Crystal Moselle

The Dandy spoke with filmmaker Crystal Moselle on the phone a few weeks back, when this country’s biggest focal point issue was a global pandemic. Moselle is the co-creator and director of the new HBO series Betty, which portrays a group of young women navigating the male-dominated world of skateboarding in New York City. The show explores universal coming-of-age moments within the constructs of skate culture, and shows teenage women in all of their unadulterated wildness, grit and contradictory truths. This wonderfully diverse and bright group of women celebrate the idea that we can continuously bruise and heal and get up to fight the good fight. Moselle’s semi-scripted 2018 film Skate Kitchen was the impetus for Betty and she spent the past four years collaborating with the same cast on both projects. Crystal Moselle is a talented filmmaker, a freewheeling spirit, and frankly a no bullshit-type—all of which and so much more make her so Damn dandy.

How have you been handling everything mentally?

I’ve been quarantining in NYC. It’s been overwhelming and a bit hard to deal. I’m trying to dance a lot and I’m doing this one class lead by Ryan Heffington. It’s really the only thing keeping me going.

Did you skateboard growing up?

I grew up in California and I’d push around. I had a skateboard, but I didn’t do tricks. All my friends skated and I always hung out with that culture. I don’t know if I was drawn to it, or it just shows up in my life. On my second day of college at SVA in NYC, I went to my friend Wendy’s house and Harold Hunter and Todd Jordan walked in and they soon became my best friends for the next four years. 

What has it been like to witness the evolution of the girls you’ve worked with from Skate Kitchen and now Betty? Has it ever made you nostalgic for your own past?

There’s something very open about them. I’m drawn to their curiosity of the world and their philosophy, which is that there is space for women everywhere. And that we have to all let women have space.

A lot of artists do enjoy the process of creating. But others are more focused on the end goal and have to learn to love the process. What’s it like for you?

I love collaborating and working with people that have a common interest. There’s this vibe with these girls that I really resonated with and they continue to inspire me. That’s basically what has kept me going with them for so long. It’s been four years!

What was one of the most formative ages for you and why?

I think when I was 13. Maybe even 10. We grew up really fast in my hometown. We were doing things I can’t even believe at 11 years old. I started getting interested in different kind of music and the idea of being cool around then. I went from a very small school that had about 7 people in class to a big public school. 

You’ve stumbled upon really interesting projects by simply being observant, like on the subway. Have you ever been through a creative rut?

Not really; I’m very adaptive. I adapt to my surroundings really easily. Now I’m in my house, so I’ve just been painting and making a short film. 

Has anything positive come out of the past few months for you?

Honestly, if the whole world changes and there’s no more television or more movies, I’ll probably just start a circus and travel around and make cool stuff.

When do you think you criticize yourself the most?

All the time.

Photo Credit: Crystal Moselle

What are some of your favorite BK bars and restaurants?

There’s this restaurant Olea in my neighborhood that I love. They serve proper Mexican food.

Have you been cooking a lot?

I’ve been cooking so much that I’m so incredibly over it. 

What are your essential beauty products?

I love Earth Tu Face Oil. I have this orange lipstick by Ilia they discontinued and I’ve literally bought their backlog out. I have enough lipsticks for the rest of my life. And then I use Avene Thermal Water. I’ve had the same face routine for so long. 

Are there a few directors that you love?

I’ve been really into Emir Kusturica films lately. Time of the Gypsies and Arizona Dream. They’re really fun and wild and out of he box, but still grounded in our world.

Anything you’re obsessed with lately?

I fostered a cat and I love her. I’ve also been listening to my Spotify’s Discover Weekly playlists. Every week I discover new songs and I used a lot of that music for the Betty soundtrack. It’s curated incredibly well. What’s cool is that they’re not suggesting Justin Bieber; they’re suggesting stuff that you never would’ve thought of or heard before. I’ve discovered the most incredible music from that.

What are your vices?

As I bite my finger right now…I ordered an entire cake from Milk the other day and ate it in two days.