‘Quiet on Set’ featured writer dishes on Hollywood’s ‘jerkish behavior’

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Hollywood is a forever-changing landscape, as highlighted in the last decade with the #MeToo movement and, more recently, the long-running SAG-AFTRA and writers’ strikes.

Earlier this year, “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” shined a spotlight on a Hollywood era that came before these landmarks, but not by much. An acclaimed writer and producer who was featured in “Quiet on Set” recently opened up to Spectrum News about her career in the industry, dating back to the Nickelodeon days she describes in the docuseries.

“Quiet on Set” recently made waves after featuring interviews with writers — including Stratton — who describe toxic culture behind several children’s shows from the late 1990s and early 2000s. Stratton wrote for “The Amanda Show” under creator Dan Schneider, who has since announced he’s suing the docuseries’ producers for defamation.

“I’m glad I did it. I know I would have regretted it if I wasn’t a part of it,” Stratton said. “I did think other (cough cough male) writers would come forward, but alas, just the two women.”

Stratton has remained active in the industry since her time at Nickelodeon. And when it comes to how executives and higher-ups treat their staff, she says it depends, even in more recent times.

“Some of the more egregious stuff in terms of abuse has thankfully fallen out of fashion,” she said. “Also, a lot of Zoom writers rooms are still happening, so it’s harder for people’s jerkish behavior to have too much of a negative impact — you can always turn off your camera and say you’re going to the bathroom when you need a break from that fool.”

Now, Stratton is ready to move beyond the headlines with her short film “The Runt,” which will be featured at the Dance With Films festival in Los Angeles later this month. It takes place in 1979 and follows a tween girl who embarks on the sort of quest one might call “timeless”: to be seen skating with a boy to prove her maturity to her classmates.

“Her emotional journey is about trying to take control of her narrative,” said Stratton. “I love that the kids nowadays go to their school dances with or without dates. Back then, you didn’t get to go to a dance unless you were asked by a boy. It was humiliating. When I didn’t get asked to the Homecoming Dance my sophomore year, a group of us gals went to see Cyndi Lauper in concert. Taking something humiliating and turning it into something amazing is a theme in my life and in this short.”

Making it in Hollywood is said to be a tough trek, and the inspirational Stratton was kind enough to offer parting words of wisdom for all the budding writers and creatives out there.

“Write what inspires you when you can,” she said. “Be flexible and collaborative. Be ready for daily rejection that they’ll say isn’t personal, but it always is. This isn’t to dissuade you; this is so that you know you’re not alone when it happens to you. Cultivate a like-minded group of friends who do what you do and support them with all your heart. Use your pain and channel it into your work. And most importantly, take every opportunity to become friends with the children of celebrities.”