Crazy Sexy Murder

somehow... for some mysterious, unfathomable reason, the longest running freelance jobs I've been getting hired on lately are on crime shows. Now, while I like a good murder mystery novel as much as the next guy ("good" being the operable word)​... I am by no means a 'crime' expert. And let's face it, the vast majority of crime shows today can rely a bit too heavily on salacious details, shock value from disgusting crime scene photos, and fear fear fear. The producer of the show I worked on last fall, the hilarious and talented Colleen McGraw,  coined the term "Crazy, Sexy, Murder" to describe the series we were working on.

Last week I worked on a new series for Discovery ID called Addicted to the Life. It is definitely a crime show, but one with a twist. I hate to give away any details, but suffice it to say ​this "crazy, sexy, murder" show is tempered with a message and, dare I say it, a moral or two. How refreshing!

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It's Friday. ​

I'm done with this week. It's been a tough one. The events going on in Boston brought 9/11 to mind and the surreal world we lived in for the weeks surrounding that horrible day. ​When I most needed a hug and a comforting word, there was none to be had.

I've tried to focus my energy on other things - running, cycling, lifting. It still lingered at the back of my mind through all those activities. The one thing that gave me hope and brought me joy was a day spent with the daughter of my dear friends David and Vivian. Matilda is 6 months old. She is all smiles and giggles and funny little shrieks.  Spending a day with her - dancing, singing, making goofy faces and laughing with her  - was the one thing that has helped me get out of the lingering sadness and has renewed my sense of hope.

Who do I work for?

I was recently accused of working for "evil people" by someone I really cared about. At the time, I was confused... as a freelancer, I always thought that I​ was the boss of me. And there was no way in hell anyone could accuse me of being evil. But then it occurred to me that there are those who believe that the media in general is too liberal, too powerful, and yes, apparently evil. 

This was a bit of a wake up call. Most of my friends work in the same field and share similar values. This incident made me realize that my world had become very insular. I didn't realize that anyone could consider what I do and the people I work for to be 'evil.' Admittedly, some of my clients can produce programs that are less than noble, but I've always tried to work on shows that fell under a general "do gooder" banner.

I've spent the majority of my career seeking to work on shows I believe in, that resonate with me and that do no harm.  That said, I admit that from time to time working to pay the bills has been more important than working on shows that make the world a better place. I've had some terrific opportunities, but from time to time, I've been known to work on shows that -- well, let's just say, I don't tell my parents to watch. I'm not talking porn for God's sake! Just some shows that are less than lofty in their message and ideals.

​That said, even when the show I'm working on isn't exactly going to change the world, I have been known to take a stand if I have ethical concerns with what the client is asking for. In the end, my honor and integrity is far more important to me than having my name appear in the credits of a show. I was brought up with a sense of duty and morality and so the 'evil' label really threw me for a loop.

​The lesson? One woman's "good cause" is another man's "evil cause."  Sadly, this situation seems to have created some serious damage to what I hoped would be a good friendship. I do hope that this is not the case. In the end, I value the opinions of others, even (and especially) when they differ from my own.