David Schwimmer
of "Friends"
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VIDEO ON SITE
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Friends Star: 'Child Abuse Inspired My Film'
David Schwimmer says he was inspired to make a film about paedophilia partly because two of his ex-girlfriends were abused as children.
"Trust" tells the story about a teenage girl who is groomed over the internet by an older man posing as a young boy.
He says, "I want to raise awareness about what's going on… I've had two former girlfriends - long-term relationships - both victims of child sex assault and one also later a victim of date rape.
"I have several friends that were victims of child sexual abuse. Unfortunately I know a lot of people in my life who have been victimised."
The Friends actor turned director believes the internet has made abuse easier by giving predators direct access to children. He thinks that it poses a significant and growing threat to young people's safety.
He said: "It's a problem. The internet is used more and more by paedophiles. |
"Law enforcement is only just catching up with the technology to combat crimes. All the FBI agents I speak to describe predators out there as a tsunami.
"That they are trying to fight an impossible tidal wave of sex offenders and they're only doing what they can."
Paedophiles are not - I believe - curable, so what do you do with them when they are back in community? I would like to have the right to know if a sex offender is living in the apartment next door.
David Schwimmer |
Schwimmer has been a decade-long supporter of rape charities, meeting and speaking with dozens of victims and their families over the years about how they have overcome their ordeals.
Trust stars Clive Owen and Catherine Keener and tells the story of a 14-year-old girl Annie, whose normal and loving family is torn apart after she is raped by a paedophile she meets in a chat room. It is an uncompromising and harrowing account of child rape and its aftermath.
Schwimmer says that he worries about how he will keep his daughter Cleo - born in May - safe.
He said: "I'm going to be like every other dad out there. Of course I'll be concerned about my daughter's safety and well-being and when she's 14 technology will have revolutionised two or three times over so there is only so much I can worry about now.
"My job now is to love and support her and help her be the most confident young person out there."
Schwimmer is a supporter of Megan's Law and says that, although it is contentious in Britain, people should have the right to know if a sex offender is living nearby.
"Paedophiles are not - I believe - curable, so what do you do with them when they are back in community?
"I know it is a hot topic but I would like to have the right to know if a sex offender is living in the apartment next door."
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Showbiz-News/David-Schwimmer-On-New-Film
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