THE TEAM
TESSA FARRELL
Artist, Founder/CEO
After earning a BA in Radio-TV-Film from The University of Texas and gracing magazine covers, billboards, and music videos as a model, Tessa embarked on a journey to Los Angeles where she initially embraced opportunities as an actress, appearing on HBO's "Entourage" and taking on leading roles in indie films like "The F
Artist, Founder/CEO
After earning a BA in Radio-TV-Film from The University of Texas and gracing magazine covers, billboards, and music videos as a model, Tessa embarked on a journey to Los Angeles where she initially embraced opportunities as an actress, appearing on HBO's "Entourage" and taking on leading roles in indie films like "The First Born," "Diamond," and "The Madness Within." In her spare time, Tessa lent 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 a "dumb hot girl" and pervasive harassment attempts made 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, and 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+. This film went on to receive over 18 award wins and nominations at festivals and is currently being rebranded into the upcoming production, Cinema Legend. Alongside this movie sits 10 additional films that Tessa and the Vital Spark team are working passionately to transform from the page to our screens.
CODY MILLER
ARLES NETHERWOOD-SCHWESIG
ARLES NETHERWOOD-SCHWESIG
Associate Producer
Cody Miller always has a desire to create. Ever since he was a child he always had a passion for filmmaking as well as storytelling. He remembers creating short films with his younger brother on the weekends. After graduating Elon University with a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Television Arts in 2019, Miller moved out
Associate Producer
Cody Miller always has a desire to create. Ever since he was a child he always had a passion for filmmaking as well as storytelling. He remembers creating short films with his younger brother on the weekends. After graduating Elon University with a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Television Arts in 2019, Miller moved out to Los Angeles to pursue his dream in entertainment. His first few jobs after graduating were on countless film and television productions as a Production Assistant, where he learned how the movie making machine operates on a larger scale. Despite, working with some of Hollywood's best brightest minds, he always knew that producing is his end goal. In fact, he has produced a wide variety of content ranging from short films to music videos. From the moment he joined the team at Vital Spark Productions, Cody has been instrumental in helping the company in developing and packing projects to potential investors and partners. Finally, Cody Miller and doesn't have any intention of stopping anytime soon.
ARLES NETHERWOOD-SCHWESIG
ARLES NETHERWOOD-SCHWESIG
ARLES NETHERWOOD-SCHWESIG
Assistant Director
Originally inspired by the beautiful and majestic natural landscapes of his native New England, Arles has always had a passion for photography and theatre. As he got older, that interest expanded to include film and television. Motivated by the ability of art to inspire and the powerful stories it can tell, he attended C
Assistant Director
Originally inspired by the beautiful and majestic natural landscapes of his native New England, Arles has always had a passion for photography and theatre. As he got older, that interest expanded to include film and television. Motivated by the ability of art to inspire and the powerful stories it can tell, he attended Champlain College. There he received his BFA in Filmmaking, with a focus on producing and directing, while also learning business. While in college he spent long hours improving his skill behind the lens. After graduating, Arles made his way to Los Angeles to continue his career. He lives there today and continues to hone his skills. In addition to the arts, he is an avid petrol-head and passionate fan of Formula One.
ANDREW LUFF
ARLES NETHERWOOD-SCHWESIG
ANDREW LUFF
Office Assistant
Andrew Luff’s journey into the entertainment industry came as a complete accident - from the creative mind of his childhood babysitter. In an effort to keep Andrew from bouncing off the walls of his suburban Texas home, his sitter began filling their time with making weekly lip synching videos to the hottest jams of the
Office Assistant
Andrew Luff’s journey into the entertainment industry came as a complete accident - from the creative mind of his childhood babysitter. In an effort to keep Andrew from bouncing off the walls of his suburban Texas home, his sitter began filling their time with making weekly lip synching videos to the hottest jams of the 2000s. This ignited a new passion in him, eventually driving him to trade in the pastures of Texas for the bright lights of Los Angeles, studying at the University of California - Los Angeles, where he pursued a Bachelors of Arts in Theater with an Emphasis on Acting. While studying the classics of the stage, that itch for filmmaking motivated Andrew to write, produce, direct, and act in a variety of short films, web series’, and comedy sketches throughout his collegiate career. In the past couple of years, Andrew has been able to explore multiple aspects of the industry, including film, theater, interviewing, music, social media, events, and fundraising. With Vital Spark, Andrew utilizes the full range of his skillset, supporting a variety of team initiatives, ranging from operational to creative to organizational. He can’t wait to show the world what we’ve got planned!
INTERNS
TIMOTHY McBRIDE
TIMOTHY McBRIDE
TIMOTHY McBRIDE
Development & Social Media Intern
Timothy McBride grew up in New Jersey and his passion for filmmaking began as a kid when his father gave him a camera and he started to make short-videos with his friends. Wanting to expose himself to the world of Hollywood, he left home and attended California State University, Northridge. Achieving his B
Development & Social Media Intern
Timothy McBride grew up in New Jersey and his passion for filmmaking began as a kid when his father gave him a camera and he started to make short-videos with his friends. Wanting to expose himself to the world of Hollywood, he left home and attended California State University, Northridge. Achieving his Bachelor’s in Entertainment Media Management, at school he’s been able to work on a wide range of productions. At his first job, he learned the ins and outs of social media content development, furthering his expertise in understanding user/audience demand. Between college & his first job at a production company, he’s recognized his drive for producing. Joining Vital Spark Productions, he’s eager to help launch their debut film slate and collaborate with an experienced team to achieve new goals and make an imprint.
JASMINE FOX
TIMOTHY McBRIDE
TIMOTHY McBRIDE
Development & Social Media Intern
Jasmine Fox, a senior at Rider University studying Film and Television, is passionate about storytelling and production. She has experience in casting, managing production schedules, planning live events, and creating engaging social media content. She’s excited to be one of the 2025 Vital Spark Interns, b
Development & Social Media Intern
Jasmine Fox, a senior at Rider University studying Film and Television, is passionate about storytelling and production. She has experience in casting, managing production schedules, planning live events, and creating engaging social media content. She’s excited to be one of the 2025 Vital Spark Interns, bringing her creativity, skills, and enthusiasm to new projects while learning from industry professionals.