PRODUCER
TV Pilots, Web Series, Short Films, Feature Films, Music Videos, Web Series, Radio Shows
WRITER
TV Pilots, Webb Series, Shorts, Features, Advice Columnist, Children’s Chapter Books, Radio Programs
DIRECTOR
Web Series, TV Pilots, Short Films, Music Videos
RADIO
Drive Time, Program Host, Interviews, Specials, Fire Coverage, Event Host, Remote Broadcast
ACTRESS/MODEL
Film, TV, Music Videos, Web Series, Commercials, Print/Lifestyle Petite Mature Model/Hand Model
VOCALIST
Session Singer (commercials, publisher/songwriter demos, etc.), musical theatre, opera, live bands
LIVE HOST
Theater and Film Q&A
I was born in a small Catholic hospital in Santa Cruz, CA and my name is a typo: Thresa. Pronounced like the regular one, spelled like somebody was too busy to proofread. It’s why everyone calls me “T.”
Growing up I was often subjected to after dinner ‘lectures’ on the great philosophers. My least favorite was Schopenhauer, a guy who espoused a theory that men were Big Thinkers in life and, unlike women, the only ones who could “see the whole picture.” It just made me hungry to be (and do) both.
It’s why I love production. I see a version of the finished project in my mind, then go to work reverse-engineering the process. Seeing each overall scene, I begin slicing that image up into bite-sized where you start to see things not immediately visible at first glance. Then, sitting with producers and department heads we discover even more information about a project to fully realize what we can accomplish together. I have done this with teams on short films, feature films, web series, music videos and more.
Early on, my work ethic was honed on independent productions where shoe-string budgets, wicked time constraints and a ‘love of the thing’ are your tools to get things done. Small crews where everyone pitches in to do the work, no matter which hat you were initially assigned. My greatest joy is still in crafting a project all they from concept to crafty to post-production and marketing. I have always been multi-hyphenated and slightly caffeinated, so hard work and long hours don’t scare me.
My career has spanned decades in every aspect of artistic expression: from in-front to behind-the-camera to being behind a microphone to being on-stage. I absolutely understand nuance and I also fully comprehend going big or going home, knowing how to adjust the dial for whatever a project requires.
Welcome to Afternoon T. — where the mug is always half-full.
Why T. ?
Actress / Lifestyle Model
Available for work now. [No, really. NOW.] More info. available at IMDB
I am pleased to have been a face for many campaigns over the years, but the most fun was for SweetPainting.com
Writer
Voice-Over / Radio Personality / Vocalist
With a trunkful of 1,001 voices I have never met a character I didn’t like or couldn’t embody. My whole life, I’ve been a wicked mimic and I welcome the challenge of new material and people to become.
As Afternoon T. drive-time radio personality I made it my main goal to make Los Angeles traffic entertaining, delivering traffic every ten minutes “On the 8’s!” I ran my own board, was responsible for precisely timing music, spots and interviews, some of which were sprung on me, depending on which way the programming wind blew that day in the station. In addition to deciphering traffic from three official websites, answering incoming calls from often aggravated Traffic Tippers and making room for breaking news from the newsdesk, there were also *cough* difficult personalities *cough* to tango with. Radio was a constant dance-on-your-toes experience, where switching from comedy to salesmanship to empathy had to be done seamlessly. Even when equipment failed or catastrophes were present (fire, flooding, bomb threats) I am happy to report there was never dead airtime when I was behind the microphone. Honestly. I’d HAPPILY do it again, should winds blow in the right direction.
While at KHTS I also created and hosted Doctor Proctor , a show which gave listeners a chance to peek, with me, over the shoulders of the medical community, discussing exactly what it is they do I also co-hosted the Friday Matinee with George Cummings, the Morning Show host, where we brought the listening audience behind the curtain/camera/microphone/pen for a truly personal glimpse into the creative arts. Archived Programs from KHTS AM 1220/FM 98.1
As a classically trained vocalist (thank you, Seth Riggs and Dr. Joel Ewing), I was a sight-reading session singer for music publishing companies, record labels, radio and television commercials/jingles for years (best job?… working alongside Robert Morse and Sue Raney), but I also had some fun side-gigs ranging from big band, rockabilly, bluegrass, rock and pop. I also once sang live back-up for a metal hair band, but I’m absolutely positive that that performance was mostly about the spiky-hair, leather pants and chains they had me wear. But, we shall not speak of it.
Voicing technical and medical journals for the Braille Institute was something I truly loved and look forward to voicing more audiobooks (especially the challenging works with complicated medical information).
Producer / Director
With my production partners, Andrew Menjivar (aka Rookie Morgan) and Cameron Mitchell, I am proud of the work done by Tequila Mockingbird Productions over the last few years. We completed two feature films (no small feat BTW) and both partners are off pursuing projects on their own now. Here’s what we did together:
Driven: The Tony Pearson Story — a documentary feature about a bodybuilder who overcame incredible odds to pursue the sport he loves. It is truly inspirational and is available on Apple, Amazon and other streaming platforms NOW.
This Sucks — a dark comedy feature about the demons of depression, anxiety and self-doubt who nag and mock and are basic pains in everyone’s backsides. Now available to stream free on TUBI.
Currently I’m in pre-production on two more feature films — Demontia, my own dark comedy horror that I wrote and will direct, and Imposter Syndrome a female buddy comedy written by my production partner Cindy Baer, who will direct.
Before features, it all began with short films.
My very first short film (20 minutes), Strayed — was boot camp film school and wore a lot of hats: writer, producer and actress (not to mention location scouting, wardrobe, crafty and a lot of other tasks the director and I took on). It’s a tale based on an elaborate funeral for a stray cat I’d brought home when I was a teenager living with Joe and Betty Weider. Should you happen to catch it anywhere, know that it is nearly a word-for-word, mostly true, truncated version of the actual story (crafted alongside Director/Co-Writer Heather Edwards). http://www.strayedthemovie.com/
The second short film I created was Azteca Dietica — was inspired by what I believe is THE yummiest vegetarian restaurant Leonor’s (the og is located in North Hollywood, CA) and the equally delcious staff that runs the joint. Here’s a bite-sized trailer:
The third short film (7 min.) is one of my most favorites! Shady Oaks Takedown — on this, I was fortunate enough to be producer and actress (with a wickedly talented cast and crew) in a dark comedy written by award winning author Neal Shusterman. Our band of merry makers made this baby in under 48 hours… for the 48HFP — and nearly wrecked our beloved Andrew Menjivar (“Rookie”), who is truly is the Swiss Army Knife of production. It was this film that started Tequila Mockingbird Productions, a name Cameron Mitchell came up with on the spot when they pressed him for a team name.
BTW if anyone is interested, we’ve crafted the entire story arc for an episodic series of this hilarious group of senior citizens, which honestly should be the wave streamers want to ride — for the growing silver tsunami of viewers.
My beloved husband got a smidge roasted by one of my short films, I Spy a Foodie. He sort of deserved it, for appearing to be as much in love with food as me (or as I was with him) when we were first dating. The man took me to all of the best restaurants the world had to offer and when I decided to treat him to a home-cooked meal — I thought he’d be as enthusiastic about eating it as I was making it. Not so much. So… I made a film about it and what he said (just a different, not-so-happy ending).
For those who want a spicier dish (courtesy of Writer Toni Perrotta), my small but mighty production team offers Gray Matter. It is not your mama’s Golden Girls. This also has an entire story arc for an episodic series.
There have been a couple of webseries along the way, too. Two Chicks and a Truck is a DIY half-hour show set in the quaint coastal farming town of Watsonville, CA featuring two highly watchable women making the most of their next chapter of later life.
You can see the mini-webseries here. There is a season of episodes I’ve crafted, ready to shoot, of these crazy-watchable ladies.
There was also Patron Saint. This little gem came from the wonderfully wicked comedic mind of actress Peggy Glenn (aka Granny Pottymouth). Peggy and I co-wrote the script, and I directed the pilot, which was shot with a skeleton crew over a handful of days. It was super-fun to do, considering the wildly talent group of people I was working with!
