"In film school I was taught there are virtually no films that are 100% original anymore. Professors kept saying... "Everything possible with film has already been done. You name it.. it's been done. Accept that and move on." To put it simply, let's just say... I never moved on."
By age 3, Tessa was active in choir, Girl Scouts, gymnastics and dance; and frequently found herself winning public large scale coloring contests. Tessa's adolescent years were spent attending public schools and staying active in hobbies like ice skating, soccer, yearbook and and nce. Tessa's acceptance into a competitive magnet dance program deepened her adoration for this art form and laid a foundation that would soon lead Tessa to her very first professional role on a set. During high school, to survive the turbulent waves of a split home and a changing zip code, when Tessa wasn't dancing, singing, or playing soccer.. she was watching movies. Their magical ability to transport her into a completely new world and shift focus from her own life to that of the characters in the film, lit a spark deepen within her heart that would one day grow into a blazing fire.
While continuing to evolve as a performer, Tessa honed her skills in improv at UCB and showcased her versatility on the show "Barbee Rehab." Her deep-seated passion for cinema soon opened doors to her screenwriting where she was entrusted with adapting "Paralyzed But Not Powerless" for the big screen. Embracing her transformation into a filmmaker, Tessa thrived in timed filmmaking competitions, consistently earning accolades for her work as the star/writer/director. With the advent of Apple's first smartphone featuring a 4K camera, Tessa began crafting short films using her iPhone, often collaborating with her friend Arles Netherwood-Schwesig. When collaboration wasn't possible, she took on the challenge of being a one-person film crew, driven by a desire to keep production costs low and creativity high. In 2017, a simple change to hair color sparked a wave of recognition, branding her as the "real-life Barbie" capable of achieving anything she set her mind to. Inspired by a Barbie movie in development at Sony, Tessa crafted a treatment and teaser, which, although it went undiscovered, laid the groundwork for an even more ambitious project.
Drawing from her Hollywood experiences and unearthing hidden facets of herself, Tessa expanded her concept into "Cinema Legend," initially titled "Cinema Rebel." This groundbreaking film introduces Daisy Blaine, a motion picture artist who can seamlessly wear multiple production hats—one, two, three, or even 70+.
Cinema Rebel went on to receive 18 award wins and nominations at festivals and is still in queue for up to 6 new world records certifications. Cinema Rebel was never released to the public as it is now in process of being rebranded into Cinema Legend and prepped for new production where it intends to host one of the greatest A-list ensemble casts of all time. In addition to this movie, Tessa and the rest of the Vital Spark team are working to bring the remaining 9 movies on Vital Spark's debut slate to your screen.