Diandra Xavier - Writer Biography
Diandra holds a First-Class Honours Degree in Journalism and Visual Media from Griffith College Dublin and a Master’s in Television and Film from Dublin City University. In 2016, she started her career as a Researcher in Virgin Media Television Dublin, across entertainment and children’s programming. Moving to London in 2017, she acted as a script department Trainee for Kudos on The Tunnel: Vengeance. Subsequently she moved to New York, joining We Got POP as a Casting Assistant. Returning to Dublin in 2019, she has continued to work in both scripted and factual television and film, in the Covid Department on Vikings: Valhalla, as a Development Researcher for Director Gavin Fitzgerald and notably as Head of Casting for Extras Ireland. She is based in Dublin, where she currently freelances, continuing to help bring stories to life!
Paper - Short Synopsis
After a whirlwind romance, Hope Byrnes gets engaged. She’s on cloud nine until she discovers that she can’t get a prenup. Is her fiancé Shay with her for love or for her money? As heiress to the Euro Euro Shop empire (an environmentally damaging, morally corrupt, dying brand) she must protect her fortune.
Hope does what no Irish woman has done before - she talks about money publicly and starts a grassroots campaign for prenups in Ireland.
It's 27 years since the public voted in favour of ending the country's long standing ban on divorce. In 2022, what kind of outcome would a campaign for prenup have? Is marriage in Ireland still tied to religiosity? Or is who we marry based on love, economics or both? With her wedding nine months away, Hope needs to start by telling her family that Shay exists (oh lord) and then ignite the change of law ASAP.
How can she rally public support when her issue is first world problems personified?
Going against the grain during a national housing crises, when people are struggling to make ends meet, is Hope brazen and blind to the plight of her peers? Or is she fighting for the right to protect the assets of people who are in a position to create meaningful change?
To get in touch with Diandra or find out more about Paper, contact spotlight@screenireland.ie