A lot of you have heard me talking about the brilliant singer-songwriter Leonie Casanova, but you may wonder how we actually met her, and how it happened that for her alone we set up Enlightenment Records.  If you are not wondering about this, then stop reading now and go and watch her music videos on this page. If you're not wondering after that, we'll call it a day. Everyone else can read my new screenplay below of how we met the Lioness as she is known to those who truly know her..

FADE IN. THREE YEARS EARLIER. NIGHT Hanan and Shamim are at home. Hanan is working on her computer, while Shamim is whining about being tired. The phone RINGS for the 4th time in 10 minutes. Shamim picks up.
SHAMIM: Alma, we are not coming out with you tonight. I'm tired.
ALMA: You can't miss this. It's a group of famous film people and one of the actor's girlfriend is singing.
SHAMIM: It's 9.30. Who goes out at 9.30?
ALMA: Everyone except my grandmother. Are you 80?

Stung by this, and faced with 2 more hours of work, Shamim caves in and goes to Notting Hill with Hanan.

INTERIOR. COOL CLUB. NIGHT
In the dim lighting, Shamim makes ends up sitting with a couple of actors and weeps from self-pitying exhaustion into her £20 drink. The MC introduces the singer.

SHAMIM: Leonie Casanova? What kind of name is that?

The singer walks on stage. She looks like a goddess. Casanova is clearly her real name. She opens her mouth to sing. Shamim stops weeping and stares, amazed by the beautiful song that is being woven out over the audience. When the set is finished, Shamim is humbled and vows never to whine again (a promise she will break within 24 hours). Leonie walks off stage, to be accosted by Hanan.

HANAN: Hi Leonie. You were amazing. We are making a film called The World Unseen and we'd like you to write a song for it.
LEONIE: When are you shooting?
SHAMIM (to herself): No idea.
HANAN: Soon
LEONIE: What's the budget
SHAMIM (to herself): No idea
HANAN: Small
LEONIE: I'd love to, I just need to pop to the ladies room
HANAN: Not till you sign here.

And the rest is history. Seriously, Leonie has a rare combination of accessible melodies and poetic lyrics that could make Leonard Cohen weep. And her single Broken (remixed from The World Unseen) is now on Itunes. Check it out, and spread the word.