Lipstick, Starfish, & Sisters of the Wind

March 8, 2022

by Crystal M. Lee, CEO?

Crystal J. Productions Inc.

From Across the Pond to Hollywood:

Relationships. They come and they go. As an early 40-something, there are few folks that I would call a “Friend”. It seems the older we get, the more difficult it is to establish lasting friendships. I honestly thought after a certain age, I would never meet anyone that I could connect with on a deeper soul level and be comfortable being windy in front of (lovingly called Wind-Sisters).?

How I met these two amazing souls is nothing short of magical. I met them both through a mutual acquaintance while living in Stuttgart, Germany. The first, Cheryl Neve: aka – Lips (she really loves red lipstick) a properly posh lady from the south coast of England; the second, Akira Lee Watanabe: aka – Starfish (she really utilizes her space wherever she sleeps) a half Japanese/Korean woman from Yokohama, Japan. Cheryl and Akira were living in England at the time of my business trip to finish my screenplay. Connecting with them was the beginning of my next great adventure.

Both of these amazing souls are dynamic powerhouses; an amalgamation of intelligence, beauty, creativity, and ambition.?

So, I’m sharing their beautiful light with all of you in hopes that they will inspire you to follow your dreams.

Cheryl Neve:?

CEO, Screenwriter, Producer, Director, Actor, Mother of three beautiful children.

Do you consider yourself to be a strong woman?

I do think of myself as a strong woman, but show me a woman who isn’t! Like so many women, I’m resilient and always get up again no matter how many times I get knocked down. Now I’m in my 40s, I’m a lot more comfortable in my own skin. You stop depending on others for your validation if you learn to recognize your innate worth. I’m also extremely stubborn, so if someone tells me I can’t do something I’m always determined to prove them wrong. Is that a strength? I’m not sure!

What inspired you to get into the entertainment industry?

I’d say that I didn’t find the entertainment industry, it found me! Beforehand, I’d known that I was creative, but I’d never have dreamed of working in film and TV. Fast forward to 2012, and Tom Hooper was shooting Les Miserables in the south of England. I turned up to the casting day on a whim and ended up playing a nun and singing alongside Hugh Jackman. We were told that our voices would be dubbed over, but I can pick out my voice in the actual movie! It was the first time I experienced the camaraderie that exists on a film set, and it was one of the most magical experiences of my life. In fact, cheesy as it sounds, it was a life-changing, Eureka moment for me! I knew then that I wanted to be part of the entertainment world.?

What are you most proud of doing?

One of the most memorable projects I’ve worked on has been composer Fabio D’Andrea’s music video Love Should Not Hurt, starring Spice Girl Mel B. As a patron of UK charity Women’s Aid, Mel wanted to use this powerful short film to highlight the varying forms of abuse, whether it be physical, coercive, financial, or psychological. Showing on YouTube, the video has received 1.2 million views so far, has been featured in the international press, and has happily encouraged many women to reach out to Women’s Aid for assistance. We had the fantastic Ashley Wallen from The Greatest Showman on set to choreograph the dancing, and we filmed in an unforgettable, remotely beautiful location in northern England.???

What has made you the confident woman you are today??

I think it’s a combination of many things. I wasn’t always confident, and if someone had told me that I’d be working in the film industry, I would have laughed at them. Me? No way! It’s been a long journey to find my self-worth, self-belief, and my voice. Some of that has been inner work, some of it has happened when I’ve forced myself to do things outside of my comfort zone, and a lot of it has come from having genuinely supportive people in my life.????

What’s the greatest risk you have taken?

Every time you step out of your comfort zone, you’re taking a small risk. But I’ve always been more afraid of not making the most of every opportunity than I am of taking risks. I’d rather know that I’ve at least given something my best shot, and failed at doing it, than to not even try. When I directed my first film, 1960s spy thriller Cheating Charlie, I was absolutely terrified. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, and I dreaded falling flat on my face. One of my actors had been in Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, and I was intimidated, to say the least. However, I took a leap of faith, ignored the fear, and directed a film that not only went on to win a number of awards but also gave me lifelong friends. Was I afraid? Yes. Did the fear stop me? No.?????????????

Are there any stories unique to a female in the industry??

There are two main ones that come immediately to mind. One is the #MeToo movement which has been a predominantly female issue in Hollywood, although of course there have also been men affected by sexual abuse and harassment. Another is gender inequality. Back in 2017, 88% of the top films had no female directors, 83% had no female writers, and 96% had no female cinematographers. There is also still a significant pay gap between the top male and female actors. Thankfully, these issues are being addressed, and female filmmakers are being actively encouraged and promoted.?

What advice would you give to other female professionals??

It’s a very exciting time to be a woman in the film industry. There are more female writers, producers, editors, cinematographers, and directors than ever before. My advice would be to keep pushing forward, surround yourself with positive people, and if you need to build your experience and credits, there are plenty of online platforms where you can connect with people and pool your skills.?

Akira Lee Watanabe:?

Actor, Voice Over Actor, Host.?

What inspired you to get into the entertainment industry?

To be completely honest, looking back at the start of the journey, I got into it because I felt like I was being seen. I was painfully shy and I struggled to find my voice and the ability to express myself. So when I stumbled into acting through a school play, I was hooked. Back then I got roles not because I was the loudest. Then I started to get into it by watching great performances on screen. One of my favourite actors was Alan Rickman, which made me gravitate to go to the UK. There was never one definite moment that I can recall; it was multiple decisions throughout my life that made me get into the industry. But in those moments I always asked myself "Which choice will I not regret taking?".?

Who’s been an inspiring female figure in your life???

My friends; I am so lucky and grateful that I can say that. They are a constant inspiration to me. And they aren't achieving awards and accolades or recognition perse. They are just constantly inspiring me by choosing to stand in their power, evolving, thriving, learning, choosing to do better constantly. They are phenomenal and I am so happy they are in my life.?

What are you most proud of doing?

I had the pleasure of working with Kingdom Drama School in the UK which is led by Ashley Walters and Nagajan Modhwadhia; They are a wonderful drama school that is working constantly to change the demographic and accessibility in the UK industry. I had several opportunities whilst I was there to mentor and talk to the students about the profession, the industry, and their life. That’s where I also started to enjoy hosting as well. My first time was with Daniel Kaluuya so that was a lot of pressure. (laugh) Those were the most fulfilling moments for me. They are amazing and talented but they just need guidance and someone to talk to dispel their limiting beliefs. When they step into their power it's the most wonderful and fulfilling thing to witness.?

Have you come across any significant barriers in your career??

I think one of the barriers and blessings that I encountered in my career was that I didn't fit in. I'm Japanese/Korean with an American accent but was brought up in Japan, trained in London... There have been times when I went into castings and they didn't know what to do with me. That being said, there were amazing times when they were exactly looking for someone like me and thought that they won't be able to find someone. I think being in a niche and accepting that you don't fit in is sometimes your greatest gift. People like Michaela Cole, Phoebe Waller-Bridge are great examples of how you can embrace your uniqueness and open up avenues in this industry.?

Do any of your personality traits get you in trouble??

I don't like small talk. So when people only want to talk at a surface level, I find it difficult to connect with them. I don't get into trouble but I feel troubled.

What does the idea of strength/confidence mean to you?

I find that strength and confidence come from knowing that no matter how hard things can get, you can and you did get through it. I think we can lean into being kinder, gentler, softer when we have this kind of confidence and strength.?

Do you consider yourself to be a strong woman?

Yes.?

What advice would you give to other female professionals??

I would say surround yourself with women who inspire and challenge you. Also having wisdom from older women is so important. It puts your life into perspective and you learn so much from them.?

Thank you so much, Cheryl and Akira, for sharing your experience with our world! I hope this helps to inspire anyone out there that may be on the edge of following their dreams. “Grateful” isn’t descriptive enough for the feeling I have to be connected to these beautiful souls. Whether it is fate, luck, destiny, I wish you all the opportunity to find your tribe and thrive. Sending love, light, and magical days!

~Crystal M. Lee

www.CrystalJProductions.com

*For more information about these two beautiful souls, check out their websites:

Akira: https://www.akiraleewatanabe.com/

Cheryl: https://www.redtypewriterpictures.com/