Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyrese Saint-Cyr.
Tyrese, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
If you ask my family where my passion for acting grew, they would probably cite the year I was six, when my sisters and I repeatedly hijacked the living room TV to recite “High School Musical” in its entirety. I can confidently say that my singing skills have not improved, but my excitement and grit for the craft of acting absolutely have.
I officially got my start in the Florida Film Market in 2018. I invested in an acting coach, sharpened my abilities, and got signed to my first acting agency. Since then, I’ve worked with many wonderful independent filmmakers and commercial brands such as Heinz, Chewy, and H&R Block. I, along with a few great friends under the production banner, “Trouvaille Pictures,” have even produced a few independent shorts, promotional ads, and a feature film.
Today, my story is still being written, but that same childhood hustle is what keeps me busy every day pursuing my career within the film industry.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Pursuing acting is not a smooth road. Like many things worth doing, it comes with its challenges, and you truly have to love the craft to feel fulfilled. Some of my biggest struggles along the way have been dealing with rejection, balancing my career with a 9-to-5 survival job, and navigating the slow periods where you suddenly book little to nothing after a series of consistent bookings.
Over time, I’ve learned how to deal with these challenges. When it comes to rejection, I don’t take it personally anymore. Maybe I’m not the specific look they want, or they decided to cast a more established actor. What’s meant for me, will be for me.
As for balancing my career with a survival job, my motto is simple, clear for any submissions worthwhile, and if booked, I’ll deal with the logistics when I get there.
During the slow periods, I stay sharp by constantly learning and improving. Whether it’s taking weekly acting classes, watching movies, or studying scenes and monologues. The grind never stops. I’m grateful for some of the challenges I once endured, and the ones I continue to endure. They keep me sharp and ready for what’s to come.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In this day and age, it’s very important to be multi-hyphenate. I am an actor, first and foremost, but I am also a writer, filmmaker, and graphic designer. I graduated from college with a degree in Business Marketing and Graphic Design, with the hope that I can use it creatively. Thankfully, it’s led me to spearhead vision boards, movie posters, pitch decks, and crowdfunding campaigns, not just for my projects but for many other independent productions within the South Florida film community.
What sets me apart is my Afro-Latino identity and my refusal to sit around and wait for permission. A quote I live by comes from my acting coach, Michael Jacques. “Take control of your career…no one knows you better than yourself.”
My mindset was altered that day. I wasn’t booking the type of roles I wanted, and guided by that quote, Keon and I created the exact roles we saw ourselves playing but didn’t have the opportunity to audition for. A lesson learned is that sometimes, you simply have to create your own opportunities. And that’s the mission we are working towards with Trouvaille Pictures.
One of my most proudest achievements is the lineup of films we crafted at Trouvaille Pictures. “The Big Time” (2025) was the very first short film that Keon Gaynor and I wrote, produced, and starred in together. Seeing that exact project be a part of the official selection at the 2025 “Miami Film Festival” was a massive milestone. We are currently keeping that momentum alive with our 2 projects currently in post-production. Our feature film, “Trouvaille,” led by Keon and Alexis Sierra, and “Carnations,” a queer sci-fi romance that I had the privilege to write and direct. I’m incredibly proud of everyone I had the opportunity to collaborate with on bringing these projects to life.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
There’s a famous quote, “to live a life without risks is to not have lived at all.” Even when it comes to a performance as an actor, the bolder of a choice or risk you take, the more elevated your performance can be. Throughout my career, I’ve embraced that mindset. There’s a financial risk to being an actor and filmmaker, but you have to be willing to invest in your future. There’s a risk to everything, from reaching out to an agent for representation to cold messaging an A-List actor or director you admire for advice. All of which I’ve done at one point in my life. Sometimes you fall on your face or get met by silence, but once that risk actually pays off, it is so rewarding.
I was on set for a commercial, and my co-star made a minor mistake. When they were met by criticism, they responded deadpanned and all, “I’m sorry, it’s my first time living, didn’t you ever think of that?!”
Now, it was a sly comment, but it stuck with me. We are here only once, so take risks, have fun, and live a little.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11726010/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyresesaintcyr/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/tyresesaintcyr?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=4cebeed8-c40b-42ee-baea-e7c02a1b878a
Image Credits
-Commercial and Theatrical Headshot by Vivi Images.
-Carnations BTS by Noah Haye
-The Big Time Still by Gregory Starke
-Trouvaille BTS by Brian Diaz
-Knights of The Republic Still by Kings Academy
-Chewtorial Still by Chewy
