress who plays her in the film, Zoe Kazan, join "CBS Mornings" to talk about the filmmaking process with Gayle King. Photo Credit: CBS News

‘She Said’ – Interview:

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CBS Mornings – Inside the Stirring Drama She Said

In an interview on CBS Mornings, celebrated anchor Gayle King had the distinct privilege of sitting down with two prominent figures in the world of journalism and cinema. Investigative journalist Jodi Kantor and the talented actress Zoe Kazan, who portrayed Kantor in the 2022 film She Said, came together to delve into the filmmaking process and the transformative impact of their work. This compelling conversation provided unique insights into the creation of the film and the enduring significance of the New York Times investigation into Harvey Weinstein.

**Introduction:**

The interview opened with Gayle King warmly welcoming Jodi Kantor and Zoe Kazan to the CBS Mornings studio. King set the tone by acknowledging the profound impact of their work, which played a pivotal role in sparking the #MeToo movement, and expressing her eagerness to discuss their collaboration on She Said.

**The Making of “She Said”:**

The conversation naturally segued into the heart of the matter—the creation of She Said. Zoe Kazan, a talented actress known for her versatility, shared her experience of stepping into the shoes of Jodi Kantor. She described the intensive research she undertook to understand Kantor’s character, including reading Kantor’s writings and observing her mannerisms. Kazan expressed her immense respect for Kantor and her determination to do justice to her role.

Jodi Kantor, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, discussed her involvement in the filmmaking process and the importance of accuracy. She emphasized the significance of the film staying true to the source material and the real-life events. Kantor provided insights into the collaborative efforts between the filmmakers and herself to ensure that the essence of the investigation remained intact.

**The Emotional Toll of the Investigation:**

Gayle King sensitively addressed the emotional toll that investigative journalism, especially one of this magnitude, can take on a journalist. Jodi Kantor shared her experiences of interviewing survivors and grappling with the weight of their stories. She spoke candidly about the challenges and rewards of telling such deeply personal and often painful narratives.

Zoe Kazan, reflecting on her portrayal of Kantor, spoke about the responsibility she felt in capturing the emotional nuances of the character. She delved into the personal journey of discovery that came with inhabiting a role rooted in real-life events. The conversation highlighted the emotional authenticity that both the journalist and the actress brought to their respective roles.

**The Impact of Their Work:**

One of the most poignant moments in the interview revolved around the transformative impact of Kantor and Twohey’s investigation. Gayle King pointed out the profound cultural shift that their work triggered. Kantor shared her sense of pride and the feeling of having contributed to meaningful change in society. She acknowledged the power of journalism in driving social progress.

The new film "She Said" is based on The New York Times investigation into Harvey Weinstein that helped fuel the #MeToo movement. Investigative journalist Jodi Kantor, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her work, and the actress who plays her in the film, Zoe Kazan, join "CBS Mornings" to talk about the filmmaking process with Gayle King. Photo Credit: CBS News
The New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey cover the Dec. 14 issue of Variety. Photo Credit: The New York Times Company

Zoe Kazan echoed these sentiments, underscoring the role of the #MeToo movement in creating a safe space for survivors to share their stories. She emphasized that their film served as a reminder of the importance of holding those in power accountable and the role that storytelling plays in affecting change.

The new film "She Said" is based on The New York Times investigation into Harvey Weinstein that helped fuel the #MeToo movement. Investigative journalist Jodi Kantor, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her work, and the actress who plays her in the film, Zoe Kazan, join "CBS Mornings" to talk about the filmmaking process with Gayle King. Photo Credit: CBS News
#MeToo is a social movement and awareness campaign against sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and rape culture, in which people publicize their experiences of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. The phrase "Me Too" was initially used in this context on social media in 2006, on Myspace, by sexual assault survivor and activist Tarana Burke. The hashtag #MeToo was used starting in 2017 as a way to draw attention to the magnitude of the problem. "Me Too" empowers sexually assaulted people (especially young and vulnerable women of color) through empathy, solidarity, and strength in numbers, by visibly demonstrating how many have experienced sexual assault and harassment, especially in the workplace. Following the exposure of numerous sexual-abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein in October 2017, the movement began to spread virally as a hashtag on social media. On October 16, 2017, American actress Alyssa Milano posted on Twitter, "If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote 'Me too' as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem," saying that she got the idea from a friend. A number of high-profile posts and responses from American celebrities Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Judd, Jennifer Lawrence, and Uma Thurman, among others, soon followed. Widespread media coverage and discussion of sexual harassment, particularly in Hollywood, led to high-profile terminations from positions held, as well as criticism and backlash. After millions of people started using the phrase and hashtag in this manner in English, the expression began to spread to dozens of other languages. The scope has become somewhat broader with this expansion, however, and Burke has more recently referred to it as an international movement for justice for marginalized people. After the hashtag #MeToo went viral in late 2017, Facebook reported that almost half of its American users were friends with someone who said they had been sexually assaulted or harassed. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Time Magazine cover of the #Metoo Movement and the women who broke their silence and launched a movement. Photo composite by Billy & Hells for TIME. Swift photographed Nov. 16 in Los Angeles; Pascual, Iwu, Judd, Fowler and Anonymous photographed Nov. 19 in San Francisco. Photo Credit: TIME Magazine
Harvey Weinstein exits a courthouse after turning himself in on rape charges in New York, New York. Photo Credit: Google Images

**Balancing Truth and Drama:**

A significant aspect of the interview explored the challenges of balancing truth with the cinematic demands of storytelling. Zoe Kazan discussed the fine line between accurately representing real-life events and maintaining the narrative flow of a film. She praised the filmmakers for their efforts in staying true to the source material while crafting a compelling cinematic experience.

The new film "She Said" is based on The New York Times investigation into Harvey Weinstein that helped fuel the #MeToo movement. Investigative journalist Jodi Kantor, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her work, and the actress who plays her in the film, Zoe Kazan, join "CBS Mornings" to talk about the filmmaking process with Gayle King. Photo Credit: CBS News
29 November 2022, Berlin: Director Maria Schrader comes to the premiere of her film "She Said". Photo Credit: Paul Zinken/picture alliance via Getty Images

Jodi Kantor offered her perspective on this issue, acknowledging that certain dramatic elements were added to enhance the storytelling process. She emphasized that the heart of the story—the abuse and the bravery of survivors—remained faithfully depicted in the film.

The new film "She Said" is based on The New York Times investigation into Harvey Weinstein that helped fuel the #MeToo movement. Investigative journalist Jodi Kantor, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her work, and the actress who plays her in the film, Zoe Kazan, join "CBS Mornings" to talk about the filmmaking process with Gayle King. Photo Credit: CBS News
The various female victims of Harvey Weinstein, it is not all of them, just a select few of the women he abused sexually and harassed for decades with impunity. Photo Credit: Google Images

**Fidelity to Source Material:**

The discussion transitioned into the faithfulness of She Said to Kantor and Twohey’s book and the real-life events. Kantor highlighted the importance of preserving the integrity of their reporting, as it was a critical part of their contribution to the cultural conversation. She commended the filmmakers for their commitment to accuracy.

"She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement" is a 2019 nonfiction book written by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, two New York Times investigative reporters who exposed Harvey Weinstein's history of abuse and sexual misconduct against women, a catalyst for the burgeoning MeToo movement. The book was published on September 10, 2019 by Penguin Press. Photo Credit: Amazon
The new film "She Said" is based on The New York Times investigation into Harvey Weinstein that helped fuel the #MeToo movement. Investigative journalist Jodi Kantor, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her work, and the actress who plays her in the film, Zoe Kazan, join "CBS Mornings" to talk about the filmmaking process with Gayle King. Photo Credit: CBS News
Natasha Braier directing the cinematography in "She Said" (2022) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures

Zoe Kazan expressed her admiration for Kantor and Twohey’s journalistic work and the opportunity to honor their achievements on screen. She shared her joy in participating in a project that had such a profound impact on the world.

The new film "She Said" is based on The New York Times investigation into Harvey Weinstein that helped fuel the #MeToo movement. Investigative journalist Jodi Kantor, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her work, and the actress who plays her in the film, Zoe Kazan, join "CBS Mornings" to talk about the filmmaking process with Gayle King. Photo Credit: CBS News
(L to R) Megan Twohey, Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, and Jodi Kantor in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)

**Awards and Recognition:**

Gayle King wrapped up the interview by acknowledging the critical acclaim that She Said had received. She highlighted the British Film Awards nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress and the Golden Globe nomination for Carey Mulligan, celebrating the film’s impact in bringing the story to a broader audience.

Jodi Kantor and Zoe Kazan expressed their appreciation for the recognition the film had received, emphasizing the importance of continuing to shed light on issues of abuse, harassment, and the power of journalism in affecting change.

The new film "She Said" is based on The New York Times investigation into Harvey Weinstein that helped fuel the #MeToo movement. Investigative journalist Jodi Kantor, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her work, and the actress who plays her in the film, Zoe Kazan, join "CBS Mornings" to talk about the filmmaking process with Gayle King. Photo Credit: CBS News

**Conclusion:**

The CBS Mornings interview with Jodi Kantor and Zoe Kazan was a powerful exploration of the filmmaking process behind She Said and the indelible impact of their investigative work. Their candid discussions on the emotional toll of the investigation, the importance of accuracy, and the transformative power of storytelling painted a vivid picture of their collaborative efforts to bring their story to the world. This insightful conversation affirmed the enduring relevance of their work and the significance of telling stories that matter.

You can watch the full CBS Mornings interview with Kantor and Kazan below:

Directed by Maria Schrader, Screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Based on "She Said" by Jodi Kantor, and Megan Twohey, Produced by Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner, Starring: Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton, Ashley Judd, with Cinematography by Natasha Braier, Edited by Hansjörg Weißbrich, with Music by Nicholas Britell, Production companies: Annapurna Pictures, and Plan B Entertainment, and Distributed by Universal Pictures. (2022)

She Said is available now on Prime Video

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