WARNING: The stunts and activities depicted below, despite being performed under controlled conditions, posed serious health risks. Tessa Farrell is a trained performer who conducted the stunts and activities for entertainment purposes only. Her extreme filmmaking methods will not be repeated and were intended to occur only once for her directorial debut film, Cinema Rebel. Please do not attempt to replicate her actions described below as serious injury may result.
Tessa Farrell is a world-renowned actress and filmmaker who was born in Scottsdale, Arizona to Catherine McGinley and Scott Farrell, the novelist under the pen name Scott Falcon. Tessa has Italian as well as Irish, Cherokee, and German ancestry. The first born among all her siblings, Tessa has one sister, Kelsey, and two brothers, Ryan and Shane.
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.
After high school, Tessa's academic studies lead her to earn a BA in film at The University of Texas, where one night, while out dancing with friends, she was scouted and asked to perform as a principal model and dancer in Tony Parker's debut music video "Balance-Toi". Tessa fell in love with the thrilling energy of a set and went on to grace magazine covers and billboards as a model while shifting her academic focus to the craft of acting. Her performance training seemed to rapidly explode into her attendance at 7 different acting studios to learn 7 different techniques in hopes to one day form her own "secret sauce." Once her film degree and spot on the Dean's list was complete, Tessa embarked on a journey to Los Angeles where she initially embraced opportunities to play leading roles in indie films like "The First Born" and "The Madness Within" while also lending her talents to commercials for brands such as Apple, Nike, Dish Network and Dodge.However, the traditional Hollywood path was not without its challenges. Tessa grew disheartened by frequent typecasting as the "dumb hot chick" and pervasive harassment attempts from industry figures. This adversity fueled her determination to create meaningful roles for herself, leading her to step away from auditions and into the world of screenwriting.
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.
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