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MINI BIOGRAPHY

Tamela D'Amico was born in New York and spent her childhood between there and the Gulf Coast of Florida. This young phenom is what she likes to call a "multi-hyphenate artist" (singer/actress/filmmaker ), currently living in bothLos Angeles and New York City. Her native East Coast roots and love of the jazz age have instilled in her a love of theatrical performance, which has crossed over to many mediums.

Tamela studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute run by David Lee Strasberg who also is credited as one of the Executive Producers on her film "Volare". In addition, she has studied privately in Allan Miller's Master's Class (former students: Meryl Streep, Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman) and is a former student and teacher's assistant for Larry Gold's Master Class in Los Angeles. She was one of 16 students accepted to the competetive and internationally renowned Film School at Florida State University and received a BFA in Film with minors in Music, Theater, Psychology, and Religion.

Although mostly spending her time performing in front of an audience, Tamela first made strides behind the camera. As a much coveted Independent Producer of several Award winning short films, Tamela is no stranger to the festival circuit. Her film "Volare", of which she wrote, produced, directed, and appears briefly was the winner of the Los Angeles Italian Film Award's Best Screenplay Award. Tamela raised independent funds to create "Volare" starring Federico Castelluccio (The Sopranos), which has swept the top prizes ( Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography ) at several film festivals, and most notably, in January 2006 at The American Film Renaissance Film Festival held at the legendary Graumanns Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

The American Film Renaissance Film Festival bestowed the film with a Best Short Film award and screened it in front of The Anthony Hopkins release "The World's Fastest Indian" at the legendary Graumann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, CA. Critics praised this film by bestowing other awards at many other festivals (see blog for an up to date list). This film has become a vehicle to launch her as a fresh female filmmaker to watch in Hollywood, as she was chosen as one of top 24 semi-finalist selected from all over the World (12,000 submissions) by Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett for FOX series "On the Lot", which landed her first look deal with Dreamworks SKG. Tamela will soon be seen and heard singing in the film, “West of Brooklyn” with Joe Mantegna. She recently wrapped a starring role in the thriller, “On A Dark and Stormy Night” in which she can also be heard on the soundtrack with the song "Don't Die>" This fall she is set to star in the feature, “The Arrangement” in between developing a musical and two feature films, most notably, “Chick Flick” which she will be producing and directing. Written by Tristan Carrasco, the comedy tells the hilarious tale of two Hollywood wannabes who accidentally cause their lives to turn into an action adventure movie. It’s described as “Pulp Fiction” with girls. Highly sought after winning countless awards for both producing and directing many shorts, Tamela produced a twenty-two-part Web series based on Susan Arnout Smith’s novel, “The Timer Game” and has just recently finished helming a television pilot called, “Sex Ed:The Series” starring Joanna Cassidy.

Early on, director Frank Capra's biography taught her, "Films are like propaganda, you have to be careful about what you are saying." Believing that phrase translates to all art, Tamela states that presentation and perspective are important to all things. Her favorite films are "It's A Wonderful Life," "Breakfast at Tiffany's," and "Life Is Beautiful." Story is very important to her as well as character. She is a storyteller in her acting, in her music, and in her directing. Frank Capra, Giuseppe Tornatore, and Chris Columbus are inspirations as directors who are true storytellers, championing the little man and really diving in to tell his story.

Federico Castelluccio, Ronnie Marmo, and Ryan Fox in a bakery scene from "Volare." photo by Alex Abercrombie

In addition to her filmmaking endeavors, Tamela can be heard across the land. Radio Distributors, ClearChannel Entertainment and RadioDeluxe, have championed her as a bright new artist to watch. Like Michael Buble, Harry Connick, Jr., and Jane Monheit, she is in short, a throw back to another era. Her debut, Got A Little Story is Executive Produced by Actor/Producer Peter Krause (Six Feet Under, Dirty Sexy Money), Produced by Jimmy Hoyson (GRAMMY Winner) and Arranged and Conducted by Chris Walden (GRAMMY nominee).

Why this style of music? There is an old saying..."One doesn't choose to sing jazz, it chooses you." Her first musical influence was Judy Garland - as a child, Tamela loved watching Garland's vintage television specials on "NY's Nostalgia Network." Other influences for Tamela's love of blues and jazz include Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Keeley Smith, Stevie Wonder, Sarah Vaughan and Bobby Darin. Her debut album "Got A Little Story" distributed by LML Music/Allegro will be released worldwide in April 2009!