Mi Vida Loca

Hello there

I think I can just about make you out in that dusty corner which was behind the Christmas tree.  Never mind, I'll get the vacuum out and then you'll be all sparkly and new again.

Anyway, here's to 2013. It couldn't be any weirder than 2012, could it?

Well, life's funny little seesaw really went to town on me last year: professionally - higher than mean average, personally - lower than sea level. In fact I nearly drowned in emotion, but hey - I'm still here.

So, 2013? The year that all changes. A big huge shift in everything. I have intentionally cut back on projects as I have come to realise there is only one me and I can't actually do everything at once - I certainly can't work with/for others on a promise of finance 'at some point'.  I do actually need to eat and The Kid needs shoes. More than anything, I know what I can do; I know my abilities and limits; I also know my worth.

The first time this "year-not-planned-out" struck me was when someone asked me what I was kicking the new year off with - I replied with a "Ummm, we'll see" and a shrug.  Shock, horror.  Was I 'just' becoming a Mummy?  Ummm, no - although that would be quite enough on its own. I am fortunate to have some amazing work stuff going on, however, I have made a lot of big adjustments but actually, they work and are pretty good, all the same. I have cut away a lot of the driftwood that has weighed me down or held me back over the years and now every move I make has to count personally and professionally. It's all for me and The Kid, and we're quite a team.

I was going to write a hugely long post about work/life balance, life losses through over-work, working 'clever' and how sometimes PEOPLE are more important, but you know what - that lovely guy, Philip Bloom, beat me to it.  When I first read his post I could have thought, "Oh bugger I was going to say lots of that..." but instead I smiled and said, "Cheers, Phil - I'm going to write a quick 2013 post, switch off and then play Lego with my little boy." Thanks, mate!

Happy New Year all.  Make this the beginning of your new era. I know I will.

Lx

Your Knowledge Required!

A very quick peek above the parapet from me today, as I have a question to ask - 'tis one I have wondered for a long time, but finding the answer has now become paramount.

A little background to my confusion: when I worked for BBC Scotland one of my favourite times was working with Comedy Development & Production, with my most enjoyable but toughest experience being "Rab C Nesbitt". These many series were obviously written in full dialect having been originally aimed at an entirely indigenous audience demographic.

So my learned friends, in general terms...local dialect in screenplays: good or bad? Win or Fail? Or personal preference?

If you are another writer, director, producer, exec, script reader, script editor, story outliner, scheduler, head of programming, or just plain know the answer, please leave a comment below or tweet me on Twitter. I'll be checking back in later in the day.

Thanks in advance.