A Greek African-American raised in California and Greece, Krystal grew up with an avid love for film, a soft spot for animals, and a passion for music (playing piano & cello). While in the U.K. earning a Combined Honors B.A. Degree in English Literature & the History of Art, Krystal developed an interest in costumes & set design and started shadowing costume designers at local theaters after class.
Landing a wardrobe department internship on the London set of Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix became Krystal's introduction to how movies are made and inspired Krystal to turn her love for film into her career. She continued to gain experience on the sets of other films, including the musical Mamma Mia!, and eventually moved to Los Angeles where she found herself assisting established writers in script development, joining an acting class, and ultimately taking the leap to writing and directing her own material.
Krystal's short, A Most Suitable Applicant, is an Official Selection of the Academy-accredited Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, the L.A. Comedy Festival, and has aired on The Short Film Channel as well as PBS Channel Thirteen/WNET via public vote. Krystal's first time directing and her first time writing and performing comedy.
Krystal's second directorial endeavor is A Desert Sonata, an experimental piece told via cinematography, dance, and music, with Executive Producer Evan Spiliotopoulos (Beauty & the Beast).
Her first feature scripts have placed Krystal in the top percentiles of the Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition, World Series of Screenwriting, ScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship, and PAGE Awards. Krystal has also twice placed in the 5% top-rated scripts on The Black List and, as of 2020, is an Academy Nicholl Fellowships Quarterfinalist.
Having found her creative passion in the art of storytelling as a writer, actor, and filmmaker, Krystal is drawn to stories that inspire, move hearts, and sometimes explore the complex and uncomfortable.
When she is not on set or working on her next screenplay, Krystal spends her time hiking, swing dancing, and visiting farm animal sanctuaries.
"Fantasy is but reality grounded in the imagination."
