It began with a conversation between two friends on MSN. Trish Ellis wondered, about “Witchblade” and “Tomb Raider,” "Wouldn't that be awesome to have the two of them in a movie together?" and her friend, H.R. “Roach” Crystal, replied, “Write it, and I will shoot it.”

Roach has worked on numerous videos including feature films, shorts, music videos as well as much work in the theatre, recording performances. Picking up the nickname “Roach” in grade six due to a teacher who was unable to pronounce her middle name, Roach was inspired by Ellis’ question. She decided that it was time to, “Go big, or go home and watch someone else’s success on DVD.”

As Sara Pezzini is Roach’s favourite kick ass female character, the thought of creating her own “Witchblade” film, combined with Lara Croft from “Tomb Raider” and working with her friend Ellis, this was the project to bring to “go big” on.

Pezzini is a rich character, a logical choice for a comic book character to bring to the screen. “She's human, deals with human issues, but manages to find a strength outside of her ‘special weapon, that makes her all that more attractive and someone who should be idolized,” says Roach about the character.

The decision wasn’t a small one. “They don't make words that define the amount of work that goes into an independent film,” explains Roach. While a feature film uses a crew of hundreds and millions of dollars, an independent film gets its funds generally from individual donators or investors, while working with a crew a fraction of the size of a feature. It’s about making a movie only with what you have, but, even more, it means focusing on story and having a cast and crew that is passionate about the film being made.

“Awakenings” follows Sara Pezzini, a New York police detective, and current wielder of the Witchblade, after the loss of her love, Concubar. Invited by her friend, Lara Croft, to Britain for a vacation away, instead Pezzini arrives at Croft’s manor which is under siege. The two friends are soon involved in a situation that connects Croft’s tomb raiding with the mysteries of the Witchblade, which Pezzini wants nothing to do with, blaming it for the death of Concubar. Set to begin filming in April, “Awakenings” is accepting donations at this time. To make a donation, and to get more information about the film, please visit the official site at http://www.roachsrealm.com/awakenings You can also join the new “Awakenings” official mailing list from the main page as well, to get the latest updates and to be able to discuss the movie with other interested fans and the crew of the film.