Crystal's journey into filmmaking began when she stumbled upon Meshes of the Afternoon by Maya Deren and Alexandr Hackenschmied when she was in her teens. She was captivated by its creativity and imaginative storytelling. But it was her time as a series regular on the BAFTA-winning BBC medical drama Casualty that sealed the deal. Surrounded by an incredible crew who generously tolerated her occasional dumb questions, she fell head over heels in love with filmmaking.
Her path into directing has been full of wonderful detours: from life as a ballet dancer, to musical theatre, and acting; from China to Hong Kong, and now the UK. These diverse life experiences have given her a one-of-a-kind perspective on the world. Crystal's films have wowed audiences at countless film festivals worldwide, proving that she has serious talent and a wealth of life experience to bring to the table. Driven by her love of storytelling and collaboration, she is constantly seeking new challenges and opportunities to grow as a filmmaker.
Short Films
ARE YOU SLEEPING?
'Struggling with sleep deprivation for weeks on end, one man's search for relief awakens his deepest fear.'
Are You Sleeping? was selected to premiere at the 2020 Frightfest Film Festival, and later received a nomination for Best Director Short Film at the Unrestricted View Horror Film Festival 2020.
GRIT
'Survival is the only agenda.'
GRIT was written and co-directed by Crystal for the 2022 London 48 Hour Film Project. This short was nominated for Best Film and Best Direction of the festival, and won Best Actor and Best Cinematography.
QUESTIONS TO LOVE
'In a quest for love, a young woman must confront some deeply personal questions.'
Questions to Love received an Honorable Mention at the Arts Film Awards and was recently selected at the China Women’s Film Festival.