On the Record
A former hip hop executive decides whether to make public her rape by one of the most powerful men in the music industry.
2020 | Running Time: 1 hour 35 minutes | Rating: TV-MA
The film centers on allegations of sexual assault and harassment levied against Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons, and features interviews with some of the over 20 women who have accused him, including Sil Lai Abrams, Sherri Hines, Jenny Lumet, and Alexia Norton Jones. The documentary spends the bulk of its screen time on the story of Drew Dixon, a former A&R executive at Def Jam Records who claims that Simmons raped her in his apartment. After leaving the company to work for Arista Records, Dixon claims that music executive L.A. Reid sabotaged her career when she rejected his sexual advances. On the Record also highlights the erasure of black women’s voices from the #MeToo movement. Directors: Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering
Kirby Dick, Director
Kirby Dick is an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning documentary film director, renowned for documentaries exposing institutional sexual assault like THE HUNTING GROUND (2015) and THE INVISIBLE WAR (2012). His films include THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED (2004), which compelled the MPAA to change to the film-ratings system, and DERRIDA (2002), a portrait of the French philosopher.
Amy Ziering, Producer
Amy Ziering is an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker. She’s worked together with director Kirby Dick on several acclaimed documentaries including THE HUNTING GROUND (2015), THE INVISIBLE WAR (2012), and OUTRAGE (2009). The first film she produced was TAYLOR’S CAMPAIGN (1998), about a homeless man running for a city council seat in Santa Monica.
“Powerful, traumatic, and convincing” –Variety
“Searing and utterly credible” –US Weekly
“Absorbing and emotional”–Washington Post
“Powerful, infuriating and embattled”–Los Angeles Times
“Superb”–The New York Times