Actors and former workers testify for the first time against the actions of former boss Dan Schneider
The entertainment industry leaves its mark on everyone who steps foot in it, and for many, that mark is tragic. The documentary ‘Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV’ is now available on Max México and with it, the tortuous story that investigates the turbulent behind the scenes of Nickelodeon during the 90s and 2000s.
The documentary, which will also be released in Spain, is a five-episode documentary miniseries directed by Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz, and is loosely based on an investigative report by Business Insider. It features the presence and statements of a good number of former Nickelodeon actors, former employees of the network and family members, and focuses on the figure of Dan Schneider, who at the time was the main culprit of everything that is related.
20 years of silence
Originally the “golden boy” of Nickelodeon, Dan Schneider was one of Nickelodeon’s most valuable producers during the 90s and 2000s, responsible for the creation of series such as ‘Zoey 101’, ‘Drake & Josh’ and ‘The Amanda Show’, and also the casting of some of the most recognized child actors of that time.
Among the accusations recounted in the documentary are harsh stories of mistreatment of children in the programsfrom giving them unpleasant tests in ‘On Air Dare’ such as being smeared in peanut butter and licked by dogs, to sexualizing them within the fiction of their series, with children making suggestive postures or gestures, and jokes of a clearly adult nature.
The sexualization of child actors was such that it was a open secret within Nickelodeon and caused great conflict within the network’s team, with some members verbalizing about it and Schneider denying the accusations while others willingly participated in the creation of this content. The documentary also explores the dangerous work environment beyond Schneider, filled with employees who included people with sexual histories like Brian Peck.
Although it is a very complete documentary on the subject, There are a good number of actors who did not want to participate for fear of reprisals.demonstrating the strength of this type of figure even years after they have stopped doing harm.
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