Look what you did

Synopsis

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 24 hour 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)

Chrissie:

Look what you did to me? In a hurry to steal my dignity.

Enslaved, I caved, to your depraved attack on all that makes me

You'll say I welcomed your touch, drank too much, dressed as such, to leave you in no doubt. 

But no means no, I tried to show, but my pleas, your ignorance drowned out.

Alex:

Insular I've become, I drink myself numb. Look what you did to me?

Senses dull, I mull on a truth from the past, never shared with friends or family

So why now should I speak? And who do I tell? 

To relive a time, a crime, a moment of hell? 

Melissa:

I can't sleep, I can't eat. My innocent eyes saw friendship. My parents felt trust. 

Yet I learned, as your intentions turned, that all you saw was lust. 

At school, in life, I'm not old enough to sit and take a GCSE,

But today, I'll face an examination. Look what you did to me? 

Chrissie:

My clothes took, a closer look, my say, his DNA.

Alex:

I talk, I cry, I'm not judged in the words I have to say

Melissa:

To talk things over is a step that I know I need to take, 

to make, to help break a life of feeling guilt. 

Chrissie:

Your words, actions and support,

on these my life can be re-built. 

Alex:

This brings relief, maybe justice, the jury will decide

But at last, the shackles of my past, I can finally cast aside. 

Is it strange that I changed, from what people used to see? 

Back to whom it was, that I used to be. 

So thanks. 

Chrissie: 

Thanks,

Melissa:

Thanks... Look what you did for me.