About Terri
Terri has placed as a WINNER, TOP TEN FINALIST, FINALIST, SEMI-FINALIST, and QUARTER-FINALIST in multiple Holiday and open genre feature film screenwriting contests. She is passionate about crafting uplifting romantic comedies that celebrate women over forty, focusing on second chances, fresh starts, and a love that grows richer over time. As a woman over forty herself, she draws from her own experiences of reinvention to bring authenticity, humor, and heart to every script she writes.
Terri has undertaken a range of educational opportunities in screenwriting, television, film, and acting across institutions including UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, and CSU Northridge. Her screenwriting journey has been shaped by mentorships with Hallmark screenwriter Joany Kane (The Christmas Card), Netflix screenwriter Mahtub Zare Mochanloo (Nobody Wants This.), and with Literary Manager Audrey Knox (Cartel Entertainment). Additionally, she completed screenwriting coursework at UCLA under screenwriter Cindy Davis (Pixar, Disney, Fox, ABC Family).
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With college degrees in education and psychology, and professional experience as both a teacher and school psychologist, Terri brings a deep understanding of human behavior to her storytelling. Her scripts often explore themes of emotional well-being, resilience, and personal empowerment. She has been honored with the Human Rights Award from the California Teachers Association, recognizing her commitment to equity. She spent many years teaching Native Spanish speakers, an experience that further deepened her appreciation for culturally responsive storytelling. One of the most meaningful chapters of Terri’s career was her work with the Native American community, where she taught Native American history and culture, organized cultural events, and provided career counseling. As a person with Native American heritage, these experiences are deeply personal and continue to influence her creative voice and the stories she chooses to tell.
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Terri eagerly anticipates those moments each day when she can immerse herself into the creative realm of screenwriting, accompanied by her faithful canine companion, Monet.

Terri's Feature Scripts

Christmas Wishes, Christmas Kisses
​A Christmas Rom-Com Feature
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When two strangers - a simple Los Angeles schoolteacher who’s sworn off dating actors and a British movie star hiding from fame – are paired together to grant a child’s Christmas wish in a small Native American town, the magic of the season draws them closer until his real identity threatens to tear them apart.
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Comparable: Notting Hill set in a rustic town rich with Native American culture.

The Santa Scoop
A Christmas Rom-Com Feature
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TOP TEN FINALIST, SEMI-FINALIST, and QUARTER-FINALIST in ISA's Emerging Screenwriters Family & Holiday Screenwriting Competition; FINALIST in Hollywood Storytellers Holiday/Family Script Competition; SEMI-FINALIST in the Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards - Diverse Writers Outreach.
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While juggling care for her aging mother and chasing a needed promotion, a skeptical Latina reporter is sent with her charmingly chaotic rival to investigate a viral Santa sighting at a Christmas carnival – only to face a savvy Mrs. Claus, challenges by Santa, an ethical dilemma over a secret recording, and discovering that believing in Christmas magic and each other may be the most important story of all.
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Comparables: Broadcast News meets the lighter The Clauses with a sweet ethical twist.

A Home for the HOWLidays
A Christmas Rom-Com Feature
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WINNER in Hollywood Stortellers Holiday/Family Script Competition; QUARTER-FINALIST in ISA's Emerging Screenwriters Family & Holiday Screenwriting Competition.
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Desperate to reunite with her sister and niece, a selfless woman with zero baking skills — or fondness for dogs — enters a quirky Christmas dog cookie contest for the prize money. When her recipe is stolen and her hopes crumble, she teams up with the town’s charming veterinarian, discovering that the sweetest reward might just be putting herself — and love — first for a change.
Comparable: Nancy Meyers’s Baby Boom with a festive twist of Christmas dog cookies.

(Un)lovable
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A refreshing non-traditional romantic comedy about the journey of finding self-love before rekindling true love, set against the humorous and poignant challenges of navigating the dating world after 40 years of marriage.​
Comparable: Bridget Jones searches for love in her 60s.










