Crystal Justine
Founder/Editor
Writing Archive
Crystal Justine, the Founder of The Cinema Nook, created this cozy corner of the internet for movie lovers and entertainment enthusiasts. Her goal was simple: to create a space where both fellow film buffs and cinema newbies can find honest movie reviews, stay up to date with the latest industry news, and connect with the world of cinema in a meaningful way. But The Cinema Nook wasn’t just created for the viewers; Crystal also wanted to build a community where writers and creatives could share their voices, insights, and passion for storytelling.
As a writer, multi-media artist, and all-around creative soul, Crystal always had a deep love for various art forms. Her degree in Philosophy gives her a unique lens for critical thinking and introspective analysis, which she brings to her work as a writer and critic. Whether diving into a thought-provoking film or crafting a piece of her own, Crystal approaches everything with a careful, yet imaginative mindset.
Speaking of her own work, Crystal recently co-wrote a dramedy short film that’s currently making its rounds on the film festival circuit. In addition to that, she is constantly exploring new projects, including expanding TheCinemaNook.com and working on several upcoming short and feature film scripts.
Socials
Tiktok: heycrystalj
Letterboxd: heycrystalj
Youtube: heycrystalj
Insta: heycrystalj
Stephen Lackey
Editor
Stephen is a filmmaker, writer, and brand development professional. Stephen has directed three documentary feature films, over twenty narrative short films, and produced a limited docu-series for Microsoft. Stephen’s documentary film Family of Fear is currwntly available on physical media, VOD, and Tubi. Stephen has written as a media critic and commentator for a variety of publications including TVVerdict, DVDVerdict, Comics2film, and Geeks of Doom.
Stephen has a passion for film as a creator, a student of the art, and a fan. He brings that passion to his writing setting the bar high for quality but always putting the story first. Stephen is a collector of films he loves and regurlarly revisists with over 3,000 movies on his shelves. His favorite genres are documentary and horror but he’s always looking for that film that will take him on an emotional journey regardless of the genre.
Socials
Tiktok: otsmovies
Letterboxd: otsmovies
Youtube: otsmovies
Insta: offtheshelfmovies
Karl Simpson
Cintributor
Karl “JR” Simpson Jr. is a passionate film enthusiast and storyteller based in Southern California, where he has resided for over a decade. Originally from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, his love for film was nurtured in his childhood, where animated classics sparked his imagination and movie theater outings with his father created lasting memories. These experiences laid the foundation for a deep, lifelong passion for the cinematic arts.
A pivotal moment in JR’s journey came with Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’, which profoundly deepened his appreciation for film. This masterpiece sparked an insatiable curiosity about the intricacies of filmmaking. Today, JR is dedicated to exploring and analyzing films, driven by a desire to uncover the art and craft behind the stories that captivate global audiences. His work and passion continue to evolve as he delves deeper into the world of cinema.
TikTok: Screened and Scored
LetterBoxd: Screened and Scored
Instagram: Screened and Scored