Kristi Russell formed Metal Flowers Media in February of 2008 – but the long strange trip to get there started yeeeaaars before….

Kristi arrived in LA in the summer of 2000 and stepped off of the plane and onto Venice Beach. With sand between her toes and sunshine on her face, it only took a few minutes for her ideological switch to flip: she put flowers in her hair, bought some SPF 30, and made a small investment at a wholesale wax factory. That weekend, she was selling her handmade candles on a blanket on the boardwalk. Romantic and bohemian at first, Ramen grew boring (and really salty) and her credit card balances grew steeply (candle making? not so lucrative). Friends stepped in: she had to get a job. I mean, she HAD to get a job, people.

Fighting tooth and nail against “corporate America”, she reluctantly agreed to interview at Rocket Science Laboratories, where she was hired on immediately as a Production Assistant. Loathing turned to lust: she liked it here. She was quickly promoted up through the casting department where she was a perfect fit aside Tyler Ramsey. Kristi bit the marrow out of this obvious opportunity. Working ambitiously, resolutely, she became indispensible, setting up new systems, managing teams, and notably slashing budgets. She was a driving force within the company and her mettle did not go unnoticed: alongside Ramsey, she built an in-house casting department and soon after, explored story and production. Finally, Kristi was serving as the Senior Director of Talent Development, creating content and developing programming. Within one year, four shows that she pitched were on the air with other production companies.

After a six-year partnership, Kristi and Tyler split amicably, and the seeds of Metal Flowers Media began to bloom.

Today, with her loyal, creative, and hard working crew, Kristi’s years of experience in the field, behind a camera, aside executives and in pitch meetings has allowed her to grow Metal Flowers Media into a full service production company, working with the best in the business. Aside from development and production, Kristi’s signature casting trademark has won her accolades from Discovery Channel, FOX, ABC, NBC, TLC, and countless others.

Kristi has come a long way from Venice Beach, and is happy to report that her debt is paid off and you will find nary a package of Ramen in her cupboard.

You will, however, still find flowers in her hair and sunshine in her smile.

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