Tess has written two books, twenty-two short stories, twelve screenplays, six sitcoms, nineteen documentary films, a play, about fifty infomercials, and hundreds of commercials. Her award-winning screenplays have been recognized by the Academy Award Foundation’s Nichol Fellowship, Sundance Institute, the Telluride Independent Film Festival, the Squaw Valley Community of Writers, and purchased by both independent producers as well as major studios.
As a producer, she was at the helm of a sports series on ESPN, and her short film The Middle Passage won the New Orleans, Aspen, Palm Springs, Denver, and Heartlands Film Festival before earning a spot on the short-list for the Academy Awards.
Tess has been writing, producing and managing national television advertising campaigns for many years. In addition to running her own production company, she guided the setup and implementation of the first internet-based television advertising agency, Spot Runner, and served as its first Creative Director. In her two years with the company, she oversaw the production of three thousand (yes, three thousand!) thirty-second commercials. Along with the dust on her shelves are sixteen statues from the Telly Awards, ERA, Jordan Whitney, the International Film and Video Festival, the Astrid Awards, the Houston Film Festival, and the International Cindy Competition.
Her screenplay, Crew, is based on the true story of the 1987 University of Minnesota rowing team. Visit the Crew website for news and updates. The Spanish Acquisition is hot off the press. It’s a classic screwball comedy where murder, revenge, adultery and indigestion lead two desperate screenwriters to the best movie idea they’ve had in years.
Tess has lectured and taught writing, story development and film grammar at California Institute of the Arts. In 2005, she shaved her head and walked 525 miles across Spain.
Hello Ms. Tess…
Happy New Year!
I hope this message finds you doing well. Our email address for you is many years old and got rejected, so I am trying to contact you here.
We just received a “return undelivered” on our holiday card, so it looks like you changed addresses. Could you shoot us an email and let us know your new one and give us an update on how you are doing? It looks like your movie, “Crew” is finally taking off. I saw the update on the website today.
We would love to hear from you, and to see if you if you ever get back this way.
Talk to you soon!
Tim
Hi…I graduated in 1978 as well. i would like to send a donation but don’t have a paypal. Can you send me the address to dend a check to & the name it should be made out to.
Sincerely, Lisa Connolly Catapano
I randomly stumbled upon your site, landing on a page midway through an Assault in Venice. Wow! I ended up spending the last hour or so completely enthralled in the story, moved to tears at many moments, and inspired by how this group of friends pulled together after this horrible trauma. Just wanted to let you know I was very moved by the story. I don’t normally follow blogs, but I will be looking out for your writing from now on.
Wishing you the best,
Christina