Tessa Pihl has been travelling the world in recent years, trying to establish herself as an actress in Hollywood.
But the former Estevan resident hasn鈥檛 forgotten the time she spent in the Energy City, and how it helped her along her chosen career path.
Pihl moved to Estevan, along with her stepfather Devon Spencer and her mother Kaley Spencer, shortly after she graduated from high school in Kelowna, B.C., in 2014.
鈥淚t was a time in my life that definitely changed how I look at things,鈥� said Pihl. 聽
She immediately started working in the construction industry in Estevan for a summer job. It was just about as far as she could be from her desired career path, but it helped pay for her first year of classes at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.
鈥淲orking for what I wanted motivated me to really work hard in acting school, because I learned a lot there,鈥� said Pihl. 鈥淚 had never done anything like working construction or anything like that before, and Estevan is so much about the oil industry and the construction industry, so it taught me that I could really accomplish anything that I put my mind to.
鈥淚t made me way more confident moving to New York, across the continent, and going to acting school there, even though it (going to New York) was something that I was very scared to do.鈥�
After her first year of college, she returned to Estevan, and worked as a waitress at the Flats Eatery and Drink and at the former Bakken Vapes store in Estevan, to pay for her second year at the academy.
She also spent time volunteering at the Souris Valley Theatre.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 in any projects, or anything like that,鈥� said Pihl. 鈥淚 worked in the concession, and talked to the actors, and talked to a lot of people there.鈥�
After the first year in New York, she transferred to the academy鈥檚 campus in Los Angeles, and graduated in 2016.
Pihl said she grew up dancing in Kelowna, with an emphasis on ballet. She has always been passionate about the arts, and knew from an early age that a performance-based career was the path she wanted to follow.
鈥淎s soon as I went to the audition for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, that was basically the first big acting audition that I had, and the more I acted, the more I realized that I loved it just as much as I loved dance, and that I wanted to dedicate my life to it,鈥� said Pihl.
From there, she realized that she preferred film to theatre, and she wanted a career on the big screen. Pihl is happy with the opportunities she has had so far.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very competitive industry, and every part I get, I鈥檓 really lucky to have the opportunity to work with amazing people who have been in the industry for a long time,鈥� said Pihl.
Pihl was in Naples, Italy, for the filming of 45鈥ood Wine, a film she described as a documentary and a drama about the cultures of the area.
鈥淚t鈥檚 to teach people about that area specifically, but it also had a storyline that went along with the characters,鈥� said Pihl.
Her dancing skills have helped her land lead roles in the music videos for White Noise and You Don鈥檛 Know About Me by musician Ella Vos.聽
鈥淚 auditioned for her with a bunch of other girls, and I got the role as a dancer,鈥� said Pihl. 鈥淭hen as soon as I did that one with her, she really liked working with me, and liked what I did for her videos, and called me back for the second one.鈥�
And she has been in productions like Enjoy the View, Open Mic, On Instinct and Zooey. Some are still in post-production, and haven鈥檛 been released yet. She is also part of a music video that will be released in June.
Pihl has been casted for a lead role in a television show that will be pitched to Netflix and HBO.
After she graduated in May 2016, she didn鈥檛 secure her first project for six months.
鈥淚t鈥檚 discouraging, because you don鈥檛 know anybody in the industry, and I was still trying to get my head shots and my resum茅 together, but you need projects to build your resum茅, and if you don鈥檛 have a resum茅, people don鈥檛 want you for their projects. It鈥檚 really hard to get the ball rolling, but once you get the first project and the second project, then people recognize you and people want to work with you.鈥�
She has met people on sets who mention they are working on another project, and that they would love for her to be involved.
鈥淵ou really just have to take every opportunity you get, and that鈥檚 the only way to keep it rolling,鈥� said Pihl.
Every project leads her to another two opportunities, she said, thanks to being open to other people鈥檚 ideas.
It also helps that she鈥檚 willing to travel for parts, and she loves travelling, so it brings the best of both worlds together.
Pihl expects to be in Hollywood for a while. She will be applying for a visa to remain in the U.S., and she wants to stay down south for three years.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely a dream come true,鈥� she said. 聽
