Crystal Hunt – Queens of Drama

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) I am doing “Queens of Drama” and that was a blast. I actually shot that at the same time as Magic Mike XXL. I also produced my first feature, which will come out later this year. I did it with my best friend Dania Ramirez who is on “Devious Maids.”

Q) Please tell us the concept for the show “Queens of Drama.”

A) It is six women from daytime and primetime soap operas and it follows us as we create, write, produce, cast and some of us will star in our next primetime scripted soap opera drama. Some of us want to be in front of the camera and some of us want to do behind the scenes. I think we want everybody to be in front of the camera though. It is a look into that whole process, which I think so many people wonder how it all works. So, I think it is kind of cool to have it laid out. They get to see the whole process.

Q) Were you friends with all of the women on the show before coming together or did you have to get to know some of them?

A) I had to get to know everybody. It’s crazy how the New York and Los Angeles soaps are separated! Even at awards shows, they keep us on opposite sides of the room and everything is so separated. We all had to get to know each other, except Chrystee [Pharris] and Lindsay [Hartley] were both on “Passions.” Vanessa [Marcil] and Lindsay I think kind of knew each other, but for the most part we had to get to know each other. It wasn’t hard because everybody happened to really like each other and get along. I know it’s funny because everybody thinks differently when they are watching the show, but at the end of the day we film a lot of hours. So, when you have that much estrogen in a room with a bunch of females that all have opinions you are bound to come up with some footage of the not so smooth part.

Q) Was there any aspect of your life or day-to-day that you deemed off limits to the camera?

A) Not really. I feel like there was so much work toward getting everything done for the show that there wasn’t very much time for personal life. I don’t know if any of the other girls limited how much their personal life is mentioned or if it was just truly them having so much fun with us working on the project that our personal lives weren’t mentioned.

Q) How involved are you with the setups and featured activities on the show?

A) It’s like anything structured, otherwise we can’t accomplish what we need to accomplish. I think that is something that they learned very early on. We are scripted actresses so they needed to get a game plan together so we can give them what they needed and keep it structured. That way we could accomplish everything that needed to be done. I think they had never worked with scripted actresses before so we told them what we would like to see happen. The truth is, there things in life that you don’t expect to happen. There are turns and things that you don’t expect to happen. So, without having some sort of structure you would be going nuts. It does change along the way though.

Q) What were you excited for fans to learn about you that they weren’t aware of before the show?

A) Probably what a dork I am, maybe. I don’t take myself as seriously as I imagine people think I do.

Q) You are a part of social media. What has it been like receiving the instant fan feedback when the show airs?

A) They seem to be quite excited about it and they are liking they can send a message or post and hear back shortly. It allows for a more friends, kind of texting relationship, which is nice. It’s unbelievable! I’ve never seen anything like it. I think all of my friends are worn out from it. All of my friends say, “You live on your phone! It’s attached to your hand!” It’s definitely a non-stop thing.

Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from filming “Queens of Drama?”

A) I would definitely say that it was the chat with Donna [Mills] and the girls. It was one that was not easy, but I told the camera guys to make sure they had the angles that they wanted because I was going to get it out once and it probably wasn’t going to happen again.

Q) What do you think it is about the show that has made it a fast fan favorite?

A) I think it is because so many people for generations have followed soap operas that I feel like they have never gotten to see the flip side or gotten to know the people, unless it was a fan event. So, it is exciting for them because they get to actually get to know the people behind the character. I think it’s a whole generational thing. People who have watched NBC or ABC soaps, chances are it is because it was something that their grandmother watched and passed down. Now, to get a look inside into the people they have watched for so long, I imagine it has got to be exciting. It’s almost like a part of their family.

Q) You have also recently started a charity on lung cancer awareness. Why is that such an important cause for you?

A) My mother just recently survived lung cancer. That was her second type of cancer; she had breast cancer first. For me, I didn’t realize how prevalent lung cancer is and didn’t hear many stories of people making it through lung cancer. It is not because it is sort of a death sentence, but they have gotten one in twenty the amount of funding that breast cancer has for research and education. So, anything I can do to increase attention and make people more aware and get more grants going for research for other forms of treatment I feel is a priority.

Q) What can fans can do to help with your foundation?

A) It’s called the Neda Foundation after my mother. She is Serbian/Yugoslavian and her name actually means “giving, hope.” The website will be out shortly. I just started it and I’m putting together a launch shortly. There are so many things that you wouldn’t think of to help prevent any type of lung damage and make yourself less susceptible.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you so much for sticking by me for so long. Thank you for being so loyal and just know that we wouldn’t be having the success we’re having it weren’t for all of you. It is much appreciated! I don’t want it to ever go unnoticed.