Actor Mackenzie Crook came face-to-face with protesting train drivers at the premiere of his new film on railway suicides. Members of the drivers' union Aslef handed out leaflets as Three And Out, featuring the star who played Gareth in The Office, was shown in London's Leicester Square. The film is being advertised in newspapers and at London Underground stations, sometimes on walls next to the spot where the front of the tube trains stop, which has led to complaints from staff. As Crook stood on the red carpet answering questions from journalists, one protester shouted: "Is there any comedy in dying under a train?" Crook responded: "Have you seen the movie - then you don't know what it's about." The protester, who later declined to give his name, offered to accompany Crook into the cinema but Crook said he did not think he would be allowed. The protester said the film had upset a lot of people but Crook argued they had not seen it. Earlier Crook had described the "great script" and said within the first five pages he was hooked. He said the controversy had surprised him, and that some of what had been said was unfounded. He said he hoped that when people saw the film they would realise there was no controversy, but he said of the drivers: "They are quite right to come down and point that someone falling under a train is distressing." Another protester, who asked to remain anonymous, said such incidents had happened to him while he was driving a train. He said he had suffered nightmares for six months and the incident had affected his family "terribly". He said of the film: "To me this is treated lightly, it's the wrong subject." District organiser of Aslef, Steve Grant, said that the protest was dignified, adding: "We don't want to disturb people." Speaking about the effect of death on drivers he said: "Some people take it as part of the job, some people can't cope mentally." Drivers suffered flashbacks, sweats, and were unable to do their jobs. Mr Grant added: "We don't find the subject humorous at all." He said he didn't want to stop people's enjoyment but he was asking that the film did not influence vulnerable people. The film's producers, Worldwide Bonus Entertainment, have said in a statement that it was disappointing that Aslef reacted in this way. They said filming was carried out in close co-operation with London Underground, to ensure that drivers and others who could identify with elements of Three And Out were considered throughout the production process. They continued: "Given this, we fail to see why Aslef has chosen to voice its concerns now. In our view, Aslef's objections to the film effectively amounts to censorship."
