Based on real experiences, ‘Look what you did’ is a short film, produced in-house by Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies’ Digital Media Team that highlights the work of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in helping three victims of rape and sexual assault. 

The film was released at the launch of Rape: Time to Stop - a joint campaign across Norfolk and Suffolk to prevent and reduce rape and sexual violence.

One of the main parts of the film is an emotive poem that is read by the three people that conveys their emotions and acts as a spoken dialogue to tell their story.

The film follows the journey that these victims take and the difficulties they were forced to face by what had happened to them, hence their narration “look what you did to me”.

The support of the SARC has helped people rebuild their life and confidence, and many victims have expressed a ‘thanks’ for the assistance they have received, hence the closing line and play on the title, “look what you did for me”.

The background music is 'Getsemani' by Ricardo Henriquez that was acquired via istock.photo.com at no cost.

Would you like to know more about the SARC? Then go behind the scenes to the film with our mini-documentary that is now available.

 

Cast and crew

Written and directed by Ian Shearman (Digital Media Officer), 'Look what you did' features actors working within the field, and volunteers supporting the 'Rape: Time to Stop' campaign.

Lily Betts, a student in music and musical theatre, plays ‘Chrissie’, a young woman on a night out who is raped. The film starts with her being taken to the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in a police car.

We don’t see what happened, where it happened or who did it. However her narration via the poem suggests it was someone she had spent some time with, maybe a date, as the man who did it would say that she actually ‘welcomed his touch, drank too much, dressed as such’ – these are addressing common myths when it comes to rape.

This young woman represents the higher risk group of 17-24 when it comes to victims of rape and sexual assault. The SARC provides 24hour support and she is met at the centre in the early hours of the morning by one of the crisis workers.

Sexual assault and rape affect both male and female, and can be recent incidents or historical. This is true in the case of ‘Alex’, who was sexually assaulted in the past. Alex is played by Andy Mazzei, an Advanced Sexual Health Practitioner.

We don’t know to what extent or by whom, yet his narration in the poem mentions that it is something he thinks about often, as a ‘truth from the past, never shared with friends or family’.

Whatever happened, it still affects him as he cuts himself off socially whenever he finds things too difficult to cope with. Searching online for help is how he finds out about the Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

In his scenes, the case goes to court where we see him with an ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor), who based at the SARC provide support for victims throughout the process.

Lucy Baxter, a High School student, plays ‘Melissa’, a young school girl who has been raped. We don’t know who by, but from the poem, we know that it was someone who she saw friendship with, and her parents felt trust. This could indicate a friend of the family, a relative or someone at her school.

The fact that she faces a forensic examination indicates that whatever occurred had happened in the last seven days – the ‘forensic window’.

 

Supporting cast

The short film has seen a collaboration of Norfolk and Suffolk with staff from both constabularies featuring in it.

• Sgt Tony Abigail (Norfolk Officer)
• Diana Baxter (Norfolk SARC manager / crisis worker)
• Denise Wells (Norfolk crisis worker)
• Karen Harris (Suffolk crisis worker)
• Amanda Hazell (Suffolk ISVA)
• Dr Judith Thomas (Forensic Physician)