Biography
Crystal-Dawn was born in Surrey BC, Canada in 1979, where she spent most of her childhood immersed in theatre, piano and dance. By age 5, Crystal was signed by an acting agent, and by age 6 had booked her first role in a TV commercial for Panagopoulos Pizza ( Panago Pizza). By her teens, she had one of her watercolor paintings publicly displayed in the Surrey Museum, joined the "Pacificairs" colorguard team for 2 seasons, and achieved most of her formal piano and ballet (Royal Conservatory) training to the high grade levels.
Her love for the visual arts led her to study at the Langley Fine Arts School where she later graduated with honors (and a major in theatre) in 1997. Having performed in the school's musical theatre troupe throughout the lower mainland, and twice at the BC Festival of the Arts, Crystal seemed destined for a life in the performing arts. It was at LFAS that she also developed her eye for photography, and could be found on most days working in the school's darkroom or assisting the theatre most days working in the school's darkroom or assisting the theatre department with the bi-annual festival of plays.
In 2001, Crystal worked as a producer's assistant on the CBC production entitled "Fish out of Water" where she fell in love with the other side of the lens. That same year, she met her husband, and future co-producer Christian Blaze on the set of a VFS student film in which she was acting and production managing. The young couple tied the knot later that year.
In 2003, the duo released their short film debut, a sci-fi/drama entitled "SPANK" (2003). This was the first time Crystal would take on the role of both co-director and producer alongside her husband, Christian Blaze. The short film later premiered at the 2003 Santa Fe Film Festival and went on to screen at over 20 other film festivals across North America. In 2005, the short film was licensed by In 2005, the short film was licensed by CBC and aired on the Canadian network's late-night television show ZeD TV.
In April 2004, Crystal & Christian incorporated their new media company, Crystal Insight [ca] and began production on their first feature, a sci-fi thriller titled "Alien Agenda: Project Grey" (2007), in which she co-directed and produced. The film acquired initial DVD distribution in Japan, Russia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam & in the USA on VOD, but Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam & in the USA on VOD, but after several years in circulation the directors decided to recut the film in 2010. "Project Grey" was re-released in 2011 at the 6th annual Int. Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Fest in Athens, Greece, and screened at several cult festivals before finding a home with a new distributor (Reality Ent.) in the USA.
In the spring of 2010, Crystal Insight's first Stereoscopic 3D short film, a comedy titled "Defending Maldito 3D" (2011) was produced. Crystal co-wrote, co-directed, and produced the short film that only took one day to shoot. "Defending Maldito 3D" was released on Oct 9th, 2011 as one of the first stereoscopic films on YouTube's new 3D platform.
After visiting China & Taiwan in 2011, Crystal & Christian were invited to attend The Federation for Asian Cultural Promotion's annual conference (FACP) , and asked to have Crystal Insight represent Canada at the event. That same year, Crystal co-directed and produced a commercial for Lake Crouching Dragon Resort & an international bikini competition in Nanjing, China. In 2006 Crystal, bikini competition in Nanjing, China. In 2006 Crystal, alongside Christian, met the president of El Salvador, Elías Antonio Saca González, after attending a ceremony honoring distinguished Salvadorans living abroad.
In January, 2014, Crystal & Christian welcomed their daughter Lyra Aurora into the world. Shortly after Lyra's birth, Crystal co-directed and produced the politically charged pilot for the series "Death Row Democracy" (2015) starring indie darling & fellow LFAS alumni, Tristan Risk Tristan Risk. Among her many hats, Crystal was heavily involved with the show's production design, working closely with the photography, costume design, VFX & makeup / hair department.
In late 2014, Crystal Insight, in conjunction with HTC mobile phones, produced a series of 12 commercial spots, shot in Vancouver BC. In addition to co-directing and producing, Crystal was the primary writer for the commercials, having written 18 spots from having written 18 spots from which 12 were selected for production. Interestingly, it was the spot Crystal pitched featuring the family's cat that landed Crystal Insight the deal. Crystal was also involved in post producing also involved in post producing and coordinating the visual effects and post production for the entire commercial series.
Throughout 2015, Crystal assisted Christian in post-production for " Death Row Democracy", helping produce the show's theme song " produce the show's theme song "Uh OH" by finding talent to collaborate with on the track. This included their daughter Lyra, who sings the song's hook, LFAS alumni, street drummer Adam Miller, who created the song's percussion,and rapper Copasetic, who wrote & performed the lyrics, rounding out the track. lyrics, rounding out the track.
In 2016, Crystal coordinated Crystal Insight's post production work on the 4D attraction "FlyOver America". Although currently living in Vancouver BC, Crystal holds dual citizenship from the USA and Canada.
