“I too have suffered from more than one incident, from more than one insinuation”; “I owe the darkest time of my life to that person”; “I know what this person is. Unfortunately, I found out after he destroyed me inside.” These are some of the comments received Canarian actresses accused of allegations sexual abuse and psychological for the director of Canario Armando Ravelo. And they’re framed in his broadcast Multidisciplinary creator of Gran Canaria Koset Quintana Last Saturday on social networks She claims Ravelo made sexual advances towards her when she was 15. In one of the conversations in 2015, “Do you like doing bad things?” he asks; In the same dialogue, he blurts out, “I’m too old to do other bad things with you,” before adding, “Well thought out, that wouldn’t be bad either.” “Not only did he encourage me to have sex with him, but he also talked to me about drugs and porn.”Quintana quotes in his publication.
The complaint arose when three women accused Spanish filmmaker Carlos Vermut of “sexual violence”. CountryFor events occurring between May 2014 and February 2022, the author’s Magical Girl so called He took advantage of his recognition and position Having violent sexual intercourse in the cinema without their consent. Quintero admits that reading this report prompted him to make this publication. “I think I speak for many when I say we are fed up with so many men in high places using their power to rape, abuse and manipulate others. In this case, there is a film director who lives in the Canary Islands and is supported by the government.“, he started his duty.
Quintero met Ravelo during a workshop at a video store, where the filmmaker was giving a talk on the history of celluloid. “From there there was an occasional conversation I just wanted to be seen and trusted with something.“For my last research work, recalls Quintero, who graduated with honors in Dramatic Arts in 2022. In these conversations, the director is surprised that she is 15 years old, offers her a role in a television series or compliments her. : ” This photo is very… how to say it . It’s sexy and you know it.”
Shortly after uploading it to their network, The post sparked hundreds of comments showing their support for the creator and also others actresses said they were pained by Ravelo’s behavior. “Dear, we had different experiences, but I know what this person is. Unfortunately, I discovered this after he destroyed me inside, thankfully I didn’t really know how a part of me saved me and how I was able to get out of this situation. The black hole inside what was there”, Canary Islands He quotes Lanzarote actress Marta Viera, who has been awarded the Best Performance Replica Award by the Performing Arts Societies Union three times.
Award-winning actress Laura Perdomo reveals she suffered “years of abuse” from Ravelo. “Not everything goes for a role on a project. (…) It’s not easy, but you have to talk and trust that everything will fall into place,” he says.
“I’ve also had multiple incidents. An implication that I reject, of course. Actually I reported Since he was always in my inner circle, I always blamed him and refused to work with him again,” said actress and singer Nati Vera.
Theater and film actress Sigrid Ojel thanked Quintero “deeply” for his broadcast and stated that she knew “that character” well and that this character was good. “I will never work with such a person again”. Minerva Santana, who is both a reporter, anchor, and actress, supported “every single one” of Quintero’s words and admitted: The “darkest period” of his life stems from Ravelo. “And yes the word is destroy because it destroys what it touches. “Fortunately, we’re a long way from that right now, and we know it’s not ours, it’s not ours, and it never will be ours.”
But the testimonies didn’t just come from women. Camera operator Aridane Díaz revealed that the “worst work experience” of his life was with Ravelo in 2020. “I had a disastrous experience in 2020 (the worst work experience of my life). Terrible. I did not like what happened, the treatment, the values, the methods, the intentions…”
Quintero reveals that his testimony is only “the tip of the iceberg.”“because many experiences have come to him in the same sense.. “The things that reached me the most were the accounts of harassment on the networks and also psychological harassment,” he adds. Considering this, it has been recommended that all complaints be channelised. Women Filmmakers and Audiovisual Media Association (CIMA). The Canary Islands’ official acting school was already warning about Ravelo. “Meetings are not held in bars. You don’t need to go to anyone’s house at certain hours to cast or answer the phone,” says one of the centre’s teachers.
“He always offers you jobs. Sometimes he creates suitable characters for a girl to work for. Then a conquest begins. He started projects just to be with a girl“, says an actress who worked with Ravelo and preferred to remain anonymous. “The bad thing is that there comes a time when you feel that you are being harassed by him, and this is a form of manipulation,” she adds, explaining in her particular case that it is more than the alleged psychological abuse He suffered a lot. Quintero’s broadcast meant “salvation”.
Ravelo admitted he had “very ugly attitudes towards women”
Ravelo, who was deleted from social media, admitted the facts revealed by Quintana in his social media post. “I accept this and suffer the consequences. I met that girl in a workshop and I think she is an adult. When you tell me you’re 15, I think it’s a joke. I’m not trying to justify myself. The speech is pathetic and sad, although it does have some context. But I assume it’s misplaced“.
Filmmaker admits he’s alive “very ugly attitudes towards women“He denies using violence, however, in the way he establishes relationships and maintains contact. “I have never used violence against women, I have never forced myself on a woman. “I’ve never done this, and whoever wants to prove it, we’ll go to court,” he continues. Even though he’s had “relationships with actresses, because after all, they’re the people you’re with.” She refuses to be offered a role in any of her projects in exchange for sex.. “Never. In life. I categorically deny this.”
In this sense, He assures that he has changed his acting style with actresses and women in recent years. “I took the situation into my own hands and tried to change it. I do therapy.” And he argues, “It is good and necessary for these things to come to light, for those who did wrong to come to light, as in my case.”
The director apologizes for his behavior towards women. “I apologize to the community, especially for the first part of my career. I’m clear that this was necessary for me. And I appreciate it.”.
Supported by public institutions
Ravelo’s last work Once upon a time in the Canary Islands, has the support of the regional government, the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, the RTVC and the municipal council of Gáldar (Gran Canaria) and San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Buenavista del Norte, El Rosario and La Orotava from Tenerife. The feature film, about the reality of immigrants coming to the Islands, is one of the nominees for the Best Film category at the 2024 Goya Awards.
Ravelo’s career cinema Started in 2011 and a year later he created the Bentejuí project, an attempt to create cultural products with the main theme of the History of the Canary Islands, starting with a short film. Ancitis (2012), which tells the story of a native leader’s resistance against Spanish conquests and follows the brief process mah (2015), theater works His first feature film is Darmo with Sara and the Cave of the Ancient Canaries, Ancestors and the 7 Islands Tribe. He has produced a total of eleven audiovisual works, three of which are in the field of theater, and published a book. He also received many awards.