Conversations with Christine Redlin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Redlin

Hi Christine, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Born in the City of Chicago, IL to a large funny spiritual Catholic family I was the happy all hands on deck helper we all had deep love for each other.

I had four other siblings. My older sister Rosemary got her certification in Chicago and is currently working in film and TV as a make-up artist in New York and my younger brother Larry is an industrial painting contractor in Chicago. My oldest sister Lhauri a creative artist and stunning model died tragically when I was 12 and she was 25 and six months later my oldest brother Richard shockingly fell 110 feet from scaffolding on a job site when he was 22 and broke his back and became paraplegic.

I grew up fast and I helped my daddy (Lawrence Norbert Redlin) and mommy (Lorraine Adeline Redlin) who was a pillar of strength and drew from her unwavering faith in Jesus and God to survive these heartbreaking traumas while battling many health issues herself. After daddy died in 2007, I relocated mommy to my home in Beverly Hills where we enjoyed many community activities and I was her daily caregiver for almost 10 years until her passing in 2016 at the age of 92.

My brother Richard and I continued to be close after the initial care for him immediately following his accident. We enjoyed being energetic, athletic and adventurous, so we decided to move West to pursue our creative passions. I relocated to California with Richard in the late 80’s and settled in Beverly Hills to pursue work full time in the entertainment industry.

People would be in awe of him observing all the activities that we did together. We were SCUBA certified in the Cayman Islands, swam and trained with the dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center and I helped to manage his acting career. I introduced him to projects and work associates in my entertainment circles. I assisted him and worked on marketing for an off Broadway musical he produced entitled SUDS — the cast got a spot to perform at the annual televised MACYS Thanksgiving Day parade. In 1993 we produced a dark comedy stage play entitled CAROLS EVE. We produced it at The Met Theater in Los Angeles and it was written by award-winning playwright Pauline Lepor and starred my brother and Alicia Silverstone (CLUELESS). It was exciting and I attended every performance in support to the cast and crew. One evening the incomparable multi-award winning actress Rita Moreno came to see the show as one of the leads was her friend, late actor Allen Garfield. After the play we went to the iconic CANTORS deli to enjoy delicious corned beef sandwiches and lots of laughter.

The doctor’s told my parents that my brother would not live until age 30 with his paraplegia, yet God’s plan had him live until age 69. He passed away in 2021. My care giving and loving friendship with my brother put my life in perspective. During the moments of each day I thank God that I can move my body freely and can see and hear. I am grateful and blessed as I know life can change in an instant.

I am a natural born leader, supporter, joiner and achiever. At an early age, I helped with community, school and church activities. I loved being a Brownie and a Girl Scout — mommy was a troop leader and planned and helped at many community and school events. I enjoyed the different tasks to earn my Girl Scout badge, exploring life, being inquisitive and often was the top Girl Scout cookie seller!

I was a ham at home and at school and was voted most versatile and talented in high school. At age seven I performed and sang as SLEEPING BEAUTY in my backyard on the porch and over 20 neighbors attended. At age 10, I sang a solo of ‘Frank Mills’ from the hit musical HAIR at my summer camp program, at age 13 I was the lead in LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE Operetta for our grammar school Spring Musical. In my Freshman year of high-school I led the student walk-out from the auditorium podium with over 400 students and the majority left and sat outside in support of better pay and conditions for the beloved teachers.
In grammar school and throughout high-school I loved gymnastics, was cheerleader captain, on the pom-pon squad, performed in musical theater, variety shows, played piano and competed and placed in percussion drum and soprano competitions. I would create microphones with lamp wires and perfume bottles taped to them wrapped in foil and had my girlfriends sing with me as if we were a group on stage. I naturally sing Soprano and love to sing jazz and old standards. I was always organizing events for my family and friends and connecting people to work together.

In Chicago I appreciated the melting pot cultures, history and architecture in the city. I loved that we could walk and ride our bicycles all day safely through the neighborhoods and the Lakefront trail. I always wanted to explore new areas and had fun with large family gatherings.

Mommy’s side was Polish, her large family settled in Chicago. I have fond memories of learning to cook, make delicious soups and baking. I learned from mommy as she learned from her mother my grandma Josephine who had an authentic Polish bakery she owned in Chicago in the 1940’s.

My Aunt Helen (Honey) Cooper was the only sister to my mommy and they had 5 brothers. She was a philanthropic socialite and hosted super fun parties at grand historic hotels in Chicago, her Lakefront condominium and at Arlington Park horse race track — many fun glamorous memories.

She was married to R. Cooper Jr. who’s company at the time in the 1930’s when they met, was said to be the world’s largest distributor of General Electric appliances. Fun fact, his daughter Maxine Cooper relocated to Hollywood and was an actress and activist best known for her role as private detective Mike Hammer’s secretary Velda in the 1955 film KISS ME DEADLY, a film noir classic. Maxine married Sy Gomberg an American producer and screenwriter. In 1951 Mr. Gomberg received an Oscar-nomination for Best Screenplay for SUMMER STOCK that starred multi-award winning Hollywood icons Judy Garland and Gene Kelly.

Although my parents both were great cooks we often ate at the many delicious restaurants in the city. Daddy had served in the Navy as Lt. Commander WWII. After the war he and his brother Jack founded Redlin, Inc. an industrial painting contracting business and they formed ‘Jack and the Jesters’ big band that played local gigs in the city – daddy played trombone.

My grandparents on daddy’s side were of German decent he was one of 7 children. His parents and relatives lived in Chicago and Wisconsin. I loved weekends in Wisconsin visiting the rural nature. Daddy and I enjoyed home gardening, hiking and cross country skiing in the Wisconsin Kettle Moraine.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The many tragedies that happened coming from my big family made me vigilant, responsible, loyal, trustworthy and a woman of strength.

My life has not always been smooth. Everybody moves at their own pace, so patience is key to enjoy the good and challenged days.

I am spiritually successful and do not measure success by material gains and amounts of money. Coming from great home spun Midwest family values makes me feel rich.

My days are very full and there is always work to do personally and professionally.

My daddy taught me to be independent and resourceful and I love being alone with God. I enjoy quiet and sounds of nothing, the ocean and nature.
As a Catholic I know that God and Jesus said there would be a lot of challenge and suffering and from those difficult days, I ultimately achieve deep spiritual growth and strength. However, with my faith I will be provided for when it seems the toughest of situations — I know this too shall pass.

I learned that it is important to forgive, be kind, have class, manners and find mentors along the way — and always believe that something wonderful is about to happen.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I live life each day to the fullest. It is my upbeat happy attitude sprinkled with lots of faith, and tenacious passion that keeps my emotional and spiritual fuel tank full.

I do worry at times, yet I pray all day for others and for guidance in my situation and my conscious contact with God is where I draw my strength.

Many people take from others and never extend themselves to help, yet I give and help others often.

For over 25 years, I have a diverse career in entertainment as an event director, creative production executive, author, marketer, actress, voiceover actress, educational TV/film festival documentary producer, creative writer, community and non-profit volunteer and advocate.

Each morning after my prayers I get myself centered, and in my mind I ask God what is his will for me today and how can I use my many divine gifts and talents to help others.

My brand in life is CTR Creations (CTR is my initials). I enjoy working on creative projects in all media to help people feel and think better by using humor and empowerment each day. My current clients are in the areas of marketing and event direction. By referral I work with the private sector, high-net-worth individuals, local politicians, celebrities, companies and non-profits. I have produced over 10 luxury celebrity brand activation gifting lounges during the Hollywood awards season.

My Pastor nicknamed me “The Heat Seeking Missile”, because when I am working I stay laser focused to find the way to do whatever it takes to get to the solution.

I took classes in broadcast media and thought I would pursue a career as a TV news anchor, yet I found most of the news was always dark and tragic, so I gravitated instead towards creative entertainment production and marketing. Enjoying positive stories I was led to produce and write 80 educational shows for VOICES OF TOMORROW that aired on channel LA36 and catered to inspiring and current events affecting the younger teenage generation whom were guests on the show.

I’ve always had a creative flair to do things without having to spend lots of money, because I have worked mostly in a free lance contract capacity – and let’s face it who needs debt stress. When the Great Recession hit in 2008 through 2010, I was motivated to create and write an eBook on cost savings and inspiration entitled:

Life On A Shoestring … In Beverly Hills?

It’s about my life as a single woman renter in Beverly Hills, CA working in the entertainment industry having to stretch my dollars during challenged times. My book Foreword was written by my dear late friend, Academy Award-winning actress Louise Fletcher (ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST). I have had some recent interest to turn my book into a comedic feature film or TV series. Below at the end of this article is a link for readers to download a free copy of my eBook.

I enjoy spending time with my significant other Mark Castaldo, film producer and Founder of Destiny Pictures, LLC. I work on investor relations and marketing for film projects for his company. We produced a compelling film documentary titled MY RUN, that was directed by our very talented late dear friend Tim VandeSteeg, who was a driving force and coined his phrase: ‘Be Powerful, Be Unstoppable’. MY RUN was narrated by Academy Award-winner Billy Bob Thornton. It is a story of a single Father’s quest to run 75 marathons to raise awareness for single parents after losing his beloved wife to breast cancer. In marketing maven mode I worked tirelessly to fill the seats with often double screenings at over 14 nationwide film festivals and the film went on to win 10 best documentary awards — I was very proud of this work.

I’ve served on the Board and/or produced many activities for several non-profits such as: Women In Film Chicago, Al-Anon for friends and families of Alcoholics, Feed My Poor Homeless feeding program, Planet Hope, empowering moms and children coming out of domestic violence created by award-winning actress Sharon Stone and her sister Kelly Stone, Amie Karen Cancer Fund For Children at Cedars Sinai Medical Center founded by my friend and civic mentor MeraLee Goldman, former two time City of Beverly Hills Mayor and Kids Are 1st important child safety awareness program founded by friends Marilyn and Arnie Weinger.

I am a member of the City of Beverly Hills CERT (Community Emergency Response Training) and Just In Case Beverly Hills Emergency preparedness program and served as a volunteer on other community projects and initiatives.

At my parish, the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, CA I work directly with my Pastor on special projects. The parish turned 100 on December 12th, 2023 making it the oldest house of worship in the city. Since I am an alumni of the Team Beverly Hills Civic Leadership program, I understood the steps to secure the Centennial recognition honors for the church, which was exciting for the community and parishioners. I worked closely with the City of Beverly Hills Cultural Heritage Commission to move through the process to list the church as local landmark No. 45 in the register of historic properties. I was honored to write the Centennial proclamation with input from my Pastor and I suggested to the then 2023 Mayor (Hon. Dr. Julian A. Gold, M.D.) that due to this historic first community milestone, perhaps December 12th could be proclaimed as ‘Faith Day’ in the City of Beverly Hills. It is a day to pause, reflect and celebrate faith in spirituality, humanity, and community — the Mayor and City Council graciously approved it.

I served as event director for the Centennial Mass reception with 500 attendees. I secured the food and beverage sponsors and was the liaison to the dignities at this December 12th Mass, as well as the formal Mass with Most Reverend Jose H. Gomez Archbishop of Los Angeles in August of 2023.

I am thankful to have diverse work days. I always am thinking of creative ideas, enjoy going to events and being active in life each day. As I say to my Honey Mark, we must chip away each day, a little effort of something you enjoy is better than no effort at all.

What are your plans for the future?
I have many creative projects on my plate. I am submitting my voice reels to do more voiceover work — I love doing comedic character voices. I am excited about an animated family faith based screenplay I am writing that encompasses music, humor, inspiration and empowerment.

An important dream goal is to create ‘Transitions By The Sea’ — apartment housing for women and children that are homeless. The facilities would be located along the California coast providing a safe serene place that empowers and supports them until God opens the next door in their lives. If there are any transformational sponsors out there that want to help me create this humanitarian passion project … please be in touch 🙂

Life is full of successes and failures and mine is no different. God is always on time. It is not if something will happen, just when it will happen. I believe that often God says no not now as he has other life lessons that I need to learn. If you have a faith of your choice as a foundation you can be empowered to strive for your goals and dreams.

The most important part of my legacy is that I keep my faith first and help as many people as I can. I believe it’s not about the millions of dollars that you make, it’s about the millions of lives that you touch.

The direct link to download a copy of my free eBook Life on A Shoestring … In Beverly Hills? is below:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/115265

Please use code UQ28P at check out the code expires December 31st,
2025

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-redlin-50224b1
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-906529136
• Other: https://www.destinypictures.biz