Actresses hit streets of Hampstead

A COMIC film aimed at the older female audience is being shot in Hampstead’s bohemian streets.
Starring Toyah Willcox, The Power of Three centres on three women in their 50s who team up to transform their lives and fulfil their lifelong ambitions.
Filmed primarily in Hampstead and Belsize Park, the film promises to showcase the highlights of north London as well as celebrating the power of friendship and community.
Producer Ann Cameron said: “The story is all about our shared experiences. We’ve all been there, and we look at life in the same way.”
Ms Willcox plays Michelle, a struggling film director who is finding it hard to crack the highly competitive old boys’ network of the film business.
Friends Olivia and Lizzie, played by award-winning actresses Brümilda van Rensburg and Robin Craig, decide to pool their strengths to help Michelle realise her dreams.
In a case of art imitating life, the plot bears an unmistakable resemblance to the making of the film where the trio of female producers Ms Cameron, Yvonne Deutschman and Thereza Snyman decided it was time to tackle the lack of feature films portraying older women.
Ms Cameron, originally from Canada, said: “We realised that no-one was making movies for people like us, so the inevitable question was – what are we going to do about it?”
In the past five years they have worked to turn an original idea into a script, canvassing support among fellow film professionals and coming up with the simple concept of dividing out proceeds according to the contributions.
South African entrepeneur Ms Snyman said: “Everyone involved takes ownership of the project, because they are the project.
“The enthusiasm and commitment is amazing.”
After the groundbreaking success of Calendar Girls and Mamma Mia, two films that dared to cast older actresses in leading roles as opposed to the usual character parts, it seems the film industry is finally grasping the potential of older women.
Ms Deutschman said: “If we’d been doing this two years ago we wouldn’t have had as much interest, but now the over-50s is rapidly becoming a proven film-going audience.”
The Power of Three will premiere in London in the autumn.
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Acid vandals target community angel

AN ELDERLY Hampstead Garden Suburb woman fears she is being targeted in a spiteful hate campaign after vandals covered her car in acid and grafitti.
Mary Mulvey, of Queen’s Court, Hampstead Way, woke up to find her red Peugeot ruined after a corrosive substance was poured all over it. Graffiti had also been sprayed across the back and sides.
With much of the paintwork ruined, the car has effectively been written off.
The incident is just the latest and most serious in a spate of attacks targeting the 72-year old.
Ms Mulvey discovered the vandalised car last Thursday morning.
She said: “ I felt sick when I saw it. This was not just a little bit of graffiti – it was a nasty, aggressive attack.
“No other car nearby was touched. So it looks like mine was deliberately targeted.
“I don’t know why they did it. Perhaps they just wanted to deprive me of my car for the holiday weekend.”
The retired psychologist had been planning to drive down to visit her daughter in Colchester for a long weekend and a special treat – a double celebration of Easter and her birthday. But the trip had to be cancelled.
Shocked friend and neighbour Monika Sokol said: “It is very nasty. The car is absolutely destroyed.”
On at least four occasions in the last 18 months, Ms Mulvey has found spit on her windscreen and back windows. She suspects these incidents may be linked to the attack last week.
Although the area is largely peaceful and friendly, Ms Mulvey believes some people have made an enemy of her.
On various occasions she has reported recent verbal abuse and aggressive anti-social behaviour to the police.
But she is generally popular in the neighbourhood where she has lived for the past decade, and has become known for her kindness to neighbours and for her community work.
Miss Sokol added: “She is a an extremely helpful person who is always helping out in the community.
“She will drive neighbours to the hospital or shops, and she is always listening to other people’s problems and giving out advice.
“I have never met anyone like her before. She is a little angel.”
A Barnet police spokesman said: “Officers investigated but there were no witnesses or CCTV and no opportunity for any forensic investigation. The victim has been referred to victim support for further advice and assistance.”
Police are appealing for any further witnesses or information on the incident.
Anyone who can help should contact Barnet Police on 0300 123 121 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Shut escalator puts station users at risk

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Swiss Cottage Tube

FED-UP commuters have blasted Transport for London after enduring months of misery at Swiss Cottage Tube station.
Repair works have forced the closure of the downward escalator – funnelling people down a narrow staircase instead.
And the chaos looks set to continue until at least September as three-month repair work begins on the second escalator in June.
Those carrying heavy objects or pushing children’s prams are the most infuriated by the disruption.
Mum Eva Kusio, 35, said: “It’s always a problem for me as I have to carry a pushchair and it takes a very long time to walk down the steps with it.
“I end up being forced to use Finchley Road tube station instead as it has a working escalator.”
Regular station user Andy Verma added: “It’s very inconvenient, especially for a lady with a pram or people carrying heavy luggage. The tube fare’s gone up as well so there’s no reason for them to not sort this out.”
Elderly people and those with disabilities also had difficulty getting down the staircase – with many having to use alternative methods of transport instead.
Ben Whitaker wrote in to the Ham & High to say: “I know at least one elderly person with arthritic knees who as a result has been unable to get to work by Underground.
She wrote to Mayor Boris Johnson a month ago asking him to investigate and get action. She has to date had no reply – not even an acknowledgement.”
Even able-bodied passengers face problems, with some commuters saying the situation is becoming dangerous.
Richard Friend, 26, said: “When you’re trying to walk down the steps quickly to catch a train there are often people blocking the way as they’re slowly carrying pushchairs down, and you can’t really push past them.”
An elderly gentleman passing through the station, who asked not to be named, added: “It’s a nuisance, and has been going on for weeks and weeks. But that’s normal for London, isn’t it?”
A TfL spokeswoman said: “Tube Lines have been refurbishing the escalators at Swiss Cottage station as part of TfL’s multi-billion pound investment programme to transform the tube and have taken longer than planned to finish the work.
“We have urged Tube Lines to complete the work as soon as possible and on time, on the first escalator in May.
“We have also sought assurances that work on the second escalator will start in June and be finished on schedule in September.
“The work on the escalator involves the replacement of all moving parts, including steps and handrails.
“For safety reasons much of this work can only be carried out at night.
“Additionally, a lot of the parts are very large and cannot be brought into the station during the day.”