Today, we’d like to introduce you to DeAndre Harris II.
Hi DeAndre, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I started acting in 2016, my senior year of high school, and from there, I followed through with it. In college, I graduated with a degree in Communications with an emphasis in Theatre from Tennessee State University.
Throughout college, I performed in multiple community musical theatre productions with Circle Players and The Larry Keeton Theatre. I was also selected by the Nashville Rep to play a small role in ‘A Raisin in the Sun,’ which had Eddie George and Tamiko Robinson-Steele performing.
In college, I found my love for writing by taking a playwright class. At that time, I knew I wanted to write for film, so for my senior project, I came up with the idea of my first feature film entitled ‘Lucid.’ Lucid is about friends who tap into extraordinary abilities to defeat a sinister force trapping them in a deadly dream world, breaking free to reality after learning to conquer their inner demons.
Lucid has won multiple awards as a screenplay during the film festival circuit that I put it through. Including a Quarter-Finalist Award in the Nashville Film Festival. I have written additional screenplays and series such as ‘Ink, Stage, and Spice’, ‘Lunch’, which is enter post-production, and another feature film that I am still working on currently titled ‘Requiem’.
This past year I started the production HSD FILMS, with Alexis Sabo and Joshua Diolosa. With HSD FILMS, we want to make the films and TV shows we want to see. ‘Lunch’ is our first short film for the production company, and we could not be more excited to get it out there into the festival circuit and then out into the world.
We have a pipeline of films and screenplays that we want to make into films, so be on the lookout.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been a relatively smooth road.
I remember when I first wrote ‘Lucid’ and presented it in my senior project. My professor told me that it was a good framework. Looking back at it now, I can see that it has grown too much, but a lot of the story that was there is still there. Since then, Lucid has gone on to get 7 awards from Film Festivals.
Additionally, I stutter, so when acting, I have to be a little methodical and rehearse a lot. My stutter can get in the way sometimes, but I can find ways around it.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I consider myself an Actor, Writer, and Producer.
Actor first because that’s how I started in the entertainment industry, and that’s what I love to do. Writer second because it is a great avenue to acting because, without writers, there is no film or TV. Producer third, because I am just now navigating the business side of the entertainment industry by starting a production company and going to the American Film Market.
I’m most proud of my writing, though. I’ve seen the most success there, but that is because I know how to think from multiple perspectives when I am writing. I constantly think about how an actor might say something or how everything will look visually during the film process and when everything is put together.
What sets me apart is my beliefs. I once heard my favorite musical artist say, “If you’re not putting 120% toward what you want to do, then you should not be doing it.” So, I adopted the belief that if you find something that you love to do, do that at 120%. Don’t let anyone or anything stop you. There’s always a way to get to where you want to go and be who you want.
Even if it takes time, you’ll still get there. Shooting stars shoot for a reason, and they never stop. You have to go hard for yourself because if you don’t, then who will? My favorite musical artist that said that is Eminem.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Be on the lookout for ‘Lunch’ coming soon, and be on the lookout for HSD FILMS’ future projects.
Also, if there are any film financiers reading, we’d love a chance to reach out and pitch our ideas to you so we can make our films and TV shows happen. Lastly, thank you for taking the time to read this. It has been a pleasure.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.deandreharrisii.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deandreharrisii/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/deandreharrisii
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10165007/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_8_q_deandre%2520harris%2520ii
Image Credits
Chelsea Parsons
