New Girl in the Office, The
New Girl in the Office, The is a short film from ca. 1960 released on 16mm. It is held in the Prelinger Archives collection.
Drama about the hiring of the first white-collar African American worker at a manufacturing plant.
00:02:41 CU woman's face, laughing. Group of women talking, they turn,
look left. Two men talking, also turn. conversation ends, CU
woman's face, smile fading. Black woman faces them.
00:34:24 Woman hanging up coat at work, faces camera, she fixes hair in
mirror. Hands put paper cups of coffee on table, MS. Man tells
woman secretary to hurry because his coffee's cold. She replies,
sarcastically "No wonder I love to get up in the morning... I've
got such a nice boss to look forward to". WORKPLACE. SEXISM.
01:48:45 Office meeting. Woman / secretary takes notes, men argue
about hiring black woman. One man says "We are inventing problems
to hide our own prejudices", bigot says "I'm don't think I'm a
bigot". Boss says no government contracts unless companies show
they are non-discriminatory. "She's got to be so likable that
any white girl will think twice before she starts any trouble".
Meeting ends, men suddenly notice the woman taking notes.
RACISM. HIRING PRACTICES. MANAGERS. SEGREGATION.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.
05:49:29 Group of women argue about hiring black woman, a few say they
will quit.
07:18:66 Black secretary, pegboard in bg. Black man / boss invites
woman into office. Venetian blind lighting. Woman explains difficult
time her family had when she went to school at night, working
during day. Face falls when she hears of her new job
possibility. "Maybe things are changing", says encouraging but
naive boss. CU woman's eyes, tense. Woman expresses fear at
being HUMAN GUINEA PIG. "I have nothing to lose... except a job
and about 10 feet of pride".
12:18:95 (expressionistic bar scene, men with backs to camera reflected in
mirror.) One man convinces other he has to hire black person,
it's policy. Man afraid popular white women will resign. "If
she quits, we'll see an exodus that makes the one out of Egypt
look like a quiet Sunday afternoon."
15:37:71 Black woman in office, man is patronizing. Asner / man on phone
introduced to new black worker, man freezes. CU.
17:33:80 Black family at home. Woman explains to brother and mother
about racism at work. Mother suggests woman imagined racism,
brother says mother is crazy. Mom says "What you are going through
isn't new... Nobody ever heard of a nigger working in a shop where
white girls and white women came in to buy things". Mother tells
of her lack of job opportunities growing up. Woman and mother
hug.
20:54:72 Coat rack in office, black woman says good morning but white
woman walks away. Exchange takes place in mirror. White woman
resigns. President of company's secretary feels "people need to
wake up" and move forward. Resigning woman says "I think you
understand my position", President says "I know your position, I
don't understand it". Boss's mouth slightly twitches (tic). CU
angry faces. Blinds, plants and couch in bg. Man convinces
woman to think about it, she says she is afraid she will do all
the wrong things.
26:45:27 Workplace cafeteria. President and man watching table of
women, smoking cigarettes. Chatter dies down, people turn heads
and African American woman with tray of food appears. Popular
secretary stands and glares at her, new woman passes by them,
about to cry when president of company's secretary rushes over
and greets her, invites her to eat with the other secretaries.
Woman says thank you with immense gratitude. Some mad, some
chat with new woman.
28:19:49 CU hand typing on typewriter, superimposed over chatting
women. No one quits. THE END.| New Girl in the Office, The | |
|---|---|
| Produced by | On Film, Inc. |
Production companies | On Film, Inc. |
| Distributed by | On Film, Inc. |
Release date | ca. 1960 |
Running time | 30:37 |
| Language | English |
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