This a slightly off topic post but it is relevant and I may have posted it before but please stay with me.
Some years ago I lived in a very smart apartment block in Kensington London. A two bed place..on the top floor.. Mega.. Surrounded by great restaurants, bars and shops.
At that time I was the D.o.P on a prime time show for UK TV..As usual the production company..in an attempt to keep the costs down.. had hired a very rundown studio (Abandoned factory) In a remote part of East london. To call the studio a permanent health hazard for the crew would be an understatement.. Full of bird dropping, appalling toilets etc....everything about it was wrong
It was about an hours tube ride from Kensington.
Because of the filthy conditions I chose to wear the oldest scruffiest filming clothes I had.. Raggy faded jeans.. a well worn sweater and the oldest well worn jacket that was at least 30 years old and looked it.
At wrap on a particular day I dashed across to the tube station, caught the train and made it home at about 9 pm. As I approached my apartment block a woman who looked to be in her sixties was approaching from the opposite direction. It was obvious we were aiming for the same large glass doors. I held my keys up as we closed. She ignored me and opened the door ..entered and then closed.it behind her.
Odd.. but I was cool about it. She began to walk down a quite long corridor to the elevators. I waited until she was approx half way and then went inside.The woman stopped and turned 'Who are you?'
I waved the keys 'A resident'..'I dont believe you, Ive never seen you before and a scruffy person like you would never live in this place'
I was a little shocked..but this was London and some funny folk live there.. I walked past her and arrived at the lifts . Pressed to button.The indicator said the carriage was on the top floor ..the 7th
I heard the woman behind me start to scream at the top of her voice 'RAPE..RAPE..HES RAPING ME HELP' and she kept on shouting as she threw herself ont the floor, pulling her blouse out of her skirt and kicking her legs about.. Still screaming 'RAPE' etc.
The lift was taking its time and there was no one else in the corridor..My entire life and career now hung on someone being in the lift or entering the building..A woman in obvious distress was writhing about on the floor, her clother were in disarray and and she was screaming 'RAPE'
Who would any one believe?.. the very upset woman or this very scruffy man who obviously did not live there, altho he did. If the police had been called then I would have been detained. Taken to a station to be questioned. No doubt held overnight. Would not be on set in the morning and it would soon get out that I had been arrested on suspicion of rape.. NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE.. In my business the phone would never have rung again..ever.
What should happen to a woman who does this. Should she be charged with a crime Even if I had ultimately been completely cleared the smell would have lingered forever.
Just askng
