Jackie Di Crystal

""Jackie Di Crystal"" is an Cuban American actress.
She began acting in the late 1990's. The young entrepreneur owned a talent and modeling agency. When she submitted her talent she was always asked by the client if could be booked as well for the project. This led her to pursue acting. She began doing many European and Egyptian music videos. She also appeared in many commercials and print ads. Then she took a liking for the craft of acting. In the 1990s she Starred in films such as Vampire Cheerleaders (1995), ' (1996), Scape From Cuba (1996), Bikini Summer 3 (1997). From 2000 to 2010 Jackie starred or was featured in films such as Showtime (2002), Bank Brothers (2004), The Lowrider (2004), Rhythm in Honey (2005), Tragedia Sangrienta (2005), Collapse (2006), Fast and Furious (2009), Confused Souls (2006/2010), Viva Castrama (2010), The Crown Beneath My Feet (2010), Disrupted (2010), Shadows (2011) (Award-Best Short Film at LALIFF), Rent A Bad Student (2011).
Early Life
Jackie Di Crystal was born in Cuba. She spend her first eight years of her life in a communist country where she got a first hand taste of what it is to be persecuted by the government and how important is to have freedom. At six her grandparents took her to visit her uncle Comandante Huber Matos in a Cuban prison. At this time she didn't totally understand what was going on. Her first 3 years of schooling she had the same abusive teacher. Di Crystal has said, "I was surprised I got through college and received a degree. I guess my love for learning and knowledge overcame the dark abusive memories in an educational institution". At eight her grandparents were able to get her out of the island for being family of political prisoner, her uncle Huber Matos who was imprisoned for 20 years for standing up for freedom.
The family of five made Miami, Florida their home. Jackie Di Crystal was raised by her grandparents. Her grandpa registered her in a ballet academy where she trained for 3 years. Her first experience on stage was at the age of eight when she performed in a Ballet show, she played a fairy. In Elementary she performed in a dance show. In junior high she was part of the Christmas show and she danced and taught her class mates a dance the routine. At an early age she designed clothing for her dolls and new she wanted to study fashion design. At 15 she paid for her own modeling classes. Right after graduating Jackie got her first gig modeling in a Fashion Show for fashion designer, Maria Luisa Araluce her aunt. At 16 she attempted to pursue a career in modeling but didn't have transportation to get to her interviews nor the support of her family. She waited until she was able to acquire a vehicle.
Jackie attended college to obtain a degree in Fashion design and marketing. After attending for 2 year she put off her degree to open a talent Agency and modeling school. While running the talent agency 7 days a week she booked her first union commercial in 1993. At that time she didn't have any interest in acting. After 2 1/2 years of running the talent agency she decided to represent one person, herself. Jackie returned to college briefly. She completed her degree requirements and graduated receiving an Associate in Arts degree in Fashion Design and Marketing. Jackie then began auditioning and appearing in lifestyle print ads for American Airlines, Bellsouth, and Florida tourism magazine.
Career
In 1995 she decided to pursue an acting career and began to train for film acting. Jackie trained in colleges, universities and with private coaches. During this period Jackie supported herself by appearing in commercials for companies such as Lowes, Publix, Budlight, Wella, German commercials, Erickson, banks, etc. She also played a high school student in a award winning PSA commercial against discrimination. Jackie acted in many independent films. She became part of the theatre group "Tramoya". The group mounted the play, Los Peces del Acuario (The fish in the aquarium) where she played Goupy. She also designed many of the costumes in the play, the pamphlets for the play and took care of the publicity. The director, Humberto Rossenfeld, thank her after the show and said, "I've never seen anyone work so hard and give so much of herself as you have. You're a great asset to any production."
The young actress realized that in order to do more extensive acting work she had to move to Los Angeles, California. In 1998 Jackie Di Crystal visited Los Angeles and had eight agents offer her representation. She signed with one of them and he convinced her to move to Los Angeles. She did in 1999. As soon as she arrived she began auditioning for projects. In the meantime she co-hosted a TV show, "Conciertos de Exitos" and "El Show de Franco". Jackie also reported live from the red carpet in Hollywood where she Interviewed actors such as Jim Carrey, Jon Voight, Michael Hasselhoff and Lucia Mendez. She got a part as Agnes in the film directed by Ryan Combs. In 2004 and 2005 Jackie published the calendar named, Natural Beauty. Jackie designed most of the costumes she wears for the calendar. Natural Beauty is her trademark and the name of her clothing line. In 2005 she was offered a role by director Ryan Combs in as Kelly opposite Jesse Garcia from Quinceañera. Jackie interprets a conniving twisted young women. Simultaneously, Jackie hosted a segment of a Variety show, "CTV". The director of the show later called her to star in the film "Tragedia Sangrienta" with Pedro Infante Jr. This was her first Spanish film and she plays a passionate young girl. Jackie is fluent in Spanish and enjoyed acting in her native language. In 2005 Jackie also started in the Spanish sketch comedy show, "Dos Para La Una" (Two Past One) where she created her own character. In Jackie plays Emma a women who can see the future, and in Collapse she plays Elisa, both films were directed by Javier Barbera. Jackie produced her first film, "The Mind Conjurers" where she played, Linda. In this film she plays a spirited, lucky-go-lucky young women who is paralyzed.
Jackie realized that she was able to do more in the film industry than just act. She made her directing debut with the film "Confused Souls" which she wrote and stars in. In this film Jackie plays Juanita a feisty gypsy like woman. Jackie Di Crystal acted in the play, Guantanamera which was adapted from the film directed by Cuban director Tomas Gutierez Alea. In the play she plays the role of Marili a wild and vulgar women and Panchita a black women who works at a bar. The play was directed by Margarita Galban from The Bilingual Foundation of the Arts (BFA) theater.
Jackie took time off from her career as an actress to pursue a bachelors degree. She registered in a film college to acquire a bachelors in Cinema with an emphasis in directing and producing films. She attended for two years. During this time Jackie directed, produced, and was the art director and editor for the film Viva Castrama. The Cast included, Orestes Matacena from the The Mask, Oscar Torre from Cane the CBS TV series, and Maria Olsen from Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Jackie plays, Captain Candela a demanding and unscrupulous woman. In 2010 Jackie started in "The Crown Beneath My Feet" directed by Sam Rodrigues. Here Jackie plays a single mom who seduces a preacher.
After graduating Jackie directed the film, "Disrupted" which she wrote and stars in. She plays Marisol a battered woman. Director, Javier Barbera for the third time cast Jackie Di Crystal in one of his films. This time in Shadows. Jackie plays, Teresa a strong-will political prisoner with an imagination. "Shadows" screened at the Egyptian theater and won Best film at the in 2011 (LALIFF). This win made the film eligible to be nominated for Oscars. Shadows was chosen to be screened at the 2011 Hollywood Film Festival. Jackie co-directed and produced, and was the director of photography for the film (2011) in which she plays, Nurse Emily.
Filmography
* Scape From Cuba (Actress) (1996)
* Bikini Summer 3 (Actress) (1997)
* Bank Brothers (Director, Actress) (2004)
* The Lowrider (Actress) (2004)
* Rhythm in Honey (Actress) (2005)
* Tragedia Sangrienta 'Bloody Tragedy" (Actress) (2005)
* Collapse (Actress) (2006)
* The Mind Conjurers (Producer, Actress) (2006)
* Confused Souls (Director, Producer, Actress) (2006/2010)
* Centerprise (Director, Producer, director of photography) (2009)
* The Crown Beneath Your Feet (Actress) (2010)
* Reflections (Director, Producer, Actress) (2010)
* Viva Castrama (Director, Producer, Actress) (2010)
* Disrupted (Actress, Director, Producer, DP, camera operator, editor) (2010)
* Shadows ( Actress) (LALIFF won Best Film)(2011)
* Rent A Bad Student (Director, Producer, DP, Camera operator, editor, Actress) (2011)

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