CRAZY 8'S GALA 2011

This weekend I attended the CRAZY 8's 2011 Gala. I was so impressed with all of the films especially considering the restrictions pressed upon them. For those who are unfamiliar with the CRAZY 8's film making challenge...let me give you a break down.

This year marked the 12th anniversary of the CRAZY 8's. 120 filmmakers signed up to submit a 5min video pitch. 42 were chosen to do a live pitch to a jury of industry professionals. From there 13 got to work with story editors to perfect their scripts but only 6 got to shoot them in the end. Those 6 were given $800 and only 8 days to complete their film. CRAZY? Yes. Absolutely.

My favorite 2 films were:
ALCHEMY AND OTHER IMPERFECTIONS Writer/Director: Zachary Rothman Producer: Heather Lindsay
CHAINED Writer/Director: Rehan Khokhar Producers: Matt & Mikey Granger.

They both left me wanting more. The best part is I've heard that the producers of CHAINED are working on a feature length version of this short! So excited! Congratulations to all involved in this year's films. You should be so proud.

Support the arts and keep making films Vancouver! Thank you for the inspiration.

Until next time...

Fresh Start

Wow...it's been forever since I've blogged. Lots has happened since January...

In January I worked at MAC cosmetics for awhile at the Park Royal location and managed to fit in lots of yoga. I hosted a sketch comedy show with Cocktails and Holywater. I knew the musical guest and he asked me to sing one song with him. That was awesome!

In February I did some fun photo shoots, and managed to keep up my yoga classes. Mainly I just took in the craziness of the Olympics! That was the coolest feeling. Everyone flooding the streets, taking in the sunshine, giving out high fives and celebrating our amazing Gold Medal Men's hockey game. AMAZING.

March brought in steady work back on Sanctuary which has consumed me since then. When you work 60hrs a week you really don't have time for much else.

In May I saw Dan Mangan in concert. That was awesome. He is so talented!

June brought the LEO AWARDS and I was happy to attend again. Sanctuary was nominated for 17 Awards and won 7. Oh and P.S. Dan Mangan won for best music video. Saw him that night and was absolutely tickled pink. tee, hee. Yeah, I'm a bit of a fan.

Tiz the season for weddings and so makeup is in full force including my good friend Kat. She looked absolutely stunning if I do say so myself. Getting ready for my friends wedding in September in Montreal. So excited! It's been really fun being apart of her process. From trying on dresses, fittings, invitations and also fitting in some hiking so we can both look wicked on the day!

On hiatus from the show till Aug.3rd and have really enjoyed my time off. I went to Vegas with my best friend and we shot machine guns! Ha, Ha! It was awesome. Only 2 weeks left and I'm just so happy. Life is good.

Today I started The Wild Rose Cleanse. I've done it once before. Actually it was around this time last year that I did it. Have to say the sugar cravings aren't as bad as last time. Guess I've been doing an ok job controlling that in the past year. Prepping the food is the only way to go. You never go hungry that way. Here's a super easy side dish (I don't cook so easy to me is on the extreme)

Curried Cauliflower & Potato (side dish)

Serves 2-4

2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 large Onion
2 tsp curry powder
1 large potato (diced)
2 cups cauliflower (broken in small pieces)
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
pinch pepper

1.) Saute onions over medium heat in oil for 5 minutes or until onions are soft.

2. ) Add curry and saute for 2-3 minutes stirring constantly to avoid scorching. Add 1 or 2 tbsp water if it starts to burn.

3.) Add potato, cauliflower, water, salt, pepper, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes or until potatos and cauliflower are cooked.

Simple fast and easy. AND soooooooo tasty!

Until next time

CRAZY8's Film Festival

2010 will mark the 11th anniversary of The CRAZY8's Film Festival! In the past, only 60 teams have been able to pitch their film idea. This year they are running the festival a bit different. Before, those 60 teams would go straight into a live pitch session and battle it out for the opportunity to shoot a 10min short film with 60 minutes of footage in 8 days with $800. Now, there is no limit as to how many teams can register.

On December 13th 2009 we registered our film and attended a information session at Vancity Theater. 115 teams registered! Amazing and yet not surprising. So, I ask myself... what does that say about Vancouver's film industry? Are we hard up for work OR are more people realizing that we need to take action instead of just talking about a film idea that we have? OR has CRAZY8's grown so rapidly over the last year that film makers can't wait for the opportunity and challenge this film festival offers?! Regardless of the answer...we're so excited for the first challenge.

STEP 1 - Submit a video pitch. The most important thing we learned at the info session was how important it is to focus on the story. This video pitch should be no longer than 5mins and it's due by 5pm this Friday, January 15th.

STEP 2 - Pitch live to a panel of judges...that is...if we make it down to the top 40 teams!

STEP 3 - The semi-finals!!! 12 teams will enter the CBC Story Development phase. We will be given the opportunity to work with a professional story editor to perfect our scripts and hand them in to be judged.

STEP 4 - The finals!!!!! Celebration time! Now we get to shoot our film!

We have cast and crew ready to work for free....oh AND locations already nailed down. This is going to be a really awesome adventure!

Stay tuned!

Until next time...

MANI wins the 2009 Online Audience Choice Award!

WOW! Thank you for everyone who voted! MANI won the 2009 Online Audience Choice Award for the 24hr Film Race! Yipee!

http://www.filmracing.com/films/competitions/vancouver2009.htm

Until next time...

please vote asap for our short film!!

Hello!!! I could really use your help. I was in a short (4min) film for the 24hr Vancouver Film Race this summer and we won Audience Choice Award at the screening. We got into the top 13 films and now they are having an online vote for "Best Film of the Vancouver Film Race 2009". We want to win that Award too!

Please click on the link below, watch our film MANI (the last Manicorn), then vote for MANI by Kris McRonny on the voting page.
http://www.filmracing.com/films/competitions/vancouver2009.htm

PLEASE VOTE ASAP...voting ends tonight at 11:59pm!!!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Cheers, Krista

Happy Birthday Mamma!

It's my Mom's birthday today! Yeah, how cool is that?! I think it's really neat having your birthday the day before Halloween cause everyone usually wants to go out and celebrate!

My Mom is an amazing woman. Not only did she raise 4 children but she did it while working a full time job AND doing my father's books for our family business. She did all the house hold chores, laundry, cooking, cleaning etc. AND still had time to bake cookies with me on Sunday. We would sing to Barbara Streisand and spend most of the day baking...so much fun! Both of my parents were so encouraging when I was young. They let me sing, dance around the living room, tap dance in the bathroom,clunk on the piano and practice my saxophone...AND kept enrolling me into classes. Whenever we needed a parent to come along on a dance trip or just a helping hand organizing a fundraiser...she was always there with a smile! Even when I didn't believe in myself...she did.

She's been a role model for me. Someone to look up to and appreciate everything that's happened in her life. It's all got her to this point and made her who she is today. Not only did she loose her "soul mate" (my Dad) 10yrs ago but when she took the risk to love again for the 2nd time...she took a leave from work and decided to be his 24/7 nurse, in the end loosing him to Cancer.

My mother is: loving, giving, kind, generous, talented, beautiful, understanding, supportive, proud, patient and strong.

She loves and gives with all her heart and doesn't expect anything in return. When I have children...I want to be able to give them what my Mom gave me. She is amazing and I'm so very thankful for my mother.

Until next time...

Michael Jackson's film THIS IS IT (click here for the link)

So, I just got home from watching the MJ film "This Is It". (Copy and paste for the link to the trailer - http://thisisit-movie.com/)The whole film was made up of footage captured at rehearsals from his tour. They did a great job with the package and presenting it so it was easy to follow and allowed you to groove along, laugh, and have moments of sadness but at the same time happiness. It made me want to dance! I remember doing dances to so many of his hits...WOW! It made me feel so amazed! What a talented man he was!

I choose to remember MJ as the vision I had when I was a teenager...NOT the criminal people might choose to know him as today.

Thank you Micheal for inspiring me in so many ways!

Until next time...