Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Pfeiffer.
Hi Amanda, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Thank you so much for taking the time to let me share my story! I’m a seventh-generation Texan from the Houston area, and from a very young age, I subjected my parents and younger brother to many living room performances. I think I’ve always felt the most like myself when I’m singing or playing a character. I grew up performing at church and in school musicals, and filled journals with characters and scenes that inspired me or made me laugh. After high school, I studied English and Journalism at the University of Texas and started acting in projects around Austin. Through the university’s UTLA program, I spent a semester in Hollywood learning about film development and production while interning with Miller Management and Atlas Entertainment. It gave me a front-row seat to how film and TV actually come to life and I really enjoyed that experience.
And yet, even though LA was exciting, my heart was in Texas. Acting opportunities here were more limited at the time so, after graduating from UT, I put the acting and writing dream on the shelf and found myself pursuing another passion – advocating for others through the law. I earned my JD from South Texas College of Law and received a fellowship to represent immigrant victims of domestic violence in family court. It was meaningful work and taught me so much about strength, dignity, and the power of someone believing in you.
When I became a mom, I stepped back from full-time law to focus on my family. But a few years into motherhood, the desire to create and perform kept resurfacing, and I started researching what opportunities might be possible. A silver lining of 2020 was that acting classes and auditions went virtual, making this dream of mine accessible again. With my family’s encouragement, I returned to acting classes, then auditions, then eventually back to sets, striving to trust that spark God placed in me from the beginning. Over time, I’ve been able to tackle a variety of projects that stretch me as both an actor and a writer. I signed with the Pastorini-Bosby agency and am so grateful for their continued advocacy and partnership in these pursuits. I also founded SlideLight Productions to create and champion meaningful Texas-based storytelling.
Today, I split my time between motherhood and taking care of my family, while fitting in auditions and acting opportunities and writing and producing films rooted in the Texas community I love.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not! Balancing a creative career with being a present mom and wife has been my biggest challenge. Acting schedules are unpredictable, so every opportunity requires a lot of planning and a strong support system. I’m so grateful for my husband, my parents and my in-laws who keep the plates spinning when I have to be away. I want to teach my kids to follow their dreams, and part of that means surrounding yourself with a village who believes in you.
Coming back to the industry after time away also brought plenty of imposter syndrome. You know the voice that asks, “Who do you think you are?”… I’ve learned that it likes to show up right when you’re stepping into your calling. But each time I’ve pushed past the doubt, whether in an audition, on a set, or in sharing a script, it’s grown quieter.
What has made all the difference is the people God has placed around me. My family and friends have cheered me on through the awkwardness, the failures, and the slow seasons. Their encouragement has been the reminder I’ve needed to keep showing up, even when the path isn’t straight or easy.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an actor, writer, and attorney focused on Texas-rooted stories that blend humor, heart, and faith. I’ve explored many genres, but I naturally gravitate toward comedy. I love to find light in hard places and give audiences permission to laugh, even in the middle of the mess.
Through SlideLight Productions, I develop and support films and creative projects that entertain, and shine light in a world that’s often very dark. I’m proud that my script As Luck Would Have It was a semifinalist at the Austin Film Festival and my short film Write On won a Special Jury Remi Award at WorldFest Houston, affirming that stories like these can resonate far and wide. I also use my legal background to support the work of other independent artists, coming on in a producer role to help filmmakers start their LLC, copyright their work, review contracts or apply for grants.
This circuitous route from law to filmmaking, paired with my faith, drives me to create art with purpose and joy. I’m grateful to be part of Texas’s growing creative community and excited for what’s ahead. I’ve co-written a Christmas rom-com with my dear friend and frequent collaborator, Sara Henderson, called Winter White set to begin production in Fredericksburg, Texas in 2026. I’m also gearing up to film As Luck Would Have It in Waco next year, partnering again with Jenerro Wade of Banjo Beaver Productions. This script was the 2024 Screenplay Winner for the Waco Independent Film Festival and I can’t say enough about the support and encouragement we’ve received from Samuel and Louis, the festival’s founders. Filmmaking is a collaborative art and when you get the right team together, it’s just magic.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m a bit of a storytelling nerd, so I’m always reading Tom Vaughn’s Story and Plot newsletter. The Dailies helps me keep up with the industry without falling into an internet rabbit hole. For podcasts, Amy Poehler’s Good Hang and the SmartLess Podcast keep me laughing and reminded that creativity should be fun. And on my best days, I try to start with a devotional. New Morning Mercies or Bob Goff’s Catching Whimsy are my go-to’s, so that my heart’s in the right place before the chaos begins.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @amandavpfeiffer
- Other: https://linktr.ee/amandavpfeiffer
Image Credits
1) with Lee Majors in the Sound of Willow by Wellings Films, photo by Ray Kuglar
2) with Sara Henderson at the “If I Could Ride Again” Texas premiere
3) at the Write On Premiere with Jenerro Wade of Banjo Beaver Productions
4) If I Could Ride Again premiere
5) Poster for Write On, by Michael Cortez
6) still, Write On
7) If I Could Ride Again, BTS
8) Claire McAdams photography
9) Claire McAdams photography
