Teri Rusike

Teri Rusike writes for both screen and page, mostly as a way to process her ongoing identity crisis. Drawn to themes of displacement and the struggle of existing between two worlds, she channels her existential dread into coming-of-age stories—because what’s more universally painful than growing up? Her writing blends truth with comedy, using self-deprecation as both an art form and a coping mechanism.

When she’s not writing, Teri is a wannabe gamer (meaning she sometimes dies in the tutorial and plays on storymode), a knitter(who may or may not finish projects), and an avid reader (because fictional worlds are far superior to real life). Overall, she’s a committed escape artist, always looking for new ways to flee reality.

Somehow, this approach has earned her recognition in some competitions, including placing twice as Final Draft Quarterfinalist, an Austin Film Festival Second Rounder, An Atlanta Film Festival Semi-Finalist and the first-place winner for a pilot at Slamdance in 2023. She was also a 2020 FilmNation/WGAE New York Screenwriting Workshop Fellow, proving that occasionally, imposter syndrome is just wrong.