Teresa Phung was born Thuthao Huynh Phung on June 29, 1989 in Maplewood, Minnesota. In May 2011, she graduated from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities with a double major in Bachelor of Arts, Theatre Arts and Studies in Cinema & Media Culture (SCMC) with a minor in Cultural Studies & Comparative Literature (CSCL). Phung is an emerging filmmaker with a goal to have a long successful career as a Producer and Director.

THE EARLY DAYS.
No one in her family has seen in coming or knows where the talent derived from. Phung has a strong love and passion for the arts since she was a young child. At the age of seven, she informed her mother that she wanted to be an actor. Since she was raised by a single mother and have to care for two younger siblings, Phung did not studied acting until she was seventeen. Even though she did not have a chance to study acting at a young age, it did not stop her from expressing herself. At the age of nine, Phung began to write short fantasy stories on her first computer. Her first short story was called, Jimmy the Teenage Boy, a story about an alien who is on the run from his planet but caused havoc when he arrived on Earth. At the age of ten, Phung discovered a new passion for dance and photography. When Phung was eleven years old, she was a journalist for her elementary school’s newspaper. Her notable work was the headline news about the Minnesota Kid’s Vote in 2001.

DISCOVERING A NEW SKILL.
Phung stopped writing for her school's journalism but continued to write short stories. At the age of thirteen, Phung overcame a book at the public library about how to write a screenplay. Curiosity led her to write her first screenplay called, Love a Vampire, which was later produced and broadcast on Saint Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN) when Phung was fourteen. Since then, Phung found her medium of art because it was a collaborative art form. Through SPNN, Phung has created a short documentary and two short films. At the age of seventeen, Phung took a break from film to study acting because she believed in order to be a great director, one must knows how to act. With a great mentor, Phung performed in the Madrigal Dinner and a hold a leading role in a short play called, Hold for Three.

HER PASSION BROUGHT HER BACK.
In 2007, Phung was accepted to the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities where she planned to study Computer Science, Biology, or Chemistry after her parents advised her to focus on a field that will give her financial security. Of course, Phung took her parents advice but it was not until the end of her first semester when she performed a monologue called, The Divorce as a part of a final exam for her media class. Phung realized she love storytelling whether it was literary or visually, she enjoys telling stories.

HONING HER SKILLS IN THEATRE & FILM.
Phung studied theatre arts and film production side-by-side during her sophomore year but it was not until her senior year when she picked up her craft again. In November 2010, Phung produced and directed her first student film that was not affiliated with any production classes. Twist of Fate was entered in the Student Union & Activities Film Festival at her university. Throughout her time at the university, Phung served as a Running Crew, Actor, Video Marketer, Media Operator, Costume Stitcher, Lighting Operator, and her favorite, Stage Electrician for the University of Minnesota Theatre Arts & Dance, meanwhile worked as a Production Manager, Director, Assistant Director, Floor Director, Camera Operator, Gaffer, and Makeup Artist. Phung was also employed through the university to work part-time as a TV-Studio Technician.

PRESENT TIME.
Upon her graduation, Phung worked on three separate productions. The day after graduation, she was a Camera Operator and Gaffer for Erikki Houvinen, an artist from Finland, music video. She worked as a Production Assistant for an independent feature film production called, Ultimate Redemption, which was a month long, meanwhile worked as an Audio Operator for Lumnivore Pictures’ short film for the 48 Hour Film Festival, which won three awards: Best Student Film, Best Student Actor, and Best Screenplay. In August 2011, Phung produced and directed her second short film called, Immortality League. Her ability to manage and direct two film productions left an impression where Phung was asked to be an Assistant Director for a student TV-pilot called, Asylum. Recently, Phung collaborated with a Cinematographer and Actress for the Z-Fest Film Festival.

PERSONAL LIFE.
Phung lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota with her family and a dog. She works at MN Original, Twin Cities Public Television (tpt) station as a Production Assistant intern, as well as working as a Portable Electronics Sales Associate for Best Buy. When she is not working on a film project, she enjoys hip-hop dancing, singing, swimming, writing, and reading.

In Spring 2012, Phung will be in filming her own short dramatic film called, Love Letter, and will be working as a Production Assistant for a horror feature film, The White Lady with West 4 Films.