Who’s Who Geek Edition: Kristen Nedopak

I decided to do a set of mini interviews with people I’ve interacted with and have extraordinary backgrounds. Many I’ve met via Facebook and many I’ll meet when I attend SDCC for the first time this July. Next up is geek turned actress/host, Kristen Nedopak!

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Name: Kristen Nedopak

Online Handle: @Nedopak
Site: Everything you ever needed to know about me: http://kristennedopak.com/ (and something I rarely use: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kristen-Nedopak/109913792427313)
Age: 27-32 ;)
Favorite Cartoons: My fav character growing up was Lance from Voltron, who I had a serious crush on. What can I say, I like smart asses. I also loved He-Man and She-Ra! Currently, Family Guy… freakin’ hysterical.

Favorite Movie(s): Lord of the Rings! The Two Towers in particular. The battle of Helms Deep is one of the most intense, heart-breaking-yet-hopeful scenes I’ve ever seen. I’m waiting for another film to come along that is as brilliant with all of the pieces in place (visuals AND epic story), but I haven’t seen it yet! Also Star Wars, Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, and Army of Darkness. Plus, like, every 80’s/90’s comedy, like Better Off Dead. Coming soon: Prometheus!

Favorite TV Shows: Spartacus, Game of Thrones, Sons of Anarchy, The Vampire Diaries, Breaking Bad, Doctor Who… the list goes on. SO much good television on these days. I worshiped Battlestar Galactica when it was on. Oh, and I am a huge American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance fan. I grew up on Star Search and love seeing people get the opportunity to follow their dreams… sue me!
FavE Book Series: Fantasy: Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time. Sci-fi: Dune. Classics: The Count of Monte Cristo, Dracula, Mists of Avalon.
Favorite Weapon: The Broadsword! (I had to throw that one in there)
Idol: Lucy Lawless. She is a goddess, and one of the funniest, most raunchy-yet-talented actresses out there right now.

L: The first thing I noticed as I researched/stalked you, was you listed Dothraki as one of your native languages. Game of Thrones obsessed is one of the few things that describe me, so I gotta ask, have you read the books as well? Regardless, how awesome is the story!?

KN: Oooh, I have a stalker and it’s a girl! How exciting. ;-) I have read all of the books. A Storm of Swords is one of the best freakin’ books ever, right?! The series story itself is amazing, and even though it doesn’t have as much “fantasy” (i.e. magic) as most of the books I read, it has the dark political drama and high stakes situations I adore so much in this genre. I LOVE stories where we see humans trying to survive in a cruel world. Minor spoiler alert: I can’t wait for new fans of the show to see what I already know will happen… they’re gonna crap their pants! Lots of death, people. That’s what makes fantasy so good. More people should read fantasy books!

L: I feel that way each time someone asks me a question who hasn’t read the books. I just say PLEASE GO READ IT SO I DON’T SPOIL YOU. Well, that and no one is safe so don’t get attached, hahaha. Let’s talk a little about ThinkHero and Outta This World. You contribute to both regularly and it seems like the fantasy genre is your forte, be it cosplaying as a dragon or just talking about some of your favorite shows. Is it easy for you to put things you love to paper or do you struggle finding the words?

KN: Fantasy is definitely my favorite genre. I’m all about swords and dragons! I read a lot and have always been a creative writer, so thewriting of my own ideas, in my own words, comes naturally to me. Now speaking them is something different! Being an actress who was used to working with a written script, sharing my personal opinions on Think Hero was actually difficult for me to handle at first. I’d babble A LOT. I finally realized that every thought needed some sort of format and end point, and people want to hear the truth, not fluff. I eventually got the hang of it…. which means I talk even more! (My poor co-hosts!) Plus I can just be Kristen, which is really fun in itself and one of the reasons I fell in love with hosting.

I do also struggle with dialogue in my film work. I get stuck with how my characters will tell my story as another person. Definitely something I’m working on, but it’s probably why I rely so much on the visual aspect of my work. I’m all about the badass look! I went to school for art and have a photo realistic style, so it’s fairly easy for me to create exactly what I have envisioned in my head or see in a photo in my films, costumes and other work. I did a 2″ x 3″ Chewbacca I painted at Denise Vasquez’s birthday party to prove it! Outta This World was my first blog and video show. I don’t update it as often as I like these days, but it’s still my little baby! I literally just find really cool art online and share it (thank you epic artists out there creating the goods!)

L: Since you seem constantly doing something amazingly cool, what kind of projects do you have in the works?

KN: I have way too many projects going on! Again… an Aries thing. Sigh. I’m the co-creator and host of Fight Class, a show about swordfighting in film, and we are about to release episode 5, a tribute to legendary swordmaster Bob Anderson. We recreate a scene from one of his films–The Princess Bride–and I get to play Inigo! I’m also working on a few more SKYRIM parodies (for those of you who saw SKYRIM: To Lydia with Love), and I’m in the midst of pitching a TV show (which, sadly, I can’t discuss). I just booked a cameo in the web series Jedi Camp, which sounds like a lot of fun and is for a great cause (to stop bullying in schools). Our Geek Girls Create panel just went to WonderCon and was accepted to GeekGirlCon in Seattle in August, and now we are crossing our fingers that we get into Comic-Con as well. Lastly, I’m partnering with someone on a HUGE geek event… which shall be unveiled in a few months. I honestly don’t sleep.

L: Everyone has a science fiction property that means the world to them, be it Star Wars, Back to the Future, or even E.T. What’s yours?

KN: Star Wars! I grew up watching the trilogy every Thanksgiving (thanks to a million older boy cousins!) DUM DUM DUM DUM DA DUM DUM DA DUM! Geekgasm alert. For the record, E.T. was the first film I ever saw in the theater. I want to give major props to BSG too. One of the best, newer sci-fi shows to come along in a very long time. So say we all! FRAK YEAH! I have strong suspicions that I’m really a Cylon, so…

L: You also seem to dabble in a little bit of everything including making jellyfish, if I’m to believe everything you tweet! What’s some of your favorite crafts to do on a regular basis, if any?

KN: Costumes!!! I make a lot of them. Sometimes for fun, but I also make/design wardrobe for all of my films and photo shoots. My closets are FILLED with completed garments and materials. I have made sooooo many different types of faeries in the last few years, since I go to Faerieworlds every summer with friends and it’s all about costumes. (If you’ve never been, it’s a must!) And yes, I made a dragon once too! Those wings were tough. I am hoping to outdo myself with an epic costume for SDCC this year.

The jellyfish are for my birthday party. I’m uber obsessed with throwing parties that make my friends feel like you’re in another world. So, most have themes. One year I turned my house into a spaceship, and this year it’ll be Atlantis! The jellyfish will be iridescent and lit by small LEDs, then hoisted up to look like they are floating in the water above us. Ok, now I REALLY hope they work out! No pressure, Kristen.

L: I ask this question of everyone, so be honest: If aliens landed in front of you and, in exchange for anything you desire, offered you any position on their planet, what position would you want? I know I’d crap my pants.

KN: Are you kidding? I’m an A-type female Aries I’d want to RULE their planet! I’d, of course, ensure we didn’t create any laws against pooping your pants. ;-P

Thanks for that, Kristen!!

About the Author

Leia Calderon

With an emphasis on POC & women creators, Leia loves to regularly tackle the comic book industry. Unfiltered and bold, she works in comics, co-writes Sub Cultured's Game of Theories YouTube series, and co-starred in Sub Cultured's web show, Strong Female Characters.

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