Burgeoning film producer Kristina Denton recently chatted with TYTE Media about her first major production, Worth the Weight, an independent romantic comedy that had its official world premiere at Bay Area film festival Cinequest.
Worth the Weight centers on a fallen athlete whose struggles to lose weight parallel his quest for love. Its heartfelt script, sincere acting, and relatable storyline have made it a festival favorite—the film is set to screen at this week’s Newport Beach and Beverly Hills film festivals.
Denton was the producer for the film, and although she has always been passionate about acting and the filmmaking process, she didn’t start her education with a background in film. Denton earned her bachelor’s in exercise science at San Jose State University. Even though she enjoyed her major, Denton moved to Los Angeles after graduating so she could pursue her true calling—acting and the art of film.
“I always knew I was going to do film, [but] I wasn’t ready to admit or commit to it publicly,” says Denton. “So I got the safe degree, like my mom says ‘the insurance policy degree.”
Despite having a degree in a completely different field, Denton took a leap of faith and headed down to L.A. Once she arrived, she enrolled in a 2-year acting program and learned everything she could about the film industry.
While in the acting program, Denton started to make her own projects in an effort to understand the filmmaking process and to learn how she could best serve the crew as an actor.
“I don’t want to say it’s all about me and the actress. I want to be a team member and play my role well on set and help them [the crew] do their jobs,” says Denton.
Denton’s persistence and passion to learn everything about the film industry paid off. She was able to land multiple acting roles, and has since also served as various parts of the filmmaking crew.
Denton met Ryan Sage, the director of Worth the Weight, while working on several small projects with him. Sage had directed Denton in a few short films, including the ATOM TV hit “Inappropriate Workplace.” After completing a few projects together, Sage asked Denton to produce Worth the Weight, his first feature film.
Denton was reluctant at first because she had never produced before, but she took on the challenge and produced the film.
“I learned an incredible amount and being a producer on a low-budget set you have cross services,” says Kristina. “[The process] gave me such a great understanding and knowledge of what it takes to put an entire film together—and I loved it.”
After she’s done promoting Worth the Weight, Denton plans to lay the ground work for her next project, scheduled to be filmed in her hometown of Hollister—a film she wrote that she describes as Little Miss Sunshine meets Hope Floats.
“It’s got this charming little love story,” says Denton. “But it’s really about a relationship between a little girl and my character, and the little girl raises me and helps me grow up.”
Denton also recently wrapped an episode alongside Tony Goldwyn (Ghost) as his wife, in a new Sony Pictures original broadcast length web series directed by Martha Coolidge, “The Unknown,” on Crackle.com.
Denton says that eventually she would like to direct her own film. “I think I write like a director. I write with a vision. I write very visually,” she says. Denton would like to gain more experience in the filmmaking process before she decides to direct.
You can catch Worth the Weight, at the Newport Beach Film Festival and at the Beverly Hills Film Festival.
Beverly Hills Film Festival:
Saturday April 28
3:45pm Clarity Theater
BeverlyHillsFilmFest.com
Newport Beach Film Festival:
Sunday April 29
8:45pm Island Cinema 3
Thursday May 3
5:30pm Island Cinema 5
NewportBeachFilmFest.com
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