I'm Yours - Storyland drama on the pursuit of love

Writer Diandra Xavier talks about her multi-cultural background and the experiences that inspired her Storyland short film, "I'm Yours"

Zo is a solicitor in Ireland's top law firm, but she's harbouring a secret: she's engaged to a man she's never met, who her Pakistani parents have picked. Zo decides to break with tradition and meet her fiancé before they get married. Will the man of her dreams live up to Zo's expectations?

It's an exciting time to be a writer as the landscape broadens in Irish storytelling. Growing up in Dublin in the nineties, I didn't see anyone like me on TV, yet the city I knew was a vibrant, multicultural place. I was inspired to pursue a career in the arts to reflect the world I cherished. I wrote I'm Yours because I wanted to share a Dublin that is widely unseen or understood, in an accessible, entertaining way.

Having an Asian immigrant father gave me an unconventional formative experience. There was an instant solidarity formed with my peers of colour over navigating culture clashes at home. At the school lunch table, we’d laugh and learn from each other. As we entered adulthood, how we chose to embrace our foreign parents' values varied. While some of us downloaded Apps and launched ourselves into the Dublin dating scene, others sat back and placed their trust in their Mum and Dad to pick them a life partner. These strikingly different approaches to finding "the one" provided endless hours of conversations and contemplation, and I’m Yours started to emerge.

When I sent the script to Eleanor White at Deadpan Pictures, she saw its potential from the get-go. Together, we started to develop something that had never been seen before in the Irish industry. Our drama is a diverse tale with universal themes - It’s an exploration of modern romance, with the weight of inherited cultural tradition.

When I’m Yours was shortlisted for Storyland, I managed my expectations and took each week as it came. It’s a competitive process heaving with talent, but I knew that no matter the outcome, I’d have the opportunity to grow as a writer by working with top industry executives and that, in itself, was enough.

When I got the call to say I’m Yours had been commissioned, I shrieked down my iPhone like a radio contest winner. I couldn’t play it cool! I was thrilled that the project would continue to evolve. The Director, Laura O’Shea, came on board with an abundance of creativity and Producers Paul Webster and Nathan Griffin brought unwavering enthusiasm. The cast, Jeffrin Jerome (Zo), Clara Harte (Oonagh), Trevor Kaneswaran (Bilal), Paul Tylak (Zo’s Dad Ali) and Bharti Patel (Zo’s Mum Fatima) all delivered performances with so much heart and humour.

I’m Yours has materialized thanks to the watchful eye of Deadpan Pictures, guidance of RTÉ and support of Screen Ireland. The film is something really special. I hope that it sparks reflection for the audience on what they believe to know about love and generates future interest in a diverse Irish female protagonist!