Sometimes life serves up coincidences that you just can’t ignore.

Four years ago, I conceived a screenplay set in Iran. A story in which protests by the Iranian people evolve into full-blown revolution. With the government cracking down on communication outlets, an American reporter and an Iranian woman work together to get the word out through underground tech channels.

So as I followed the recent presidential election and the fallout of the alleged election fraud, I got chills. People taking to the streets. Protesting - in person and on blogs. Mousavi posting calls to action on his website.

The blogging and tweeting echoed the story I told in an infographic script written for the Vancouver Film School. A script forged from the research I did for my screenplay. Guess what the video was about? Iranian bloggers — and their attempts to get their voices heard. A revolution within the revolution.

Persians are an intelligent, strong, and courageous people. I am inspired by their determination to get their story out to the world. They have embraced technology in the struggle for freedom of expression in a way we take for granted in North America.

Why do you think the Iranian government has blocked SMS messaging, Facebook, Twitter, and any other means of communicating instantly to organize? Because they’re scared of the power of the people.

I’m watching the news several times a day and scrolling through heart-wrenching photographs because this story embodies everything we who live in a democracy want to stand for — a chance to be heard.

Which is exactly what my script is about. And why I continue to get chills as I watch history unfold. Life connecting with art.

Cross-platform. Convergence. New Media. The many, many terms for, let’s face it, the Internet. The film and TV industries are scrambling to figure out how to work with this brave new world.

The challenge they’re really facing is how to make money. An important challenge. One I want to figure out as well. Why? Because as a writer/producer, the potential of the web is endless. For my imagination and my control issues. (more…)

I’ve always been fascinated by Persia. A.k.a. Iran. The history is rich, the people are intelligent, and (like many countries) the government is reprehensible. That, my friends, makes for one great story.

In fact, it’s made for many great stories. I researched and wrote an action-thriller script - Conflict of Interest. The story has received a lot of praise. Unfortunately, the region isn’t the most popular spot in Hollywood right now. Very sad for them.

While I was researching the script, however, I discovered an amazing book, We are Iran: The Persian Blogs. If you think you know everything about Iranians, this book will change your mind. This is an opportunity to hear a people’s words, thoughts, and wishes… from their fingertips.

 Then I pitched the idea for a video essay to the highly-acclaimed Digital Design department at the Vancouver Film School. They accepted… and four incredibly talented students turned my Iranian Blogs script into a visual masterpiece.

In fact, it was selected to be on the impressive motionographer.com. Their work brought tears to my eyes. I hope you enjoy it, too.

You know, I had high hopes for this TV season. Joss Whedon and JJ Abrams were launching new shows. Geeks were held in high regard with Chuck and The Big Bang Theory. Even Grey’s Anatomy got its mojo back. 

My friends will tell you, I spend September and October searching for my must-watch shows. For something fresh and exciting and, OMG, even funny. They tolerate my hibernation period (I think) because they’re happy to have me wade through the silt to find the gems. After all, I’m always happy to share my plunder.

When I find a show I adore, I’m a one-woman advertising campaign. I can’t count how many people I’ve told about Life and Dexter. If they hadn’t heard of the show or were too scared to try, I had to convince them otherwise.  And I had just found my latest addiction: The Ex List. 

The Ex List had everything. Fresh setting, great premise, irreverent humour, sexy stars, incredible timing. It was the best show I had watched in ages. And I was damn well telling the world.

So, of course, CBS cancelled it.

Never mind that the show was barely advertised. Never mind that they dumped it in the black hole of television – Friday night. Never mind that in a sane universe, The Ex List would kick the Ghost Whisperer’s ass.

There are so few comedies on TV that push the boundaries of the safe, typical sit-com formula. If we’re pushing the threshold of the person we’ll elect for the highest office in the U.S., surely the networks can back an original show. I mean, really, people. Grow a pair.

After living in sweet suspension, a wee thing called a “deadline” kicked me back into writing reality. My NSI playWRITE independent design phase was rapidly running out of time. And I had a video game to create!  (more…)

During the past few weeks everything in my life has been on hold. It’s like the fates got together and realized the funniest thing to do to a workaholic writer would be to wrench control away from her on every level of her life.

I’m being a tad dramatic. But would I be a storyteller if I weren’t? (more…)

After a rough winter of writer’s strikes, lame Oscar pickings, and doom-and-gloom attitudes, spring has never been more welcome. Flowers are blooming and Hollywood is waking up. Script sales are finally rolling in. And for me? The excitement of an LA agent and a new writers group! (more…)