Krystal Keith is about to make a name for herself. When you search for her on Google, she’ll soon rank higher than the other Krystal Keith of country music fame. A writer for the Studio 11 Films project titled Nice Guy, Keith is excited to be a part of The 11Eleven11 Project’s freshman class.
Here the parole officer-turned-counselor-turned sitcom- and feature film-writer talks about idols, what freedom means to her and what makes her shake her head. –yvette caslin
What drew you to this project?
I wanted to write a romantic comedy about a socially relevant issue. I wanted to educate and enlighten people about the social phenomenon of “Nice Guys Finish Last” and “Good Girls Like Bad Boys.”
Where you were born/where you were raised:
I was born in Germany (Father was in the Air Force). I was raised in Hempstead, Long Island, New York
Zodiac Sign:
Sagittarius
What do you hope viewers walk away with after seeing this project?
I hope they will learn an important lesson about being your authentic self and that nice guys don’t necessarily finish last. Also that good girls who like bad boys can learn to appreciate a nice guy.
Who are your personal idols in the industry?
Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Mel Jackson, Miguel Nunez, Denzel Washington, Bill Cosby, Whoopi Goldberg, Alfre Woodard, Neil Simon, Kim Fields, Debbie Allen, Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Robert Townsend, Spike Lee, John Singleton, and Melvin and Mario Van Peebles
Pop culture guilty pleasure:
“Mob Wives”
What’s on your music playlist?
Earth, Wind and Fire, Mary J Blige, Jill Scott, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Lauren Hill, Tupac, Biggie, Miles Davis, Al Jareau, Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, Dougie Fresh, Luther Vandross
MAC or PC?
PC
Previous work?
I had a double major in Behavioral Sciences (psychology and sociology) at New York Tech and I have a masters degree in Human Services from Lincoln University. I became a New York State parole officer from 1987-1999. I moved to Stone Mountain, Ga. in 1999 and currently have a career as a counselor/therapist/social worker, providing counseling to families with defiant teenagers, some of whom are on house arrest and wearing ankle monitors.
Three things you can’t live without:
Freedom, music and movies
“I’ll never understand why …”
Sagging pants
Favorite screen or commercial opportunities:
Situation comedy writing and feature film writing
