( ENSPIRE Entertainment ) Writer Kristina Denton on Crafting a Gritty Noir and Her Unexpected Memoir on Masculinity
Kristina Denton has teamed up with Ryan Curtis to create a crime thriller called “Hollywood Grit.” The writer, producer, and actress sets the scene for this story about a detective who is forced to face mobsters, starlets, and their own demons. They soon discover the dark truth behind the flashing LA lights after his daughter disappears from a Hollywood jazz club. It has an all-star cast consisting of Max Martini, Tyrese Gibson, Patrick Duffy, and Linda Purl, just to name a few. “Hollywood Grit” will hit theaters on August 22. Besides this project, Denton has made her debut as a first-time author with a memoir called “You Don’t Know Dick.” A chronological depiction of her time working at a men’s erectile dysfunction clinic. Giving a raw, funny approach to sensitive topics, Denton explores how the experience helped shift her perspective and navigate her own issues of grief, identity, and modern masculinity.
Denton shares with us the collaboration process with Ryan Curtis and the inspirations for the film. In addition, she explains the experiences she shared in her memoir “You Don’t Know Dick” about working at an ED clinic and how it shaped her views of her identity, grief, and masculinity. Furthermore, Denton describes her versatility as a writer, actress, and producer, and how it has guided her in the writing process for “Hollywood Grit.” She mentions the most memorable moments working with the cast for the film and the intersectionality between both her memoir and film project, and the writing strategies to make them both a success.
How was your collaboration process with Ryan Curtis and the inspiration to explore a darker, sinister side of LA’s glamour in this film?
Ryan and I have always balanced each other’s strengths in our collaborations. He brings his director’s eye for vision and story building, and I bring my love of character, dialogue, and finding the humanity even in flawed people. Together, we wanted to peel back the shiny surface of Los Angeles and expose the shadow side: the desperation, the hunger, and the dangerous allure of chasing fame. I think we can all relate to chasing something just out of reach, something you’ve wanted your whole life. The “dark glamour” was our way of telling the truth about this city; it’s intoxicating, but it can eat you alive if you’re not careful.
What made you decide to share your experiences working at an ED clinic in your upcoming memoir “You Don’t Know Dick,” and how did that time shape your views on grief, identity, and masculinity?
That job was never part of my dream, but it ended up transforming me. I was an office manager at a wellness clinic who turned into a “dick fixer” because I was the only employee. My father died just after I got certified. I was full of grief and lost in my own identity crisis. Suddenly, I found myself working with men in their most vulnerable state, stripped of all the bravado we normally associate with masculinity. It cracked me open seeing how much shame men carry around their bodies, especially when their ability to perform sexually is at risk. It helped me confront my own shame and understand my father in ways I never did when he was alive. Writing “You Don’t Know Dick” became both therapy and comedy for me. It’s raw, funny, and deeply personal, but at its core, it’s about humanity: what we hide, and what happens when we finally talk about it.
How does your versatility as a writer, actress, and producer give you a vantage point in the industry and influence your writing process for “Hollywood Grit?”
Wearing all three hats forces me to think holistically, and I think it’s vital to doing your job well in any role. It’s almost like a team sport, each member has their role and value. As an actress, I know how a line of dialogue feels to live through, whether the character would or wouldn’t authentically speak a certain way. As a writer, I’m always asking: what’s the emotional arc, what’s the deeper theme, or the thing the character is hiding? And as a producer, I have to think pragmatically: how can this be shot, what’s the budget, what’s possible? That combination allowed “Hollywood Grit” to not only get written in a matter of weeks, but also helped us execute it in just a few months. We created a story with heart, but it’s also cinematic and efficient, designed to actually get made rather than sit in a drawer.
What was the most memorable moment when working with your phenomenal cast during production for “Hollywood Grit?”
It’s tough to pick just one, but I really enjoyed filming the opening scene with our lead, Max Martini. It was a freezing cold night in February. We were on an overnight shoot in what felt like the middle of nowhere. Somehow, Max kept finding new and interesting ways to play the same moment, and it kept us laughing through our chattering teeth. He was incredible even in the rain, cold, and getting the crap kicked out of him over and over again, like he does the whole movie. It was a reminder of why we do this: those moments of pure magic where story, performance, and passion collide.
Based on your experience working on two different projects, what common thread has helped you with your writing for “Hollywood Grit” and “You Don’t Know Dick,” which have led to both successful results?
The common thread is both authenticity and vulnerability, whether it’s a character on the streets of LA or a man lying on a treatment table in the clinic. I’m obsessed with what people hide, and what happens when those masks crack and the real, screwed up version emerges. Both projects required me to dig deeper, to ask uncomfortable questions, to tell the truth, and bleed on the page, even when it wasn’t pretty. That’s what resonates with audiences: honesty wrapped in story, the messiness of facing our flaws and still getting out of bed to try again tomorrow. It’s the bridge between “Hollywood Grit” and “You Don’t Know Dick;” two very different worlds, but both driven by the raw, unfiltered human experience. I think audiences appreciate seeing the hero make mistakes and face their imperfections. It gives us all permission to do the same.
Denton has many contributions and accomplishments in the entertainment industry, including “Bonded,” “Ladysitter,” and Maxie Solters’ “CLIMAX! The Series.” She has appeared in “Redemption Day,” “Scream: The Fan Favorite,” and the popular Chinese TV series “Seven Days.” For more information on “Hollywood Grit,” check out the YouTube trailer release. For more updates on Kristina Denton, follow her on Instagram. Her book “You Don’t Know Dick” will be released in early 2026, so keep an eye out.
Related Articles: Court TV Renews Hit Original Series ‘Interview With a Killer’, “Cooking Sessions With Tamar & Ms. E” Returns to “CLEO TV!”
