This year marks the 10th anniversary of the movie "Begin Again," and I thought that a revisit is needed for this memorable movie that revolved around love, life, and songs. 

Written and directed by John Carney, the film stars Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightley, Hailee Steinfeld, Adam Levine, James Corden, CeeLo Green and Catherine Keener and revolves around songwriter Gretta James (Knightley) and Dan Mulligan (Ruffalo) meeting at a crucial crossroad of their lives. The former is a sublime songwriter, picking herself up off a broken heart, and the latter, a once successful producer reeling as his world (marriage, family and career) uncontrollably spirals. Gretta has a knack for getting to the heart of every song she writes while Dan has a knack for hearing how a song can bloom even in its raw form. Greta is an uncompromising talent, and Dan is a developer of talent who can cut a diamond in the rough. 

First time meeting of the two, Gretta was on guard as this 'record company scout' tried to sell a sugar-coated pitch which she can totally see through. After all, wasn't this record industry type the very reason why her heart was handed to her in pieces after taking away her creative collaborator and boyfriend--the hotshot solo act singer Dave Kohl (played solidly by Adam Levine) --away from her? Dan realizes that sweet talk won't work and gets down to brass tacks. One scene about artist authenticity goes something like: you can be the most unpretentious motherf***er in this biz, but you must reel in your audience first, and then you can let the music do the talking, where the real work happens. Not verbatim of course, but you get the gist. 

As story arcs go, a compromise is struck between protagonists and a road map to solving the conflict is proposed and that’s where John Carney did his work. The record-anywhere-and-the-world-is-our-live room ideal is of course the allure of the film. It embodies the DIY spirit that sounds fresh no matter what the year it is, and I’m sure both artist and record label people can agree that it’s always an option to try at least once.

As someone who has spent 28 years in the music industry, first six as an A&R then 22 as Adprom manager, "Begin Again" is a totally relatable story. Even then, I saw a bit of myself in Dan-the-music-producer persona (especially the part about selling the music). And I can see where the no-BS-Gretta POV stands as someone who used to be in a band who still “dabbles” in releasing original music.

“Begin Again” is also on my mind as I take on my personal crossroad. At 50 years of age, I’ve moved on to another place and will literally start over. It’s not easy, I can tell you that, especially in a place far different from what I know and love, but at the same time familiar as it always has been an ubiquitous part of the world and popular culture. As I look to reboot in the US, I’m excited for a lot of things. Stuff that only a music industry type can get excited about: What does FM radio sound like in that place? I wonder what the local music scene is like and who’s the first act should I see play live?

I’m glad I have family who I can trust for support. But I also take with me years of experience tempered with good advice from friends, mentors and colleagues.

I see writing very much a part of my future.

Begin Again, indeed.